During the 80th anniversary celebration of nursing at TCU, several alumni were recognized for their innovation and leadership in our community, and Harris College of Nursing was recognized by the city of Fort Worth.
Fort Worth City Councilwoman Macy Hill ’02 (MBA ’12), who also serves as a member of the TCU Board of Trustees, presented a proclamation to
Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin and Suzy Lockwood, associate dean for nursing and nurse
anesthesia, recognizing 80 years of nursing excellence at TCU.
“From its founding in 1946 to becoming Texas’ first nationally accredited nursing program, this college has led with innovation and a commitment to high-quality care,” Hill said.
2026 Allene Jones Trailblazer Award
Kelle Tillman ’92 (MSN ’13, DNP ’19) was the recipient of this year’s Allene Jones
Trailblazer Award. Tillman is the chief clinical officer and co-founder of the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health in Tarrant County, the county’s
first clinic dedicated to exclusively to LGBTQ+ health care.
“Kelle Tillman exemplifies the spirit of the Allene Jones Trailblazer Award through her barrier-breaking leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to equity and social justice in healthcare,” Lockwood said.
Tillman is a triple TCU nursing graduate and was recognized as the 2025 Dallas Voice LGBTQ+ Provider of the Year.
2025 TCU Nursing Outstanding Alumni Award
Amy Hailey ’89 was the recipient of the 2025 TCU Nursing Outstanding Alumni Award
for her distinguished career in nursing. Hailey currently serves as vice president
of Ancillary Services at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, providing
strategic and operational leadership for one of the region’s largest and most complex
healthcare organizations.
“Amy has spent more than three decades advancing patient care, strengthening healthcare systems and embodying the values of integrity, compassion and excellence central to TCU Nursing,” Lockwood said.
Hailey is also an active member of national nursing organizations and currently serves on multiple local and professional boards, including the TCU College of Health and Human Services Board of Visitors.
2026 TCU Nursing Outstanding Alumni Award
Lindsey Patton ’09 (MSN ’14) was this year’s recipient of the TCU Nursing Outstanding
Alumni Award for her professional nursing leadership, scholarly impact and commitment
to advancing nursing practice, research and community health.
“A defining accomplishment of Patton’s career is her leadership in developing a highly successful academic-practice partnership between Children’s Health and TCU Nursing,” Lockwood said. “Through her ability to navigate complex organizational systems, she streamlined faculty onboarding, data-sharing agreements and clinical nurse recruitment for research.”
Patton currently serves as senior director, nursing excellence, research and innovation for Children’s Health.
2026 TCU Nursing Young Alumni Award 
Kaitlin Rayburne ’20 (MSN ’25) is the 13th member of her family to attend TCU and maintains a strong and active to the university since graduating. She’s continued her education at TCU, pursuing her DNP while also serving as adjunct faculty.
“Despite the demands of full-time clinical practice and doctoral study, Kaitlyn continues to volunteer her time at TCU through initiatives such as Nursing Camp and Skills Day,” Lockwood said.
Rayburne practices at Cook Children’s Medical Center, where she also serves on the quality team and acts as a CLABSI champion, advocating for the highest standards in patient care.