KINGSTON, R.I. — Jan. 23, 2001 — Riverside’s Carol Lietar and Warwick’s Betsy Nield have made so many contributions to nurses in Rhode Island that it should come as no surprise that they are the foundations of a new endowment that benefits the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing. “Carol recently came to me and asked what the College needs,” said Dayle Joseph, dean of the URI College of Nursing. “I told her we need support to attract nationally renowned speakers to URI,” Joseph said. “We want to bring in speakers who will benefit nurses throughout Rhode Island, our students and the University.” That’s when the $25,000 Lietar-Nield Lecture Series Endowment was born. Lietar, in establishing the endowment, wanted to honor her very good friend, Betsy Nield, upon her retirement from the Community College of Rhode Island after 25 years. Nield has also been a tireless supporter of URI. “Betsy has been instrumental in organizing many College of Nursing events over the years,” Joseph said. She has served as president of the URI Nurses Alumni Association and oversees the College’s History Room in White Hall. Nield earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from URI. Lietar, a nurse-practitioner, who runs an independent skin care practice, is a clinical nursing instructor at URI. She served as the executive director of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association. She also worked at Rhode Island Hospital and the state Department of Health. Lietar earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from URI. “Carol’s wonderful gift will help us bring in a top speaker about nursing,” Joseph said. Joseph said the Rhode Island State Nurses Association honored Lietar and Nield by making a $1,000 donation to the endowment. “This was quite touching because both Carol and Betsy have given a lot to RISNA over the years. RISNA is not a wealthy organization so this was a major donation.” Those who want to donate to the endowment may call Joseph at 874-2766 for information. For Information: Dayle Joseph, 874-2766, Dave Lavallee, 874-2116