Maureen Elizabeth Kelley Belden, a former clinical instructor at the School of Nursing, died July 4 after a long illness. She was 51.

Belden received her Master of Science degree in nursing from U-M in 1993 and went to work as a primary care nurse practitioner. She soon joined the School of Nursing faculty as a lecturer and taught undergraduate students for more than a decade. She then helped administer courses as a lecturer IV from 2005 to 2010.

“Always looking to innovate, Maureen was part of a three-person team led by Dr. Marilyn Svejda that brought the School of Nursing Undergraduate Initiative for Excellence to reality after landmark strategic planning in 2007,” said Kathleen Potempa, dean of the School of Nursing. “Maureen worked with many colleagues across the school and the U-M Health System to build the bridges and schema that set the foundation for a national model of undergraduate education. Maureen was a thoughtful colleague with positive energy and motivation to advance the work of students, faculty and the university.”

Memorial services took place in mid-July. The Belden family suggests that contributions in Belden’s honor can be made to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit with longstanding ties to U-M School of Nursing and its students, at mioca.org.

— Submitted by the School of Nursing