2023 Distinguished Alumni Award: Joan Brueggeman, BSN '87
Joan Brueggeman ran into Sparty after receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award.
When the Alumni Board was asked to nominate an alumni who exemplified the Spartan way, there was no doubt that Joan Brueggeman matched the description of a model alumna perfectly. Joan Brueggeman received her BSN from the MSU College of Nursing in 1987. She has been a loyal Spartan since her first day on campus; many of her siblings and closest friends are MSU alumni as well.
Joan is the Clinical Operations Director of Care Coordination, Telephone Nurse Advisors, and Utilization Management at Gundersen Health System in Wisconsin. She has maintained several roles at Gundersen Health since her arrival in 2007. She values teaching and mentorship in all she does, encouraging those around her to be the best version of themselves.
In addition to serving on the MSU College of Nursing Alumni Board since 2017, she also holds board positions with The American Case Management Association and serves on the ACMA national editorial and membership board. Joan has held several leadership roles with the Wisconsin chapter of the American Case Management Association, including terms as treasurer and president, and currently presides as the Wisconsin chapter’s secretary. Joan served on the National ACMA board of directors and is currently a mentor for the ACMA Minnesota and Illinois chapters.
Joan is fiercely dedicated to the College of Nursing. Despite having to travel an entire day to reach Michigan from her Wisconsin home, she is always there when you need her. Joan advocates for nursing education and the college at every turn and represents the university wonderfully.