News Around the School: Pamela Jeffries Named Dean of School of Nursing
Pamela R. Jeffries, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH, an internationally recognized leader and innovator in nursing and health care education, will become dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, effective July 1.
Jeffries, professor and dean of the George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., succeeds Linda Norman, who will step down from her leadership role on June 30.
“Pamela Jeffries has transformed lives with her visionary leadership and expertise in nursing education,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier says. “We could not be more delighted to welcome her to Vanderbilt at a time when the expertise of our nursing faculty, students and alumni is needed more than ever. I’m confident that she will drive path-breaking discoveries and expand the impact of our outstanding School of Nursing.”
Jeffries was appointed the second dean of the George Washington University School of Nursing in 2015, five years after its establishment as a standalone school within the university. A proponent of strengths-based leadership, Jeffries’ priority was to expand the infrastructure and build upon the processes and standards for the young, emerging school, which experienced a significant period of growth during her tenure. As dean, Jeffries also charged a task force with examining issues related to diversity and inclusion, which resulted in the formation of a diversity council and other initiatives to build an inclusive and diverse community.
and the Vanderbilt School of Nursing—with its rich history of excellence
in nursing education, practice and research.”
– Pamela R. Jeffries
Prior to being named dean of George Washington University School of Nursing, Jeffries served as the inaugural vice provost for digital initiatives at Johns Hopkins University. She also held faculty leadership roles at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Indiana University School of Nursing earlier in her career.
“I am honored for this opportunity at a world-renowned university and the Vanderbilt School of Nursing—with its rich history of excellence in nursing education, practice and research,” Jeffries says. “I’m excited to build on the strong foundation provided by Linda Norman and help set the school’s ‘next chapter’ with broad engagement of community partners who champion its mission and vision.”
Jeffries is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the NLN’s Academy of Nursing Education, the Society of Simulation in Healthcare and an alumna of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program. Other honors include the Sigma Theta Tau International Edith Moore Copeland Award for Excellence in Creativity, the NLN’s Mary Adelaide Nutting Award for Outstanding Leadership in Nursing Education, the Virginia Nurses Association Foundation Leadership Excellence Award for Nursing School Dean, and induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Researchers Hall of Fame.
She holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Ball State University and a master of science in nursing and doctorate in nursing from Indiana University.
