Louise Conyers Selanders

Dr. Selanders was born on October 31, 1947 in Marion, Ohio to Rayl and Mary (Gracely) Conyers. She attended Marion Public Schools and graduated from Harding High School in 1965. Louise attended Michigan State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1969.

Louise married William Selanders on July 11, 1970 in Marion, Ohio. They lived briefly in New York while she completed her Masters degree in Nursing at Adelphi University. In 1975 they moved to East Lansing and Louise began her career as a nursing instructor at Michigan State University, where she remained until retirement as a full professor in 2013.

Dr. Selanders served in various capacities during her tenure at MSU, finishing her career as Director of Graduate Programs for the College of Nursing. She taught in the Study Abroad Program for Nursing in London for over 25 years. Louise was an internationally recognized authority on Florence Nightingale and the history of nursing. She traveled widely throughout the world lecturing on Nightingale’s theories. She was a founding member of the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health, and authored numerous articles and books on Nightingale and nursing theory. For the 72nd General Episcopal Church Convention in Philadelphia in July 1997, Louise wrote three of five documents to accompany the Resolution Proposal to request the reconsideration of Nightingale’s Commemoration and for her name to be placed on the church calendar list of Lesser Feast and Fasts in the Book of Common Prayer. The official vote to accept Nightingale to the church calendar occurred in July 2000.

Louise was a lifelong Episcopalian and an active member of the parish at St. Katherine’s Williamston, serving on the vestry and as Senior Warden. She taught classes for the Expectant Parent Organization in Lansing and was a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She was a partner in Education U.K. International, an organization that brought nurse educators from the U.S. and Great Britain together to learn about their respective methods of teaching nursing. Louise was an avid member of the MSU Alumni Band, playing her piccolo at many hockey and basketball games. She considered it an act of revenge since women weren’t allowed in the Marching Band when she was in school at MSU.

Louise is survived by her husband of 52 years, William, and their children, Kate (Chris) Hagerman and Aimee (Ben) Wright; grandchildren Colin, Evan, Davy and Piper and her dog Rudy.

She was predeceased by her parents, and infant siblings Anne and John Conyers.

A funeral service will be held on January 3, 2023 at St. Katherine's Episcopal Church, 4650 Meridian Road, Williamston Michigan 48895. Visitation 9:00 to 11:00 AM. Service starting at 11:00AM. Louise will be interred on Sunday, May 6, at St. Katherine’s Columbarium at the start of National Nurses Week, following the 9:30 worship service.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Forster Woods Adult Day Care Center, 4656 Meridian Road, Williamston Michigan 48895. Louise spent some of her happiest days there in the last few months.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Selanders family.