WCU Anthropology Student Curates Exhibit for Nursing’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
West Chester University celebrated 50 years of its nursing program at a gala on October 25th, 2025. Guests were treated to opening remarks by President Laurie Bernotsky and Dean Scott Heinrichs, a tour of the SECC’s new immersive learning facility, and a special retrospective exhibit with dozens of authentic artifacts—from acceptance letters to autographed books to photographs and memorabilia from the first graduating class.
Anthropology and Museum Studies student Gemma Cohen curated the display under the guidance of Dr. Michael A. Di Giovine for the College of Health Sciences. “This is my first-ever curation, and I am so proud to have done it for the nurses,” Cohen said. She learned the techniques of museum curation from start to finish—from sourcing artifacts to creating a narrative that could inform exhibit design and guide visitors in understanding the display.
Utilizing artifacts loaned from nursing alumni including Lisa Montemuro, Edward Macko and Patricia Macko, rare books from WCU Special Collections, and artifacts from the newly renamed School of Nursing, Cohen said, “I tried to create a timeline for a typical nursing student, from acceptance to graduation and beyond.”
WCU’s Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology provided much of the raw materials and the know-how. Di Giovine, the Museum’s Director, commented on the collaborative environment that the College of Health Sciences fostered. “Between Special Collections, the nursing faculty, the Museum and the CHS Dean’s office, collaboration was key to the exhibit’s success. I’m thankful for such a productive environment,” he said. Dr. Julie McCulloh Nair, Professor of Nursing, who helped to secure the artifact loans, stated, “The display was fabulous, and we are so appreciative of all the effort that went into producing the exhibit.”
“I’m proud of what Gemma accomplished in such a short time,” Di Giovine continued.
“All our Museum Studies students get a hands-on, high-impact learning experience in
curating an exhibition from start to finish through our capstone class. Gemma’s dedication
and drive provided her with an exceptional head start, and I look forward to her taking
a leadership role in co-curating the Museum’s next major exhibition, which will be
part of WCU’s semiquincentennial celebration.” WCU’s USA 250 exhibition is slated
to open early April 2026. In the meantime, Cohen’s nursing exhibit is on display at
the CHS Dean’s Suite in SECC 379 D through the end of the year. Visitors are welcome.