Sigma Biographical Sketch: Mary Lou De Natale, Ed.D., R.N.

During the last thirty-two years, I have enjoyed my work at the Chapter level with Sigma Theta Tau.  I have been an active member of Sigma Theta Tau (Alpha Gamma Chapter--32 years) and (Beta Gamma Chapter—17 years).   I have been an active member of these two chapters during this time with service to the Alpha Gamma Chapter (SJSU) as Vice President (4 years), Corresponding Secretary (4 years), Faculty Counselor (2 years), President-Elect (1 year), and President (2 years) and on the Board of Directors for this Chapter. The other committees, I have served include: Program Committee and the Research Committee.  Through the Beta Gamma Chapter, I have supported the Awards and Scholarship Committee (3 years) and as Corresponding Secretary (4 years) and Membership Involvement (7 years); Faculty Advisor (2 years). 

I have been involved with five Biennium Conferences and participated in oral paper presentations in Los Angeles, San Diego, Toronto, Ireland, and Baltimore.  I have participated actively in Sigma Theta Tau as co-chair of Resource Center in San Diego, California.  I have served as the Membership Involvement Counterpart for Region 1 for Sigma Theta Tau International.  Additionally, I have supported and served on the Protocol Committee for two Biennium conferences in Indianapolis and Toronto, Canada.  In the Fall 2004-2008, I was a reviewer for abstracts; participant on the Governance Task Force, and an Award Reviewer for Newsletters.

Currently, I am serving as one of the Faculty Advisors for the Beta Gamma Chapter. During this past year, I have been working on two International Task Forces for Sigma Theta Tau International: Membership Involvement Retention Task Force and the International Service Learning Task Force.   My research interests continue in the direction of aging issues, technology, and access to care/ medications for families/older adults.  I enjoy volunteering for the Rota Care Clinic in Mountain View and have served on the Senior Care Commission of Santa Clara Valley for the past seven years.  I am honored to have contributed photography and poetry to the Sigma Theta Tau book entitled: The HeArt of Nursing.