Lucie Young Kelly Named 2013 Legacy Laureate

The School of Nursing congratulates Lucie Young Kelly (BSN ’47, MLIT ’57, PhD ’65) FAAN on being named a 2013 Legacy Laureate of the University of Pittsburgh. Lucie Young Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Letters degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing in 1947 and 1957, respectively, and received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the School of Education in 1965.  In addition, she holds six honorary doctorates from prominent universities across the country. Legacy Laureate award recipients are graduates of the University of Pittsburgh who have had extraordinary impact in their fields.  The Legacy Laureate program is based on the belief that there are no better role models than alumni who have been successful in their chosen profession. The Legacy Laureate is one of the most prestigious alumni awards bestowed by the University.

Dr. Kelly is the author of numerous periodical articles, editorials, book chapters, and textbooks and held editorial positions at professional journals. At Columbia University, where she established an interdisciplinary nursing and public health program, she also served as a longtime professor and associate dean and was named professor emeritus in 1990. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, which also presented her in 2001 with its Living Legend award. An inductee and former president of Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of nursing, she has several times received the organization’s Mentor Award—since renamed the Lucie S. Kelly Mentor Award. The University of Pittsburgh has honored her with its Bicentennial Medallion of Distinction, School of Nursing Distinguished Alumna Award, and School of Education Distinguished Higher Education Alumna Award. She is a former member of Pitt’s Board of Trustees; the School of Nursing Alumni Society, which she served as president; the School of Nursing Board of Visitors; and the Graduate School of Public Health Board of Visitors, which she also chaired. Her generous philanthropy to Pitt includes establishing the Lucie Young Kelly Faculty Leadership Award in the School of Nursing.