Uncrowned Community Builders

Gladys Jean Diji began her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1973. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from D'Youville College in 1986 and a Master of Science in Nursing from D'Youville in 1991. Gladys also earned another specialty in Community Addictions Nursing from D'Youville in 1998 and was asked to join the faculty in 1998.

Gladys also is employed by the Buffalo Psychiatric Center for the New York State Office of Mental Health. For over twenty-four years, she has worked in different capacities at the facility including Licensed Practical Nurse, RN staff nurse, Supervising Nurse, and Community Mental Health Nurse Program Manager. Her most recent accomplishment at the facility is her appointment to Acting Diversity Planning and Compliance Administrator. Gladys holds a few special interests dear to her. She is specifically interested in the impact of prayer and spiritual care on health, the focus of her research project in graduate school. She is also interested in the impact of culture on health related illnesses and improving health care education.

She has a history of community involvement and has been the recipient of several awards and honors including the Quality Assurance award from Buffalo Psychiatric Center, for which she is a three-time recipient, and the Award of Appreciation from the Buffalo Public Schools. Gladys maintains her commitment to caring for the needs of others through her involvement in the church community. She is a parish nurse at the St. John Baptist Church and was appointed by the Pastor to serve on the committee to develop an eight-bed, faith-based hospice and palliative care facility in the Buffalo Fruitbelt Community.

Gladys serves on the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. (BFNC), a human service organization providing services to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities. She also serves on committees at D'Youville College such as the Health and Wellness Committee, Education Committee, and she chairs the Diversity Planning and Compliance Advisory Committee. She is also a member of several service organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Phi Omega Chapter and the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Zeta Nu Chapter.

Gladys serves on the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. (BFNC), a human service organization providing services to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities. She also serves on committees at D'Youville College such as the Health and Wellness Committee, Education Committee, and she chairs the Diversity Planning and Compliance Advisory Committee. She is also a member of several service organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Phi Omega Chapter and the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Zeta Nu Chapter.