Margaret McKevit, Graceland University’s First Nursing Chair, Dies at 89

LAMONI, IA – Margaret McKevit, who served as Graceland University’s first chair of the Division of Nursing from 1968 to 1976 died on September 30th. McKevit was born in Independence and enrolled at Graceland in 1951, receiving her Associate of Arts in Nursing in 1955. She continued her education, receiving a Master of Science from the University of Colorado.

McKevit’s career as an educator started at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1953. She then taught at the University of Wisconsin from 1963 to 1966. She returned to Graceland in 1966 and became the Director of Nursing Studies in 1967. McKevit’s work and commitment to provide a quality nursing program paid off in May of 1971 was the nursing division offered a total professional curriculum and graduated its first students in the nursing major.

McKevit left Graceland in 1976 to serve as the Director of the nursing program at the Louisiana State University Medical School of Nursing. She served as a member of Graceland’s Board of Trustees from 1980-1994. McKevit was 89.