BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Florida Atlantic University is welcoming a new Dean to the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. Karethy Edwards has quite a few letters after her name, and is considered a good “get” for the school. Here is FAU’s announcement:
Florida Atlantic University has named Karethy Edwards, Dr.P.H., A.P.R.N.-B.C., as associate dean for academic programs of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. Edwards will oversee all academic programs, which include B.S., M.S., D.N.P. and Ph.D. degree programs offered on FAU’s Boca Raton, Davie and Treasure Coast campuses.
“Dr. Edwards has devoted her professional career to academic excellence and working collaboratively with colleagues and the health care community to achieve high standards in teaching, service and scholarship,” said Marlaine Smith, R.N., Ph.D., A.H.N.-B.C., F.A.A.N., dean of the College of Nursing and Helen K. Persson Eminent Scholar. “With over 34 years in nursing education, Dr. Edwards brings significant experience with program and curriculum development, grant writing and preparation for accreditation. This experience, combined with her passion for nursing, will help her thrive in our College’s creative and caring work environment.”
As associate dean for academic programs, Edwards will oversee all academic programs including program evaluation and accreditation; maintenance of curriculum integrity; implementation of the strategic plan for the teaching mission; mentorship and evaluation of faculty; preparation of educational grants to support programs and students; and budget management.
“We’re happy to welcome Dr. Edwards to the FAU family,” said FAU Provost Brenda Claiborne. “Her expertise as a researcher and administrator in the field of health equity and cultural competence will serve as a valuable resource for our nursing faculty and their colleagues throughout the community.”
Edwards comes from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a professor and co-director for its Center for Cultural Competency and Healthcare Excellence. She also was the co-director of the Nursing Research Training Core of the American Indian Diabetes Prevention Center Grant from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities and recently was the principal investigator of an $830,000 Health Resources and Services Administration Diversity Workforce Grant. Edwards also serves as the co-editor of the Journal of Cultural Diversity: An Interdisciplinary Journal, as well as the president of the Association of Black Nurse Faculty. Edwards received the Frances and Earl Ziegler Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award for Nursing Education in an Academic Setting; the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Black Nursing Faculty; and six outstanding teaching and advising awards.
Edwards received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Central Oklahoma; a Master of Science in Community Health Nursing from the University of Oklahoma; a post-master’s certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston; and a Doctor of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma.
Known for the diversity of its student body, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has approximately 1,400 students, 45 full-time faculty, and six affiliated centers and institutes.
