Mavis TeSlaa was a dedicated nurse, educator and advocate whose life’s work reflected a deep commitment to compassionate care, nursing education and service. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa in 1979 and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Arizona in 1994. She was a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Educator.

Throughout her career, Mavis served in a variety of nursing roles, including rehabilitation nurse, school nurse, director of nursing, outpatient rehabilitation nurse and case manager. In 2000, she joined the Allen College faculty as an assistant professor, where she taught in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for 14 years and influenced generations of future nurses through her knowledge, mentorship and dedication to education.

Mavis’s contributions to nursing and education were recognized with the Faculty Scholarly Award and Faculty Recognition Award at Allen College and the 2012 Great Nurse of Iowa award. Upon her retirement in 2014, she was awarded emeritus faculty status. Her legacy lives on through the many nurses she educated and inspired, her service to the nursing profession and community and the compassionate care she championed throughout her life.