When Juanita Fox ’78 Gryfinski closes her eyes, she can still envision the hallways, classrooms, and spaces in LeBien Hall, transporting herself back to the late 1970s. She can still feel the nerves of giving her first presentation, as well as the pride she felt when she learned the basics of nursing. Gryfinski was living in the Chicagoland area when she first discovered Valparaiso University’s College of Nursing. At the time, she had been offered scholarship assistance at other universities for her writing talents in journalism, but felt called to serve differently. Driven by this new mission and determined to make a vocation out of serving others, Juanita recognized the unique nursing program that Valpo offered. She knew that attending the University would give her the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to grow professionally and spiritually in her faith.
When she first arrived on campus, Juanita knew that a story was about to unfold there. Though the rigor of the nursing program took much of her time and attention, she still made time to fully embrace what Valpo had to offer. She pledged Alpha Phi Delta sorority, which provided her with opportunities for fun as well as opportunities to explore different leadership roles within the organization. During the holiday season, Gryfinski recalls attending Christmas performances in the Chapel of the Resurrection and being so enamored of their beauty that the significance of these experiences has stayed with her even years later. Her most unforgettable experience, though, was the day that marked the beginning of an incredible journey of service and an esteemed career – the day of her nursing school pinning.
After graduating from Valpo, Gryfinski would go on to earn her master’s degree in the early 1980s and became the first nurse to sit on the ethics committee of a 700-bed hospital, and one of the first on the speaker’s bureau. When opportunity called, and doors opened, Juanita walked through.
Early on, Grysfinski saw that school nurses needed a stronger voice in the policies that guided their work. Through the Illinois Association of School Nurses and the Illinois Coalition of Nursing Organizations, she became that voice, helping to influence statewide decisions and playing a key role in amending Illinois’s 2017 Nurse Practice Act. Her efforts expanded what nurses can do in schools and communities across the state. Her collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC on school-based varicella surveillance contributed to the state’s two-dose vaccine requirement. She also helped establish a therapy dog program for schoolchildren in Kane County, which later received statewide recognition and resulted in published research.
Juanita has also shared her expertise and utilized her master’s degree in public policy to write and present on clinical practice, leadership, and public health over the years. Her recent article, “Show Me the Evidence: COVID-19 and School Nursing in the 21st Century,” reflects her hands-on work with public health partners during the pandemic.
Throughout her career, Juanita’s impact has been recognized with honors such as IASN’s Nurse Administrator of the Year, the National Nurse Leadership Award, and a Distinguished Service Award for her support of public education during COVID-19. In 2024, Gryfinski received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Valparaiso University, the highest honor bestowed upon Valpo alumni. The recognition from her alma mater was a full-circle moment for Juanita, one she says left her truly humbled and deeply honored.
Gryfinski is now semi-retired and living in Texas with her husband, Dr. Marty Gryfinski, M.D., who recently retired from his neurosurgical practice. Looking back on her career, she says she hopes her legacy in healthcare will be that nursing always has a seat at the table and that, because of the work she took part in, healthcare will have changed for the better.
Juanita shares that her time at Valpo taught her that God will sometimes ask you to do hard things, but he will also equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to complete them. The one word she uses to sum up her feelings about the University is “possible”. She says, “It won’t be easy, but so much is possible at Valpo. You’ll have to work for your accomplishments, but you’ll have tremendous cheerleaders and supporters along the way who will keep you going.”
