Tusculum College names first Dean of Nursing

Dr. Lois L. Ewen has been named the dean of nursing at Tusculum College, and will be the first to hold this newly designated position as the college rolls out its Bachelor of Science in nursing program beginning fall 2012.

“This is a major step forward for Tusculum College and the nursing program, and we are thrilled that we are able to engage Dr. Ewen as our Dean of Nursing at Tusculum College, as she brings all the skills, talent and heart that will be necessary to build a program that will impact so many lives for many years to come,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum College.

Dr. Ewen comes to Tusculum from Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee, Fla., where she has served as director of education since May. In this role she held the responsibility for designing, implementing, managing and evaluating all nursing and clinical staff professional development programs and educational activities.

She also has experience in the higher education field, previously serving as a consultant to the Florida State University College of Nursing and as Dean of Health Care Professions for Tallahassee Community College.

She has prior experience with the nursing program at Columbia State Community College, where she served as chair of Health Sciences and director of the nursing program there.

Dr. Ewen has a Doctorate in Philosophy in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in adult education and measurement and statistics from the University of South Florida. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing/Nursing Administration from Barry University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, also from Barry.

Dr. Ewen has more than 12 years of academic dean’s experience at her three previous institutions and has extensive experience working with faculty and students. At all three positions she held the responsibility for developing and maintaining clinical contracts, which will be part of her responsibility in building the nursing program at Tusculum.

“I believe a college should provide an engaging environment for students and faculty that is respectful of individual differences, promotes learning and is fun,” said Dr. Ewen. “Tusculum College is a special place and has many successful programs already in place. I am excited to join the team in January and get started right away.”

Dr. Ewen is experienced with strategic plans, program development and evaluation. She has been a National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission accreditation site visitor and has extensive experience working with national healthcare program accrediting bodies, as well as Southern Association of Colleges and Schools experience.

As Dean of Nursing, Dr. Ewen will provide innovative, collaborative and visionary leadership; promote the mission and strategic priorities of Tusculum College; coordinate the development and delivery of the nursing program, as well as finalize the nursing curriculum to meet all requirements of regional and specialized accrediting agencies and the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

She will manage various administrative duties, including curricular oversight, budget preparation, faculty and staff hiring, development and evaluation, student recruitment and retention, clinical contract negotiation, oversight of the annual assessment process for nursing, and represent Tusculum College and the nursing program to all constituencies.

Her official start date will be January 3, 2012.

The college anticipates offering the nursing program to students effective August 2012; however, the proposed degree program is contingent upon the approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

The feasibility study for the nursing program showed a number of local and national factors support the value of Tusculum College providing undergraduate students the opportunity to complete an undergraduate nursing degree either as first-time freshmen or as registered nurses seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree. Prospective student data collected via Tusculum College’s Office of Enrollment Management documents that the number of students considering Tusculum who are also seeking nursing have tripled since 2009.

In addition, a 2008 Tennessee Department of Health study found that all but one East Tennessee county are designated as whole or partial medically underserved areas, which indicates how strongly compatible nursing is with the civic arts/service components of the college’s mission and core values.