Rome, Ga. — On Friday, Dec. 1, Shorter University will name its student health clinic in honor of longtime Director of Student Health Services Mary Shotwell Smith. A ceremony will be held in the Fitton Student Union at 10:30 a.m. with a reception following until noon. Friends of Nurse Mary are invited to attend.

“Shorter University is delighted to honor Mary Shotwell Smith – or ‘Nurse Mary’ as she is best known on campus – in this important way,” said Shorter University President Dr. Don Dowless. “Nurse Mary has led Shorter’s student health services for more than 21 years, taking care of the Shorter family with remarkable care and compassion. We are happy that our health clinic will bear her name and honor the way she lives out our mission of Transforming Lives through Christ.”

Smith has been the director of Shorter University’s Student Health Service since August 1996. During her tenure, she said she has cared for many thousands of students, faculty and staff.

As a registered nurse, Smith is also a faith community nurse and a retired sexual assault nurse examiner in the State of Georgia. She graduated cum laude from both Floyd College School of Nursing and West Georgia State University School of Nursing. Additionally, she obtained a Master of Arts degree from Shorter University in 2010. A member of Shorter’s Alumni Governing Board, Smith received the university’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Smith is a member of the American Nurses Association, Georgia Nurses Association, Georgia Faith Community Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. She is a member of the sanctuary choir at First Baptist Church in Rome, where she also leads a ladies Bible study class on Sunday mornings. Married to Ernie Smith for 31 years, they have three children (Ruth Anne, Andrew, and Patrick) and three grandsons (Keipris, Caleb, and Elijah).

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review annually include Shorter on their lists of best Southeastern Colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and master’s programs.