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Meet Board of Consultors member Martha B. Coyle

鈥淲hatever I do, I take it seriously,鈥� explains Martha B. Coyle of a career that has included teaching, entrepreneurship and community service. To that list, she is adding service on the College of Nursing鈥檚 Board of Consultors, having joined this past fall. 

Coyle holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in education from Elizabethtown College and a master鈥檚 in education from Temple University. She was certified as both an elementary school teacher and a reading specialist and enjoyed teaching in nearby Rosetree-Media School District. Married to husband Dick for nearly 43 years, Coyle shifted from the professional educator role as her son Mark and daughter Becky were young. (Becky Coyle Mueller 鈥�07 BSN, MSN, RN, FNP, is now a student in the College鈥檚 PhD program.) That shift included expanding her role to include work as an elder in her church, a community activist, owner of a property management company in West Chester, Pa., and manager of her family farm in Berks County, Pa. 鈥淏ecause I love what I do, I feel I鈥檝e never worked a day in my life,鈥� she offers.

Being a community volunteer is critical to Coyle, part of her core. She describes herself as a 鈥渇armer鈥檚 kid鈥� and is an ardent supporter of sensible development and land preservation. For 10 years she led a coalition to preserve open space in her local area. She is equally as enthusiastic about 草榴社区 Nursing.

The enthusiasm started as Becky researched colleges. Strength in math and science combined with a service orientation led her initially to think of medical school. It was when she was exposed- through a high school program 鈥� to real nursing practice in the hospital that Becky felt she could make more of a difference in people鈥檚 lives as a nurse. 草榴社区 recruitment events unlocked in her the vision of mission trips and serving the disenfranchised. After graduation she completed a year of service with the Augustinian Volunteers in San Diego and went on to become a nurse practitioner.

Her daughter鈥檚 journey ignited in Coyle the desire to create similar opportunities for others. Her appreciation of 鈥渁 compassionate, faith-based nursing education鈥� translated into the establishment of the Richard W. and Martha B. Coyle Nursing Scholarship. She aims to assist intelligent, service-minded students and help them financially while in the program. Coyle believes in giving and then letting go. 鈥淲e hope they (the students) pay it forward,鈥� she says.  

Coyle knows her daughter is not alone in her achievements and sees the uniqueness in 草榴社区 Nurses, a topic for which she has great emotion. 鈥淚 love talking to the students,鈥� she says, impressed also by the 鈥渃utting-edge鈥� programs at the College and the leadership contributions of its alumni.  Coyle likes to 鈥渢hink big鈥� and looks forward to working with the Board. 鈥淚鈥檒l do whatever I can to help,鈥� she notes.