Our nurses are truly stewards of their patients, caring for others above everything. With our holistic approach, and an immersion into the liberal arts and Benedictine values, we produce a different graduate, an Anselmian graduate.
You were a critical care cardiac surgery nurse practitioner before becoming faculty here, what made you want to return and teach?
One thing we do well here at Saint Anselm is create lifelong learners. That’s part of our mission, but I also think we create lifelong teachers—an ability, and responsibility, to pass on what you know. When I was touring the campus in 2016 with my daughter Annie (who graduated in 2021), I stopped by to say hello to Maureen O’Reilly, director of the nursing program. During our conversation, she asked if I’d be interested in coming back to the Hilltop to teach critical care nursing. I felt it was time for me to go around that next professional corner, share my knowledge of nursing, and support upcoming generations in their own educational and professional growth.
Is it a full-circle moment to be stepping into the role of your mentor?
Absolutely, Maureen was, and is, a phenomenal leader. She has done an incredible job and I have so much respect for her.
What excites you the most about the Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences?
Thinking of the potential for both program and student growth is exciting! The School and our new facilities at Grappone Hall will allow our nursing students to connect with other disciplines. I see our program building new communities within and outside of the college. It is also exciting to imagine what our students will accomplish in the expanded state-of-the-art simulation lab. With all this growth, we are working very hard to maintain our Anselmian identity, by ensuring our students know they will continue to build strong relationships with their faculty, that they will be immersed in Benedictine values and a liberal arts education.
Is this part of what makes a Saint Anselm nurse stand out
I’ve been asked that question a lot lately, and yes, our nurses are truly stewards of their patients, caring for others above everything. With our holistic approach, and an immersion into the liberal arts and Benedictine values, we produce a different graduate, an Anselmian graduate.
And what advice do you have for our newest nursing graduates who have just left the Hilltop?
Strive for balance. It’s exciting to hit the ground running. I remember starting my first position at New York University Medical Center thinking, ‘Aren’t you lucky to have me,’ but I quickly learned I had so much left to learn! Permit yourself time to adapt to your new working world, look at it as an opportunity to apply what you’ve worked so hard to learn, but don’t forget to take care of yourself along the way. You never stop learning as a nurse, which is one of the most fulfilling aspects of this discipline.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I grew up on a farm in Rochester, N.H., trained show horses, and had a very profitable egg-selling business! My childhood home was a treasured experience, and it was my refuge. Also, I’m a runner. I ran my first marathon in 2021—the Clarence DeMar Marathon, which ends in Keene, N.H. It was very meaningful to me, as I had recently lost my mother and I ran in memory of her. She graduated from Keene State College—it was amazing to finish at the school where I knew she felt the way I feel about Saint Anselm College.
Carrie E. MacLeod ’83, P ’21
Director of Undergraduate Nursing
Associate Professor, Nursing
B.S.N., 1983, Saint Anselm College
M.S.N., 1993, Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing Ph.D., 2008, Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing