"I've found that adult learners are serious and enthusiastic about their learning experiences as well as engaged in dealing with the complexities of adult, family, social and professional life."

—Margaret "Margo" Governo, EdD

Meet a Mentor:
Margaret "Margo" Governo, EdD

Margaret "Margo" Governo’s emotional connection to healthcare stems from her earliest experiences.

As a child, Governo witnessed her mother's struggle with a chronic respiratory condition, often accompanying her to medical appointments and soaking in the care and compassion she received from the nurses.

"The whole experience for a little one was overwhelming," said Governo who has been a registered nurse for 52 years. "While my mother was receiving her treatments, the only saving grace that jolted me out of frozen fear was the gentle voice and reassuring nature of her nurse, Valentina. She served as a capable and caring professional who took time to offer comfort to a frightened child. That image impressed me and led me to select nursing as a career."

After high school, Governo enrolled in Brooklyn College, in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she earned her associate degree in nursing. As a licensed diploma nurse, she found a position at Maimonides Medical Center, also in Brooklyn, working as an RN in various units covering a wide array of nursing specialties.

She remained at Maimonides until she joined her husband, who had been drafted into the United States Marine Corps., stationed in California as standby for the Vietnam War. After spending two years in California, Governo returned to Brooklyn with her newborn daughter, to await her husband's return.

Once back in New York, Governo enrolled in Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., earning her bachelor of science in nursing degree in 1978. She continued her education to earn her master of education degree (EdM) in curriculum design and development and her doctor of education (EdD) degree in nursing education from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York, N.Y.

Since then, Governo has assumed positions in higher education, among them with her alma mater, Wagner College, serving as department chair until her retirement in 2013. "I was recently granted professor emerita status from Wagner and, although I am now freed up to enjoy travel time with my husband, I still find the time to cover several courses at Wagner as well as with Thomas Edison," she explained.

Governo found herself working with Thomas Edison State beginning in 2010, when she served as a volunteer preceptor for a graduate nursing program student who was working to complete her teaching Practicum hours in the MSN program's nurse educator track.

"I placed the student in one of my courses at Wagner and assigned her to an undergraduate mental health nursing course to student-teach with me and several other Wagner College faculty," she said. "The same year, I was invited by a member of Thomas Edison's W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing staff to mentor nursing courses for the program. The rest, as they say, is history."

Governo continues to serve as a mentor for The Management of Stress and Tension (SOS-320) course where she instructs students about the nature of stress and its impact on the body, mind and spirit of the individual.

"Students are assigned course reflections and many consider the assigned personal development plans to be a pertinent and valuable resource for them to use throughout their lives, said Governo. "I've found that adult learners are serious and enthusiastic about their learning experiences as well as engaged in dealing with the complexities of adult, family, social and professional life. Students from different backgrounds and age groups often reach out to each other throughout the course, interact and offer support and insights that ultimately add to the scope of the learning experience."

As a compliment to her nursing education endeavors, Governo also engages in volunteer work related to the issue of substance abuse in society. Her efforts are focused on recognizing the signs of substance abuse and what to do about it.

Governo has a devoted husband of 47 years, Tom, and two adult children, Nicole and Christopher, as well as three grandsons. On her off hours, she can be found with her family sailing on the Long Island Sound.

Learn more about the programs available at the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing.

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