Jeannette R. Folta

Jeannette R. Folta (1927–1991), known as 'Jan,' was a pioneering sociologist and nurse educator at the University of Vermont (UVM). She held a joint appointment as Professor of Sociology and previously served as Associate Professor in Nursing and Sociology. As the first woman to lead the College of Liberal Arts as Department Chair, she championed gender equality and interdisciplinary collaboration between nursing and sociology. Her academic journey included a PhD in Sociology and Nursing from the University of Washington (1963), followed by roles as Assistant Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (1972–76).

Research interests centered on death and dying, women’s development, and global health equity. She co-founded UVM’s Alpha Kappa Delta sociology honor society and contributed to the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Notable publications include A Sociological Framework for Patient Care (1966, 2nd ed. 1979) with Edith Deck, and unfinished works on grief processes and African women’s experiences.

Her advocacy earned accolades such as the Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (1978) and Vermont’s Equal Rights Amendment award. Jan’s legacy endures through the Jeannette R. Folta Memorial Award, honoring resilient students pursuing graduate study.