Founding dean of new nursing division named

Ruth (Pakieser) Macnamara, Ph.D.

Ruth (Pakieser) Macnamara, Ph.D., was appointed assistant dean of the new UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division in Norfolk, effective July 1. As the founding and transitional dean, she will help identify a permanent assistant dean by January 2011.

Dr. Macnamara has served as an associate professor and clinical instructor in mental health nursing since 2007. In the past year, she has laid the groundwork for UNMC’s new division that will serve the northeast region of Nebraska.

The facility, named the J. Paul and Eleanor McIntosh College of Nursing, is scheduled to open in 2010 and will house nursing programs of UNMC and Northeast Community College. Private donations of $11.9 million funded the project. Annual operating costs will be funded by the state.

Dr. Macnamara’s file Home: Grew up north of Mason City, Iowa; Has called Nebraska home since 1963. Education: Bachelor’s degree in nursing, Creighton University, 1965; Master’s degree in educational psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1970; Doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1986; and Master’s degree in nursing, UNMC, 1993. Background: Includes 40 years of academic nursing experience including: Instructor, St. Joesph School of Nursing, Omaha Nursing program director and division chairwoman at Mount Marty College of Nursing, Yankton, S.D. Dean, the School of Health Care Professionals, College of Saint Mary, Omaha.

This is Dr. Macnamara’s second stint with the UNMC College of Nursing. She previously served as director of the UNMC College of Nursing Learning Resource Center from 1988 to 1996. She also served as assistant professor in the UNMC School of Allied Health Professions from 1988 to 1996.

Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, said Dr. Macnamara has a distinguished career in nursing education and administration.

“Dr. Macnamara brings a wealth of knowledge in nursing education, organizational development and academic administration,” Dr. Tilden said. “She is ideally positioned for success as we take the next historic steps in extending our campus structure to northeast Nebraska.

“We couldn’t have hoped for anyone with a better foundation of experience. Our faculty members are extremely enthusiastic to have Dr. Macnamara take on this position.”

Dr. Tilden said Dr. Macnamara already has established excellent working relationships with the university’s partners in the initiative to bring UNMC to Norfolk, including Northeast Community College, Faith Regional Health Services, and many community and critical access hospitals.

“Ruth Macnamara brings just the right combination of skill and expertise to the position,” said Bill Path, Ph.D., president of Northeast Community College. “Dr. Macnamara’s enthusiasm is contagious and she brings a vested interest to the project here. She will hit the ground running in a very few weeks, building what I am sure will be an exceptional team of faculty and administrative staff.”

“Dr. Macnamara brings a wealth of knowledge in nursing education, organizational development and academic administration.” Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing

As liaison between the UNMC College of Nursing and Norfolk, Dr. Macnamara helped finalize work when representatives from the region initiated the request for the college to establish a fifth campus in Norfolk.

“The people of the community and the health care community are uniformly enthusiastic and so very supportive of this project that it has been and will be a joy to work with them in this position,” Dr. Macnamara said. “I look forward to being part of this historic partnership, which has truly been energizing.”