At Commencement, a reminder of nursing as ‘a force for equity’
A member of the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Class of 2026 stands and waves at the audience during Commencement.
By Ashley Rowland
May 18, 2026
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing held its spring Commencement on May 6, celebrating the graduation of nearly 220 students on a day of special significance to the profession—National Nurses Day.
“There could not be a more fitting moment to celebrate you,” Dean Lorna Finnegan told graduates and their supporters during the ceremony at Gentile Arena, noting that the national theme for Nurses Week was “The Power of Nurses.”
That theme, she said, felt especially true because nurses have the power to advocate, lead change, and stand up on behalf of their patients and communities.
“That power is not about authority—it is about presence, trust, and the quiet ability to change the trajectory of a life in a single moment,” Finnegan added.
Student speaker Jaclyn DeAnn Peterson, (DNP ‘26, MBA ‘13, BS ‘12), described Loyola as “a special place” that encouraged her to think critically and pursue her passions with purpose.
Loyola “taught me that growth does not always happen in a straight line and that it is okay to change your mind, to take risks, and to try new things along the way. Those lessons have carried me through my time here and guided me back to complete my DNP.”
Commencement, she said, “is a celebration of our accomplishments, resilience, and the values Loyola instilled in us: service, compassion, and a commitment to something greater than ourselves.”
Keynote speaker Laura Ferrio (MSN ‘93, MBA ‘93), senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, spoke about the growth students experience during their time at Loyola—and how a Jesuit education helps them develop the critical thinking skills, intuition, heart, and courage needed to excel in nursing.
Ferrio started at Shirley Ryan as a nurse intern and has risen to executive leadership during her more than 40 years at the internationally recognized rehabilitation hospital. She said Loyola’s Ignatian values—from cura personalis, or care of the whole person, to magis, or striving for the greater good—will shape the new graduates’ approach to patient care.
She encouraged them to continue embracing Loyola’s call to justice and serving the most vulnerable.
“Loyola’s mission reminds us that a more just society is built through service, integrity, and a recognition that those with the greatest need deserve the highest priority for care,” she said. “You’ve learned that nursing is not only a profession – it’s a force of equity. As you move into your careers, you’ll carry these values with you.”