Ann R. & Neil K. Sawyer

Ann Sawyer was a freshman pre-med student when her Father passed away, unexpectedly, at the age of 41. His death necessitated a change in her career path. She transferred to the University of Minnesota to pursue a B.S. in Public Health Nursing. Sawyer earned her Masters in Counselor Education from Winona State in 1969 and began her work as a counselor at Winona Junior High School. She earned a EdD in Counseling Psychology from U of N Colorado in 1973.

Sawyer worked as a public health nurse for the City of Winona from 1962-1967 before beginning her work at Winona JHS. When President DuFresne approached her regarding the Dean of Nursing position at Winona State the program was in “crisis.” Sawyer is described by her colleagues as “caring, understanding, respectful, kind, and visionary.” All wonderful traits for a counselor and a Dean of Nursing. She brought cohesion and stability to the nursing program and was instrumental in expanding to the Rochester campus. Sawyer was with Winona State from 1975 through 1982. After retirement, she opened a private practice counseling center in Winona (1982-1986). She was a very active Winona volunteer: Red Cross Blood Drive, Hospice Patient Care, and Retired Educators. Ann passed away on November 21, 2016.

Scholarship contact is Neil.