UPINHF 2023 International Nurse Awardee

Linda Simunek, BSN, MSN, PhD, RN, JD, Esq

Founding dean of nursing schools and colleges, for her unparalleled devotion to the pursuit of the UP tradition of excellence, and for faithfully upholding the UPCN values in those pursuits.

“Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” as the saying goes, is at the core of  Erlinda “Linda” Agustin Simunek’s endeavors and pursuits—confronting myriads of challenges, prevailing over many difficult odds,  and reaping the fruits of success and achievements non pareil  in her lifetime.

This year’s International Nurse Award recipient is a UP nurse (BSN ’62), a Doctor of Philosophy, a lawyer, Board of Nursing regulator, professor, director, mentor, adviser, consultant, writer, speaker, founder of nursing schools, dean, provost, a wife, a mother and a grandmother, yet more importantly, a friend.  Erlinda Simunek have so many roles in her brilliant career and in life…indeed so much to fit in one human frame that for many even a minute portion of it would be a fantastic dream.

Truly an international nurse, Linda traveled the world in many capacities: as delegate to world conventions, presenter, advisor, speaker, advocate, consultant, including educational trips to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, China, South Korea, Hong kong, Mexico, Canada, Barbados, Cuba, and of course her native country serving as clinical coordinator for the Central Luzon Educational Center School of Nursing (CLECSN), Cabanatuan, Philippines.

The crowning achievement of her career, of which her alma mater, her fellow alumni and no doubt her mentor and hero, Dean Julita V. Sotejo would have been very proud of is her service  as founding dean of  many undergraduate and graduate programs, nursing schools and colleges, a record hard to surpass by a Filipino nurse, namely: Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin;  Florida International University, Miami, Florida; St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Florida; Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana;  National University, Los Angeles, California; the International University of Nursing in St. Kitts, West Indies, the Caribbean.  In the process, she was also an Associate Dean of Nursing at Loyola University of Chicago and dean of nursing at Lewis University, a Christian Brothers School in Romeoville, Illinois.

The first Filipino to be appointed as dean of an American University, Dr. Erlinda Agustin Simunek’s work and accomplishments were recognized with many citations and awards, including the Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipino Overseas (OFO) in Education, bestowed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., at Malacanang  Palace  (see photo above), the Distinctive Alumni Award from De Paul University and the Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor for her service to the nursing profession, her country and humanity, to name a few.

This year she is the overwhelming choice of the UPINHF Awards and Citation Committee, and a unanimous vote of approval by the Board of Directors as the 2023 International Nurse Award recipient,

a distinction very much deserved.  Erlinda Agustin Simunek is a stalwart in the nursing profession, a giant in the realm of her chosen career that this honor is wholeheartedly enhanced by the love and affection of fellow alumni and the utmost respect and admiration of colleagues the world over.

Congratulations!

for UPINHF
Nelson C. Borrero, AB, LIB, UP Law 73