Bobby Coker School of Education Shultz~ love for others centers around 'adopted' family "A family is a circle of friends who love you," according to Dr. Cathleen Shultz, dean ofHarding's School of Nursing. Her circle has grown since she married Sam Shultz in 1983. She and her husband have adopted 36 children and now have 13 grandchildren. Anatural evolution broughtthe Shultzes such a large family. Within a year of their marriage, it seemed they were constantly surrounded by children who needed the unconditional love, support and guidance that the couple offered. The Shultzes, who have no biological children, had an abundance of love to share; thus was born the idea of bringing these children into their circle and giving them the Christian family support they needed. The idea to share their lives with others partly resulted from the realization that parents are not the only ones who influence children's lives significantly. Sam Shultz is a pediatrician and is well aware of the unfulfilled needs of many children. The Shultzes were naturally drawn to children of the high school and college age group, and they found these children were also drawn to them. Often these kids just needed someone to talk to, trust, and know that theywould still be loved no matter what was said. Although there have been many crises within this family , Shultz sees the experience as overwhelmingly positive because, even out of the crises, she and the children have grown. Her children range in age from 21-36. Watching the children mature and seeing that, through their struggles, they are still good people who are growing with God has brought Shultz and her husband the most enjoyment. Though none of the adoptions are official, each child is given a certificate of adoption which they can either accept or reject with no fear of the consequences. Shultz feels that God has given each person a gift to reach out to others; she has used this gift in a unique and effective way. For couples who are depressed about not having biological children, Shultz would recommend adoption as a way to fulfill their lives. "God may not give you what you want, but there is an abundance of what you need around you. If you can shift your frame of thinking into helping you serve God through children, He just puts them there for you," she said. Recruited by Dr. Neale Pryor, Shultz came to Harding in 1976. She was appointed to head the Department of Nursing in 1977. Shultz holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, Emory UniRandy McLeod Carl Mitchell Dean B. Priest School of Business College of Bible and Religion College of Arts and Sciences versity and the University of South Carolina. She has published articles in 10 magazines and numerous books. She also worked on President Clinton 's Task Force on Health as a member of the advisory board dealing with nurses and nurse practitioners. She and her husband know the Clintons through their work with children. Shultz 's job entails hiring faculty and staff for the nursing program and teaching classes. She feels that Harding has encouraged her to grow as a woman and as a Christian. She has been recognized twice, in 1990 and in 1995, with Harding 's Distinguished Teacher Award. She is on the Harding University Science and Nursing Council , a sub-group of the President's Council. Under Shultz 's direction, the Harding chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the national nursing honor society, received the Founder's Award in 1993. Harding's nursing program has grown 150 percent since 1987, and now averages 55 graduates a year. Shultz's goal for the program, which had its 25th anniversary this year, is to prepare nursing graduates for a changing health care system where they are challenged to serve others while maintaining quality care with reasonable costs. - Alyne Hoover Cathleen Shultz School of Nursing
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