Dean's Welcome

As the recently appointed interim Dean for the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, I intend to serve as a bridge between Dean Safiya George and the next person who will lead the college on our journey of excellence. I came to the college in 2004 as the inaugural research dean, choosing to move to Florida Atlantic because the College of Nursing’s values perfectly aligned with mine. Grounded in a spirit and philosophy of Caring, the college supported my appreciation for human connection as the foundation for excellence in nursing practice, research, education and everyday living. Further, I saw the university as an academic institution of promise, responsive to the needs of the diverse student population who represented the south Florida community. I saw it as a place that makes a difference in the lives of its students…a place where I could make a difference.

Over the years, I witnessed the construction of our beautiful College of Nursing building thanks to the generous support of our namesake, Christine E. Lynn, and have come to know and appreciate the many committed donors and community collaborators who engage with our college to enhance the quality of nursing education and health care in the south Florida community. Having spent 16 years as a faculty member teaching courses in the undergraduate through PhD programs, I have come to know many of our alumni as well.

I retired from the college in 2020 but continued to stay connected through mentoring, social engagement, and volunteering. Now, I have been invited back for this interim period. It is an honor for me. I encourage you to view the qualities that best describe the next person to lead the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing in this  Leadership Profile . If you or someone you know matches our Dean description, there is guidance for applying. As you know, ours is a unique and dynamic community – please take a closer look at our website to know a bit more about what we have been doing as well as our direction for the future. We appreciate your ongoing connection with us. YOU are essential to who we are as the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing family.

 

Sincerely,

Patricia Liehr PhD, RN

Interim Dean and Professor Emerita 
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
Florida Atlantic University