Honoring a Legacy of Leadership: Dr. Paulette F. Adams Establishes Endowed Faculty Award

The University of Louisville School of Nursing proudly celebrates the establishment of the Dr. Paulette F. Adams Endowed Faculty Award, a meaningful investment in the continued growth and excellence of its faculty.

Created by Dr. Paulette Adams—a founding faculty member, former interim dean, and dedicated leader—the endowed award reflects her lifelong commitment to advancing nursing education and strengthening the academic community she helped build.

A tenured professor emeritus, Adams devoted more than four decades to the nursing profession, practicing and teaching from 1964 to 2008. Her distinguished career included teaching in three hospital-based schools of nursing, at Jefferson Community College, and for 33 years at the University of Louisville. She earned her BSN and MAT from Spalding University and her EdD in Higher Education from the University of Kentucky. A licensed registered nurse in Kentucky, she also served for 25 years as a nurse legal consultant, reviewing malpractice cases and testifying as an expert witness for law firms across Kentucky and Ohio.

Her commitment to service extends well beyond academia. Adams has held numerous leadership roles within the parish and the Archdiocese of Louisville. She chaired the Archdiocesan Peace and Justice Commission, was honored by the Catholic Education Foundation in 1996, and has served on the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Sexual Abuse Review Board since its inception in 2002.

The Dr. Paulette F. Adams Endowed Faculty Award is designed to strengthen faculty success and elevate the school’s impact in the broader nursing and research communities. 

“Dr. Adams has been instrumental in building the foundation of our school,” said Dean Whitney Nash. “This award is a powerful reflection of her enduring belief in the importance of faculty scholarship, leadership, and professional growth.”

For Dr. Adams, the creation of this award represents both a reflection on a remarkable career and a forward-looking investment in the future of nursing education. By supporting faculty in their scholarly and professional pursuits, her gift will have a ripple effect—strengthening teaching, advancing research, and ultimately improving patient care.

As the School of Nursing continues to grow and lead, the Dr. Paulette F. Adams Endowed Faculty Award stands as a lasting tribute to her legacy—honoring her contributions while empowering faculty to reach new heights of excellence.