Associate Professor Emeritus, Indiana University School of Nursing
May 24, 1941- September 23, 2012
Passed by the IUPUI Faculty Council at their meeting on December 4, 2012.
The Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSON) is profoundly saddened and mourns the passing of one of its most respected and beloved faculty members on September 23, 2012 at the age of 71. Dr. Marchusa A. Huff was a wonderful colleague, accomplished individual, unique educator and extraordinary nurse. When talking about Marchusa, words like these come to mind: “definitely creative, forward-thinking, sensitive and compassionate, fun, a leader in the 21st century who has changed the face of nursing.”
Marchusa taught at the Indiana University School of Nursing since 1966, retiring in May 2006 after over four decades of exemplary achievements, accomplishments, and service in a variety of capacities while a faculty member. She was the first minority faculty in our BSN program to serve as a course leader and as project director of a federally funded nursing grant.
Over her long tenure as a faculty member, Marchusa never wanted to be an administrator but wanted to have the real life experiences of being a nurse with real patients so that she would have valid, accurate examples of patients that she could share with her nursing students. She was able to garner that clinical experience through her work as a Community Health Network nurse where she worked at Community North since 1991 and rotated between the general inpatient surgery unit, ortho/neuro/spine unit and the medical oncology renal unit. In addition, she maintained clinical relevancy through her Army Reserve work.
Her extraordinary sphere of influence, significant impact on others and her contributions to the nursing discipline and profession have been validated through her many awards and honors over the years. These include but are not limited to:
- The IUPUI Campus 2003 Joseph T. Taylor Excellence in Diversity Award in recognition of her success in building diversity on campus through her leadership role as the program director of the Minority Research Scholars Program (MRSP)
- For recognition by her peers and students with the Faculty Advisor of the Year Award; Center for Leadership Development Distinguished Award; IU Board of Trustees Teaching Award; and three Outstanding Teacher Awards for undergraduate teaching
- A major recognition was when she received an honorable mention for the 2009 Indianapolis Star’s Eighth Annual Salute to Nurses for her work as a Community Health Network nurse
While at IUSON, Marchusa was involved in many committees and activities supporting development and revision of undergraduate curriculum.
- Her contributions to undergraduate teaching include courses in nursing management, peri-operative nursing, and medical-surgical nursing. She provided a unique kind of leadership in developing the first clinical nursing elective course taught at Indiana University, the Operating Room Nurse course.
- Her dedication to service was demonstrated by serving on many IUPUI campus and university committees in both leadership and member roles, such as the IUPUI Promotion and Tenure Committee, Budgetary Affairs Committee, Parking and Safety Committee, and IUPUI Stage IV Grievance Committee.
Her board memberships have included St. Richard’s Episcopal School, IUPUI School of Nursing Alumni Board, Marion County Heart Association Minority Health Committee, and the American Heart Association Indiana Affiliate. Dr. Huff earned her BSN degree from Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas, and received her master’s and doctorate degrees from IUSON.
There are those special stars in one’s life that have such an impact as to make us wonder where we would be without them. Marchusa Huff is one of those stars for all of us, whose bright and shining contributions to IUSON, IUPUI, Indiana University, the larger community of Indiana’s citizens, and our profession will continue to burn brightly.
And--as we know--“some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for a while leaving footprints on our hearts, and we are forever changed.” Dr. Marchusa Huff, associate professor emeritus of IUSON, is one of those unique individuals. Her footprints will be forever imprinted on the heart of the Indiana University School of Nursing.
THUS, BE IT RESOLVED, that this memorial resolution be placed in the minutes of Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis Faculty Council with a moment of silence observed in her honor. A copy of this memorial resolution will be delivered to her husband, Bernard, daughter, Carla and her two children, and her son, Justin.
This resolution is written on behalf of Dr. Marchusa Huff’s former students, staff, and faculty of the Indiana University School of Nursing, and was prepared by Dean Marion E. Broome of IUSON.