Navy Nurse Receives SCC Distinguished Alumni Award

Published: 05/15/2012

Cox, 50, of Highland Park, Ill., is a perinatal clinical nurse specialist and is the division officer for the immunization and administration clinics for recruit training at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

Cox has enjoyed many successes in her career and life, and it was at SCC where much of it began. Then a divorced, single mom in her 20s with four part-time jobs including one at a local 7-Eleven store, she realized that she couldn’t keep up the pace and wanted more for her family. Cox decided to pursue a nursing career like her mom, and enrolled in SCC’s nursing program.

“I couldn’t afford a four-year program, and the college provided me with a stair step to the bachelor’s degree required by the Navy,” Cox said. “SCC definitely opens a door that otherwise might not be available for many to step through,” Cox said.

After earning an associate degree in 1993 and passing the license exam, she was able to get a job as an RN while also pursuing a bachelor’s degree.  

Cox completed her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Webster University in 1995. She joined the U.S. Navy, like her dad and others in her family. She worked in many areas of nursing and her Navy career took her to Rhode Island, Florida, California and Virginia, as well as Kuwait, where she was charge nurse for a tent hospital, and then to Okinawa, Japan, where she served as department head for labor and delivery/postpartum.

While serving, she earned two masters degrees, a Master of Science in nursing from University of Illinois-Chicago in 2007 and a Master of Management in healthcare administration from Troy State University in Dothan, Ala., in 2009.

She is the recipient of a Navy Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and two National Defense Medals. She co-published an article in the Journal of Nursing Education, June 2009, “Evaluation Tool for Clinical Nursing Textbooks: Bridging Content Analysis with Evidence,” with Linda Cassata. She is the founder and co-chair for the Military Virtual Affiliate of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, and also currently works with Mosby’s Nursing Skills online as a clinical expert for their maternal-child section.

Cox remarried in 1996 to her husband Doug. They have two daughters, ages 14 and 12, two sons, ages 28 and 15, and two grandsons, 2- and 4-months-old.

“I could not be where I am today without the help of my husband and my family,” Cox said. “They have been very supportive of me and I appreciate them very much.”

Cox was nominated by her niece, Tammie De Los Santos, SCC manager of workforce initiatives.

Cox received the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award from Kasey McKee, associate vice president for foundation and alumni relations. The Foundation initiated the annual award in 2006 and solicits nominations from the community.

The St. Charles Community College Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, raises funds to support student scholarships and education programs for the college. For more information on the SCC Foundation and its vision to transform lives and strengthen communities, visit www.stchas.edu/foundation.

Established in 1986, St. Charles Community College is celebrating 25 years as a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.