Vol. 5, No. 15
- Dean Kristen Swanson Reflects On Arriving Her First Day at the SON
- Congratulations Students! SON Exceeds Previous NCLEX Pass Rate
- Improving Healthcare Quality Research Garners SON Faculty Member $1.6 Million Grant
- Recent Grad Was First Student to Complete Externship in Russia: A First
- SON Student Blogging from Malawi
Dean Kristen Swanson Reflects On Arriving Her First Day at the SON
Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends:
I am delighted to be here and am happily ensconced in my new office. I arrived in Chapel Hill
Dean Kristen Swanson began her tensure as the sixth dean for the School of Nursing on Aug. 1, 2009.
having spent the last week at a conference in New York, which I bookended with visits to my family in Rhode Island. My first morning involved finding my way into the building (thank you to Gwen Sherwood), getting onto my computer (thank you to Jan Blue and Tevin Boggan), and, most importantly, finding my way to the closest espresso source (thank you to Karen Hearne). I have been welcomed by plants, flowers, a book on leadership values and a call from Chancellor Thorpe.
I feel very blessed to be a part of this marvelous School, University, and community. My belief is that a dean is called to serve as steward of the resources of the State, University, and School. Of course, the premier resource is people. My desire is to learn from you how I can best support your success in your role as faculty, staff, student, postdoc, visiting scholar or alumni. Over the next several months I will ask to be invited to different work groups, classes, meetings and events. It is through these visits that I hope to truly get a sense of the workings of the School and how we relate to our community.
I am preceded in this role by a world class dean and a truly classy woman. I have admired Dean Cronenwett from afar and have been so grateful to her for the time she has taken to orient me to my new position. Dean Cronenewett has led this School with grace, vision and a strong sense of responsibility for its excellence in teaching, research and service.
I am truly humbled to sit in the Office of the Dean, and I thank you for entrusting me to join you in your work, studies at and support of Carolina.
Sincerely,
Kristen M. Swanson, RN, PhD, FAAN
Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor
School of Nursing
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill