Dr. Lois Roelofs, author of "Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self," will speak at Hope College on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in room 1000 of the A. Paul Schaap Science Center.

Dr. Lois Roelofs, author of "Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self," will speak at Hope College on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in room 1000 of the A. Paul Schaap Science Center.

The public is invited.  Admission is free.

Roelofs is a graduate of the Blodgett Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Grand Rapids and retired from the faculty of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill.  She will present the address "Writing a Nurse's Life-Why?"

Refreshments will be available during a book-signing from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the science center's atrium.  Books will also be available for purchase during the event.

In "Caring Lessons," Roelofs describes herself as a rebellious minister's daughter, reluctant nurse, restless mom, perpetual student and, eventually, fun-loving teacher of mental health nursing.  Over a 40-year period, she held positions in eight places, ranging from hospitals to steel mills, and taught in four schools of nursing, including Prairie State College, Valparaiso University, St.Xavier University and Trinity.

In addition to her diploma in nursing from Blodgett Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Roelofs earned a B.H.S. in nursing practice from Governors State University in University Park, Ill.; and an M.S. in psychiatric nursing and a Ph.D. in nursing science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Taking to heart the importance of being a life-long learner, an idea that she drilled into students, she recently completed three years of the University of Chicago Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults.

"Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self" is her first book. All of the proceeds from book sales and speaking engagements go to nursing scholarships at Trinity Christian College.

The A. Paul Schaap Science Center is located at 35 E. 12th St., at 12th Street and College Avenue.