Stephanie Robinson

Two local nursing professionals have received special statewide recognition for their contributions to the industry.

Stephanie Robinson, director of nursing at Fresno City College, and Kathleen S. Rindahl, assistant professor of nursing at Fresno State, were among 11 nursing professionals in the state to be recognized during the Association of California Nurse Leaders 40th annual conference in Monterey Feb. 4-7.

 

The 1,400-member organization’s award are meant to honor leaders who go above and beyond in serving the organization’s mission of promoting industry excellence, innovation and lifelong learning.

“This year’s award winners are remarkable leaders who are serving our profession with distinction,” said ACNL president Mary Wickman, PhD, RN. “We salute these and other innovative nurse leaders who are striving to improve health care throughout our state.”

Robinson’s award was in the category for “Excellence in Leadership.” As director of one of the largest nursing programs west of the Mississippi River, Robinson manages a budget nearly $4 million and is responsible for bringing in more than $8 million in grant funding for the program. She’s active in many professional organizations, and is currently president-elect of the California Organization of Associate Degree Nursing Directors, Northern Region.

Rindahl, honored in the “Excellence in Professional Education” category, is “an enthusiastic educator and an out-of-the-box thinker who creates a learning environment where students can develop their full potential,” according to a news release. Among her accomplishments, she arranged to borrow a mobile clinic unit from the Fresno County Office of Education for her community health class that has been successful in providing care to undeserved areas in the Valley. Rindahl is a former corpsman in the U.S. Navy, and is classified as Petty Officer Third Class.