Academic leadership at the University of Utah College of Nursing proudly announce a national search for the newly established L. S. Skaggs Presidential Endowed Chair in Acute and Critical Care Nursing. The Chair is supported by an endowment honoring Leonard Samuel “Sam” Skaggs Jr, entrepreneur and philanthropist. The L. S. Skaggs Presidential Chair in Nursing will lead a robust, funded program of research in acute and critical care nursing, dedicating the majority of their time to making scientific discoveries, advancing evidence-based practices, securing external funding, and contributing to the scientific community through high-impact publications and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Susie Balukoff, an alumna of the College of Nursing, established the Presidential Endowed Chair through the ALSAM Foundation, which was founded by her parents, Aline W. and Sam Jr. “My father was a strong believer in helping people in need and giving back to the community. We, as his children, learned these values from him,” said Balukoff, “The University of Utah gave me so much — not just a degree, but a purpose and a lifelong passion. We need strong nurse educators and innovators — people who can inspire students, drive policy, and contribute to meaningful change in health care. Establishing an endowed chair is my way of giving back to the institution that shaped me and ensuring that future generations of nurses have the resources they need to thrive.”
“This extraordinary gift from Susie Balukoff, and the ALSAM Foundation strengthens our ability to pioneer research in acute and critical care nursing,” said Dean of the College of Nursing, Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN. “The L. S. Skaggs Presidential Endowed Chair in Acute and Critical Care Nursing will support the work of a distinguished nurse scientist to generate groundbreaking discoveries through rigorous research, accelerate translation of evidence into everyday practice to improve outcomes for critically ill patients, and spearhead national conversations in nursing science and health policy. We are honored by the generosity of the ALSAM foundation and inspired by Susie’s deep commitment to the profession.”
Endowed chairs at the University of Utah College of Nursing honor distinguished faculty whose work exemplifies academic excellence and transformative leadership. For those who hold them, endowed chairs signify both a milestone of academic excellence and a bold institutional investment in advancing their field. With the establishment of the L. S. Skaggs Presidential Endowed Chair in Acute and Critical Care Nursing, the College of Nursing now proudly holds 11 endowed chair positions. These prestigious appointments catalyze enduring commitments to nursing science, education, and leadership, with the Skaggs Chair specifically advancing excellence in acute and critical care nursing.