New Scholarship Honors Lifelong Nurse and Educator Michelle Johnson-Anderson

The life and legacy of Michelle Rogene Johnson-Anderson, a lifelong nurse, educator, and mentor, will continue to impact future generations of healthcare professionals through the newly established Michelle Johnson-Anderson Memorial Scholarship at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

A 1979 graduate of Panama Central School, Michelle’s path into nursing began when her high school guidance counselor encouraged her to pursue the profession. Though uncertain at first, she would later describe it as “the greatest decision of my life.”

Michelle earned her associate degree in nursing from Jamestown Community College, becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree and receive the college’s Nurse of Distinction honor. She went on to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Daemen College, graduating magna cum laude.

Her career began at Warren General Hospital, where she worked in home care before joining the Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES School of Practical Nursing in 2004 as an instructor—a role she would hold for nearly 20 years. To her students and colleagues, Michelle was more than a teacher; she was a role model, mentor, and friend whose dedication shaped the next generation of nurses.

“Michelle had a way of making everyone feel seen, capable, and valued,” said Megan Grice, BA, LPN, who studied under Michelle and later became her colleague and friend at BOCES. “She believed in her students long before they believed in themselves, and she never stopped encouraging us to grow—both as nurses and as people. Her impact will ripple through our community for generations.”

In 2020, Michelle was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neuromuscular disease that affects the central nervous system. Even as her illness progressed—and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—Michelle remained committed to her students, continuing to teach through virtual platforms when she could no longer be in the classroom. Her strength and devotion reflected the compassion and resilience she inspired in others throughout her career.

Michelle passed away the following fall, leaving behind personal letters to her nursing colleagues—messages of gratitude and love that reflected the kindness and humility for which she was known.

Throughout her career, Michelle championed her students and colleagues. Years earlier, she helped organize a bedside graduation and pinning ceremony for a student battling terminal cancer and later helped create the Marianne Carpenter Scholarship in that student’s memory. Her compassion for others always extended beyond the classroom.

Now, in that same spirit, Michelle’s friends and colleagues have come together to establish a scholarship in her honor. The Michelle Johnson-Anderson Memorial Scholarship will support students pursuing nursing education—continuing her lifelong mission of caring for others and inspiring the next generation of nurses.

To make a gift to the Michelle Johnson-Anderson Memorial Scholarship, visit crcf.me/mjaf or call (716) 661-3390. For more information on the funds held at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, click here or contact Tina Downey, CFRE at tdowney@crcfonline.org.