(DES MOINES, IA) June 4, 2020 — Dr. Mary Schemmel, Mercy College of Health Sciences Associate Dean of Nursing, is set to retire on June 5, 2020, after 45 years of being a part of the Mercy family.
Mary (Rasmussen) Schemmel began her nursing career at Mercy Hospital in 1973 after she graduated high school. Dr. Schemmel graduated from Mercy School of Nursing with her Diploma in Nursing (’76). She transitioned to a career at Mercy College in 1993, became Associate Dean of Nursing in 2014, and earned her Doctor of Education in Nursing in 2017.
Dr. Schemmel has wide-range of experience as a Travel Nurse in California; a Critical Care Nursing Educator in Italy; and a Critical Care Nurse, Nursing Educator, and CEU Coordinator at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines.
As an active member in several professional organizations, Dr. Schemmel is involved with Sigma Theta Tau and served on its Board of Directors, Leadership Committee, and as a Faculty Counselor. She is also a member of the Iowa League of Nursing and served on the Board of Directors and Education and Scholarship Committees for Mercy College Nursing Alumni.
In 2017 Dr. Schemmel received the Catherine McAuley Award for Professional Excellence which honors alumni and friends of Mercy College for their lifetime achievements to their professions and service to their communities. In 2019 Dr. Schemmel received the Spirit of Mercy Award which recognizes the outstanding efforts of all Central Iowa MercyOne and Mercy College staff and faculty members whose professional and personal standards exemplify the compassionate servanthood demonstrated by the Sisters of Mercy. Dr. Schemmel was also recognized as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses of 2019.
“I’m looking forward to a new chapter,” Dr. Schemmel stated. “People ask me what I’m going to do and it’ll be fun figuring it out. I’m sure it’ll involve golf.”
About Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is the only private Catholic college in central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Located in downtown Des Moines, Mercy College prepares graduates for service and leadership in the healthcare community with a wide range of bachelor, associate, and certificate programs. Visit www.mchs.edu or call (515) 643-3180 to learn how you can start Charting Your Course.
