Carole Ann Anderson

Carole was a remarkable person who led a wondrously full, vibrant, and productive life. She started her career as a psychiatric nurse, and after pursuing advanced degrees at the University of Colorado (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.), she found her calling in higher education where she worked for over 40 years. She was a faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Nursing and an Associate Dean at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. She was named the first permanent Dean of The Ohio State University College of Nursing, a role that she held for 15 years, and from which she “retired” for the first time. For the next decade, she quickly became the doyenne of academic administrators, being so capable that she was appointed interim Dean of the Graduate School and then the Dean of the College of Dentistry, which she led for 5 years. In her spare time, Carole served as a vice provost until she retired fully in 2011. Beyond these formal roles, Carole was an influential national leader in nursing education, including recognition as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, and service as President of the American Academy of Colleges of Nursing. Carole’s accomplishments in each of these roles are innumerable and her legacy as a colleague, mentor, role model and friend will live on. She was most proud when she received the Ohio State University’s Distinguished Service Award in 2013.

Carole was driven by her deep commitment to improving the lives of people, particularly those most vulnerable. Early in the AIDS epidemic she established a counseling practice to support individuals who were navigating a new, and deadly disease and served on the board of the Columbus AIDS Task Force. She also served on the Columbus Board of Health, the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Board, and on the board of PrimaryOne Health. She was recognized as a YWCA Woman of Achievement for her leadership and impact on the community.

In both her professional and personal life, Carole was beloved for her quick wit, her honest and direct approach to vexing issues, and her (often irreverent) sense of humor which could diffuse the most challenging of situations. She attributed her facility for personal communication to her basic interest in deviant behavior, which had long been an academic interest. She had a true zest for life. She loved travel, meeting new people, and most of all, chatting and laughing with her closest friends and family. She was generous in all aspects of her life, and even the youngest members of her family will remember her ability to pick out the most unique and thoughtful gifts. She readily took on new challenges, the most significant of which was managing hemodialysis at home for the last decade, dealing with end stage polycystic kidney disease.

Carole is survived by her husband, Clark Anderson, her daughter Julie Robbins (Jerry Friedman), sister Jeanne Lusson, stepdaughters Renate Anderson (Steve Newman) and Claudia Anderson (Kevin Rohnstock), and a large and loving circle of family and friends who will miss her terribly.

To honor Carole’s legacy, we will hold a Memorial Service at 3:00p.m. on Saturday, June 17,2023 at the Ohio State University Faculty Club, 181 Oval Drive South, Columbus, OH 43210. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to help us lift up Carole’s legacy by donating to the Carole A. Anderson Graduate Fellowship Endowment Fund at The Ohio State University (give.osu.edu/caroleanderson). Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences. Funeral arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST.