On Sept. 17, the College of Nursing lost a champion of compassion, education, and nursing excellence. Janice Granger (BSN, ’80) passed away at the age of 90, handing over her nursing legacy to her family.
Granger had a passionate soul, one that fit perfectly in the nursing field. She embodied love and care in all that she did. Any challenge that she faced was met with kindness. This included teaching at the former School of Nursing in 1970 and finishing her BSN in 1980, all while raising five children.
Receiving her bachelor’s degree was one of Granger’s greatest accomplishments. It encouraged her to stay connected to the College of Nursing after graduation. She joined the Alumni Association Board in 1983, serving as an advocate for young alumni within the group until 1991. She also participated in the college’s Board of Visitors from 1983 to 2015.
Her connection to Spartan Nursing began to stretch to other corners of MSU’s campus in the late 1990s. Janice and her husband Alton Granger, a fellow MSU alumnus, began making substantial contributions to their respective programs. Janice offered time and resources to the College of Nursing while Alton supported the College of Engineering and the Civil Engineering Department.
The Grangers honored their dedication to education by opening the Alton and Janice Granger Endowed Student Scholarship Fund in 1991, a scholarship for graduate student nurses. The fund has assisted graduate nursing student complete their advanced degree programs for over 30 years.
Janice recognized the continual need for educational spaces in the College of Nursing. For Spartan Nurses to achieve their full potential, they needed the best technology and academic learning spaces that the college could provide. This need led to Janice donating over $500,000 to the college to renovate simulation lab spaces. The Granger Simulation Lab continues to be built upon to ensure students receive the best hands-on training possible.
The passion for improving learning spaces also extended to nursing research. Janice and Alton were strong supporters of the Bott Building for Nursing Research’s construction. Donating nearly $2 million to the construction project, Bott, which opened in 2012, now houses faculty and student researchers pushing healthcare boundaries to find better patient care practices.
Janice’s dedication to Michigan State University earned her several awards, including the MSU Alumni Association Outstanding Philanthropist Award in 2001, the MSU Alumni Service Award in 2004, and the College of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.
Dr. Leigh Small, dean of the College of Nursing, remembered Janice fondly in a statement to the Spartan Nursing community. “We will miss her spirit and collaboration. We know that our college is stronger because of her kindness and vision.”
Janice is survived by her husband Alton, five children, 15 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. She exemplified sharing love with the world wherever she went, as recognized by her favorite quote: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can,” by John Wesley, an 18th century English cleric and theologian.
Janice’s Spartan legacy will continue to live on in her stead.
