Wagner Receives Esther Marks Volunteer Award
The Esther Marks Memorial Volunteer Service Award is given in memory of Esther Marks to honor her dedication to service, tzedakah, justice, and righteousness, and to encourage others to follow in her example. The 2025 recipient of the Esther Marks Memorial Volunteer Service Award is Dr. Nancy Wagner. Nancy began volunteering at an early age. “As a teen, I was president of my Temple youth group and have continued in that path as an adult, both in Jewish and secular roles, as part of committees and often in leadership. I feel it’s my contribution to improve our communities and the world,” said Nancy. She credits her family and the memory of her parents as her inspiration to improve our community. This included her career in the nursing field.
“As I moved along in my career as a nurse and a nursing Professor and Director at YSU, my students, their successes, and their impact on the health of our community were important to me. Different experiences in my role, including studying abroad in Mexico and Israel, were inspiring. And, in 2020, I led the creation of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at YSU, providing the first vaccines to over 5,000 students, faculty, and their families,” said Nancy.
Nancy retired in 2023 and continues to be involved at YSU in the role of Professor emerita. . Currently, she serves as the president of the Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Alumni Association in Cleveland, where she is a proud alumna of their doctoral program.
“Our goal is to provide support to the current undergraduate and graduate students at the School of Nursing, including international travel, scholarships, and other needs,” explained Nancy.
For the past six years, Nancy has served as the Chair of the Federation’s Human Services Advisory Board. In that role, she is the lay leader overseeing Heritage Manor, Levy Gardens, and Jewish Family & Community Services. Through her role as Chair, she is also a member of the Federation Board, Stanley Engel Fund, Mildred Engel Nurse Scholarship Fund, HR/Personnel, Budget, Capital, Organizational Evaluation and Planning, Levy Gardens, Senior Services Spirituality & Culture and JFCS Committees.
While there currently isn’t an active chapter of Hadassah, she continues to work closely with the organization on the national and international levels on the Hadassah National Nurses Council and currently serves as the co-chair of the Hadassah Nurse Resource Committee to assist the Hadassah Henrietta Szold School of Nursing in Jerusalem with a long-term improvement plan.
Nancy gives this advice to anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer, “If sitting on a committee or board is not your interest, seek out other opportunities to make an impact. In addition to the Federation agencies, there are many opportunities in our community to provide service, especially to children and the elderly, or anything that you are passionate about. Even if you can only do a small act, it makes a big impact on others.”
“As a volunteer and lay leader at the Federation, I continue to take pride in the services we offer to the Jewish and secular communities. Especially during the early COVID days, we collaboratively made very good decisions for the benefit of the residents, tenants, and clients. It was inspiring to be a part of those successes,” said Nancy.
Nancy’s hobbies include spending time with her husband, Barry, her children and grandchildren, and her cherished friends. She enjoys traveling and playing golf.