It’s hard to believe that I joined the college just eight months ago. It has been a fast ride with so much to learn.
Thank you for helping me to become more informed on the needs, aspirations and challenges of the college. It would have been impossible for me to gain the insights and understanding of all the unique characteristics of our divisions without your input. I appreciate your willingness to visit with me individually and in groups to answer my many questions.
Each day I realize all the incredible work you are doing in the classroom, in the clinical settings, in clinics across the state through the Morehead Center, on research projects, in student services, in business services, in IT support, in CENTRIC, in CiPDI.
We have so much to be proud of, and everyone is important to ensure that our college continues to deliver premier academic programs, conduct innovative research and deliver quality health care through our nurse-led practice model.
As we enter 2024, higher education, health care and academic nursing continues to evolve. As the only public and largest nursing college in the state of Nebraska, we have an obligation and opportunity to lead in our tripartite mission. Although you have done incredible work, I am hearing from you there is room for improvement. And with that comes change.
This year will be filled with many changes for us, but I want to be sensitive to the areas that are urgent vs. important. Organizational change, curricular change, leadership change and operational change, etc. are just a few of the areas we will tackle. We won’t be able to accomplish everything we need to address in 2024, but we will be able to get a good head start with everyone’s involvement.
Everything the college engages in this year will include all of you. My goal is to ensure that you have the information and resources to make any needed changes.
I also want us to focus more on faculty and staff development, mentoring and onboarding. With the work ahead of us, we need to recruit – and retain – top [BKL1] talent to help achieve our goals.
We also will invest in cultivating a work environment that is respectful, welcoming, inclusive, and creates a sense of belonging. We will foster a work culture where psychological safety is the norm and all are comfortable bringing concerns to the table knowing we will be heard, and our concerns addressed!
Accountability, communication and transparency are key to creating a workplace where we build trust and we can all thrive as educators, researchers and practitioners.
We have so many opportunities before us, and I want to ensure we have the infrastructure to support your work. Our students are our priority and without them we have no reason to exist! Faculty and student support services have heavily invested in our students, and we must take this to a new level.
Our students are presented with many different challenges, and we want to create an environment that is conducive to their learning and success! Our partners around the state are asking us to increase our enrollment to address the workforce needs, and we are committed to meet this need.
So let’s renew our commitment and refocus our attention on what is needed to move our college forward while honoring, valuing and appreciating everyone’s contribution.
You’ve heard me say that this dean’s job may be held by one person, but it takes all of us working together to accomplish our mission and vision! I’m reminded on an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”
I’m looking forward to going far with each of you! Let’s enjoy the ride!