Newswise — Dominican University is proud to announce the naming of the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing in recognition of a generous gift by David MacNeil, CEO of MacNeil Automotive (WeatherTech), in honor of his late mother, a pediatric nurse and teacher. The newly named school will boost Dominican’s reputation in the health sciences and substantially enhance its capacity for providing highly trained, diverse nursing professionals for local and underserved communities in metropolitan Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois.
MacNeil is an alumnus of Dominican and holds an honorary doctoral degree from the university. He founded WeatherTech, well known for its signature line of car and truck mats, in 1989 as well as its dedication to using only American-made parts. Today, the company is a multimillion-dollar, vertically integrated business producing a wide range of high-end automotive accessories.
“It is David’s entrepreneurial spirit, demand for quality and genuine care for his employees and customers that Dominican seeks to instill in its nursing graduates,” said Dominican University President Donna Carroll. “David understands the demands of a service industry; his joy in giving back is a model for our students.”
Elizabeth MacNeil taught pediatric nursing most of her life, at Chicago area institutions including the University of Illinois at Chicago, St. Anne’s Hospital and St. Mary of Nazareth. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Xavier’s University and a master’s degree from Roosevelt University. Prior to her careers in nursing and teaching, she served as an officer for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“I inherited my drive and sense of adventure from my mother and those qualities have been instrumental in building my business,” said MacNeil. “I am at a point in my career and success that I can say, ‘thanks, Mom,’ and give back to my alma mater. It is a good feeling.”
The MacNeil School of Nursing, part of Dominican’s Borra College of Health Sciences, is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and has competitive standards and strong outcomes. Nursing students work with two state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratories and have opportunities for study and research in areas including mental health, obstetrics, pediatrics and critical care. The school also provides an array of clinical experiences through partnerships with well-respected area health providers, including Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, MacNeal Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and West Suburban Medical Center.
For more information about Dominican University’s Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing, contact Yajaira Gonzalez at [email protected] or (708) 524-6634.
About Dominican University
Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, the Borra College of Health Sciences, the Brennan School of Business and the College of Applied Social Sciences. The university also offers a doctoral degree in information studies. In the 2019 issue of America’s Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report ranked Dominican University #11 of all Midwest regional master’s level universities. The magazine also ranked Dominican as the best value in the State of Illinois.
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