Even with four academic degrees, for Charlotte Carlley, EdD, there is always something new to learn. That discovery came in 1984 when Dr. Carlley traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of her role in continuing education at the IU School of Nursing (IUSON). For three weeks, she helped facilitate staff development workshops for nurses employed by Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil company.
“It was an eye-opener for me and a real learning experience,” said Dr. Carlley, who earned both master’s and doctoral degrees in education at IU before joining the IUSON as an instructor and continuing education project director in 1972. She’s also an IUSON alum, earning a master’s degree in nursing in 1981.
“I just always wanted to become a nurse,” said Dr. Carlley. “I have a picture of me when I was five years old, and I have a nurse’s outfit on.”
From navigating the language barrier to learning about a new way of life, Dr. Carlley said her time in Saudi Arabia made a lasting impression. Years after her 1999 retirement from the school, the trip motivated her to establish a fund promoting continuing nursing student education in global health.
“After working with people from a different culture, I thought that students should have the chance to experience the same,” Dr. Carlley said.
The Charlotte A. Carlley/Jean E. Schweer Mentorship in Cross-Cultural Studies Fund provides funding for nursing students to study abroad. The program's goal is for students to gain exposure to other cultures and languages and learn how to care for and serve patients from other countries. The fund is also named for Dr. Carlley’s mentor, Jean Schweer, former IUSON associate dean of continuing education. Dr. Carlley completed an internship with Jean who then offered her a position at IU School of Nursing in Indianapolis after Dr. Carlley completed her master’s degree in adult education at IU Bloomington.
For many years, the two women worked together, most notably on efforts to develop the National Standards for Accreditation of Continuing Education Programs through the American Nurses Association (ANA). The continuing education program at the IUSON was the first in Indiana to become nationally accredited by the ANA.
The decision to support student learning through the fund at IU School of Nursing was an easy one, Dr. Carlley said.
“IU gave me a good job for many years, and I’m grateful for the experiences I had teaching nurses all over the country.”
