Alverno's School of Nursing has had an illustrious history of more than ninety years. Because the School Sisters of St. Francis recognized the need for nursing education, the school opened as Sacred Heart School of Nursing on September 22, 1930. It was one of three educational institutions run by the School Sisters of St. Francis. Over the years the school grew and changed with the needs of society. In 1946, the process of creating what's now Alverno College was begun culminating in the merger of the three institutions as one with Sacred joining the other two merged schools in 1951.
Alverno’s School of Nursing received a very generous gift from JoAnn Resch McGrath, a 1957 alumna of the nursing school. To recognize her vision and loyalty to the nursing program at Alverno, the college renamed the School of Nursing the JoAnn McGrath School of Nursing on October 6, 2012 during the college’s 125th anniversary Homecoming celebration. A panel of distinguished nursing alumnae spoke during a special luncheon honoring JoAnn McGrath. The alumnae panel included: Jean Bartels ’81, Vivien De Back ’54, Norma Lang ’61, and Cathy Rick ’71.
"Jo Ann Resch B.S.N."
"JoAnn Resch McGrath came to Alverno from Antigo, Wisconsin in 1953. Drawn by the challenge of nursing and an abiding commitment to help others, Alverno became the first step on her path to far-reaching accomplishments in service and philanthropy. Since earning her BSN degree in 1957, she has made a deep and lasting mark as a nurse, mother, grandmother, and generous supporter of health care, schools, and numerous charities as a trustee of her family's foundation, the Highland Street Foundation. The causes she supports stretch from coast to coast, and her generosity has made a deep impact on Alverno's campus. From 1997-2001, she served on the Alumnae Association Board, regularly flying in to attend meetings and support the Association's work. When the College broke ground on its new science and technology wing in 1997, JoAnn and her family were among the first to step forward with support. Year after year, the McGrath Nursing Scholarship aids students who share her commitment to enhancing the lives of others. In 2012 Alverno named the School of Nursing in honor of JoAnn's longstanding and substantial support to the College and its students."
JoAnn McGrath passed away on February 19, 2024.