While I Am Here: The Life and Legacy of Anne Larson Zimmerman – A Dramatic Production
Passionate about nursing, human rights and nurses' economic welfare, Anne Laron Zimmerman, 1914-2003, was the long-time executive director of the Illinois Nurses' Association and served as president of the American Nurses Association from 1976 to 1978.
Geraldine Gorman, PhD, RN and Brigid Lusk, PhD, RN worked with students, faculty and nurses in the community to present a performance celebrating the life of Zimmerman. They were awarded funding from the UIC Council for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in order to engage students in a unique learning experience. Two courses were offered over the past academic year researching Zimmerman's life through archival research and oral histories. The research culminated in this performance. Over twenty nurses, directed by students in the theater department, told of Anne's life through words and song.
The script was written by Gorman, and the performance was directed by Electra Tremulis and Christian Helem. It featured 25 nurses and nursing students. The production was supported by a UIC Center for Teaching and Learning grant awarded to Gorman and Lusk.