Distinguished alumni

Marjorie (Hartog ’56, ’58) Vander Aarde Distinguished Service to Humankind

Marjorie Vander Aarde spent seven years serving as a nurse at the American Mission Hospital in Kuwait and was the first American nurse registered with the Kuwaiti government. After returning to the U.S., she served as vice president at Montana Deaconess Medical Center and then as CEO of California’s Coalinga Regional Medical Center. She later oversaw more than 350 medical facilities as certification bureau chief in Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services. She is active in her church, volunteers with Family Promise of Great Falls, and served on the board of directors for the United Way of Cascade County. She is certified by the American College of Health Care Executives as a Fellow and holds an R.N. from Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing, a B.S.N. from Montana State University, a master’s degree in nursing from Texas Women’s University, and a master’s in health administration from the University of Colorado.

Award year: 2015