A respected senior figure at Robert Gordon’s University has been honoured at a special event marking her retirement after three decades at the institution.
Alison McLennan is leaving the School of Nursing and Midwifery where she most recently worked as head of student experience.
A reception was held in Mrs McLennan’s honour at the university’s health and social care building on Thursday, April 13.
Staff, students, friends and family gathered for the occasion to recognise her contribution to nursing and education and the lasting impression she has left on the university.
While Mrs McLennan built up lasting relationships and made many friends during her time at the university, she also had strong family connections there. Her husband, Norman, has an honorary professorship with the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment and her three children, Holly, Stewart and Lucy have all previously worked or volunteered at RGU Sport.
Professor Ian Murray, head of the school of nursing and midwifery said: “Alison’s contribution over the years has been wide-ranging and she has made critical contributions to a number of key areas, more recently in the area of enhancing student experience which she tackled with great enthusiasm and produced fantastic results over the last two years.
“She has been an integral part of the team and I know I speak for everyone in the school when I say that we all wish her our very best and a happy, fruitful retirement.”
Mrs McLennan was born in St. Andrew’s and raised in Cupar. With her mother being a charge nurse and her father a hospital joiner at Stratheden Hospital, it is no surprise that she then chose a career in nursing.
After leaving school she attended Dundee College of Technology (later Abertay University) where she graduated with a degree in nursing, RGN, RNLD and a commendation.
In the following years the 55-year-old worked as a registered nurse before moving to nursing education in 1987, a field that she has remained in ever since.
During her time at RGU she has held a number of senior roles while also managing to attain an MSc in nursing from Manchester University.
Reflecting on her career, Mrs McLennan said: “I’ve always taken pride in helping people – whether it’s a patient, a struggling student or an entire school – and I’ve been incredibly lucky to have a career that has given me those experiences, along with a family of nurses and midwives to share them all with.”
Though she has no immediate plans for her retirement, she said that she was looking forward to having more time to relax, adding: “This is will be the first time in my life that I don’t have a real direction and I’m looking forward to the freedom of it.
