Bonnie M. Hagerty, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing in the School of Nursing, retired from active faculty status on April 30, 2020.

Professor Hagerty received her B.S. (1974) degree from Russell Sage College, her M.S. (1977) from the University of Maryland, and her Ph.D. (1989) degree from the University of Michigan. She joined the University of Michigan faculty as a lecturer in 1987, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1990, and associate professor in 1997. She served as the interim director of the Division of Acute, Chronic, and Long-Term Care from 2006-07. She served as the director of undergraduate studies from 2007-08, assistant dean for undergraduate studies from 2008-11, and associate dean for undergraduate studies since 2011.

Professor Hagerty made considerable contributions to the teaching, research, and service missions of the School of Nursing. As one of the major accomplishments of her career, Professor Hagerty developed a theory of human relatedness with a focus on the sense of belonging, and designed an instrument to measure this concept known as the Sense of Belonging Instrument (SOBI). This instrument was published, translated into several languages, and used worldwide for research relating to belonging, depression, suicide, identity, and other indicators of social and psychological functioning. The results of her research indicated that sense of belonging is more powerful than social support in relation to interpersonal functioning difficulties. In related work, Professor Hagerty also conducted research on depression with a specific focus on depression in the military, adherence to antidepressant medications, self-management of recurrent depression, and the relationship between depression and sense of belonging. She taught courses in the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs. These included undergraduate courses in psychiatric-mental health nursing and research, as well as graduate courses on research measurement and advanced practice in psychiatric-mental health nursing. Professor Hagerty mentored students who were interested in research and wanted to become involved in projects for additional research experience. She also worked with graduate students on their projects for various courses, doctoral preliminary examinations, dissertations, and master’s degree projects.

The Regents now salute this distinguished nursing educator for her dedicated service by naming Bonnie M. Hagerty, associate professor emerita of nursing.