Dr. Faye Gary
Faye Annette Gary was born in June of 1941 in Ocala, Florida. The second of five children, she grew up with her parents and siblings on the Gary Farm in Ocala. From a young age her intellect and bravery were evident. At her high school graduation she was recognized for her academic, intellectual and leadership capabilities.
Her education continued at Florida A & M University (FAMU) where, in 1962, Gary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. While at FAMU Gary was an active member of the Student Nurses Association, College Honor Society, Women’s Congress, the Beta Alpha Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Student Government Association, the NAACP and the YWCA.
Always in the pursuit of excellence, Gary received a master’s degree from St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois in 1966. She was a student of the university’s first graduate degree program in psychiatric nursing. Gary received her doctorate degree from the University of Florida in 1973 and eventually joined the faculty of the School of Nursing; where she became a tenured professor. Dr. Gary was an American Council of Education Fellow, mentored by Father Timothy S. Healy, then President of Georgetown University, in 1984. After 20 years on the faculty at the University of Florida, in 2003 Dr. Gary received a distinguished appointment as the Medical Mutual of Ohio Kent W. Clapp Chair and Professor of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. She served in this capacity until her passing on March 1, 2026.
Dr. Gary was a thought leader and researcher in mental health equity. She secured grants totaling more than $24 million over the course of her career and shaped policy involving child and adolescent mental health, health disparities and domestic violence. Her dedication to this work never waned.
Family was central to Dr. Gary’s life. The proud mother of four sons, she adored her grandchildren, and was dedicated to her family. This dedication extended to the students in her life. Over the course of her career Dr. Gary taught and mentored hundreds of nursing students; including the current dean of the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Dr. Ron Hickman.
Dr. Gary was a champion for youth. While at CWRU, she founded the Provost Scholars Program in 2013, working tirelessly to support the growth of all of her beloved Scholars. She often rode the bus home with students in the program to be sure they arrived at their homes safely after programming. Dr. Gary’s belief in and mentorship of Provost Scholars continued faithfully without interruption until her death. Her greatest wish was to see all her students succeed.
When accepting the American Academy of Nursing 2024 Living Legend award, Dr. Gary asked the audience to “look to the horizon to see what’s not there, what could be there, and how you could make a difference.” May her words and memory be an inspiration to all.
Program History
The Provost Scholars Program was the brainchild of Case Western Reserve University Distinguished Professor of Nursing Dr. Faye Gary and two other educational thought leaders; CWRU Provost William A. “Bud” Baeslack III, and East Cleveland City Schools Superintendent Dr. Myrna Loy Patton Corley. Together they worked to create an enduring program that would improve the academic outcome of students in the Cleveland and East Cleveland communities. Through mentoring, networking, tutoring, and relationship building with the CWRU community, the Provost Scholars Program encourages scholars to explore educational pathways and career options.
Launched on January 31, 2013 initially as a partnership between Case Western Reserve University and the East Cleveland City Schools, the program has grown over time. In the fall of 2021 Provost Scholars expanded to include Ginn Academy in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). Two years later, Cleveland School of the Arts joined the program. All of these school partnerships remain to this day.
“What I’ll always cherish is how she spoke life into people. Her words stayed with you - they lifted you, guided you, and reminded you of who you were meant to become.”
- Lavonia Dulaney, Parent
“She always had the students’ success as a North Star that inspired her and others. Dr. Gary had a pastor’s heart, always aware of the needs of the scholars, even after they left the program. She had a genuine belief in every person and their ability to succeed.”
- Dr. Mark Chupp, Original Provost Scholars Mentor