Liane Connelly Ph.D., has been selected as assistant dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Northern Division in Norfolk, effective June 27.
Dr. Connelly, who also will hold the title of associate professor, has been a member of the faculty at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan., for the past 18 years. She has served as chair and director of the nursing department since 2004.
"I am delighted that Dr. Connelly is joining us in our partnership with northeast Nebraska,” said Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. “She is an academic nurse leader with long-standing experience directing nursing faculty. She is visionary and collaborative by nature — exactly the qualities we seek."
Dr. Connelly said she is impressed with the Norfolk area’s community spirit.
“I was immediately impressed with the strong sense of community pride and the willingness of individuals to work together towards growth and economic development in the region,” Dr. Connelly said. “The ability to serve northeast Nebraska through the college and our Northeast Community College partnership truly demonstrates cutting edge nursing education. I am honored to be a part of this trailblazing partnership.”
Prior to joining Fort Hays State University, Dr. Connelly was a staff nurse and nurse administrator. For seven years she was a nurse administrator in acute, community and long term care settings in Nebraska and Michigan. Her professional interests include nursing and health care administration, complexity theory, rural health, and alternate learning opportunities for clinical nursing.
Dr. Connelly earned an associate of science in nursing degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1981, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mercy College of Detroit in 1985, a master’s degree in nursing from Clarkson College in 1993, and a doctorate of philosophy in education from Kansas State University in 1997.
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