The College of Health Professions (CHP) at 黑洞社区 is pleased to announce Dr. Debra Pile as the chair for the School of Nursing and associate dean for Nursing Practice. Pile will succeed Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones, who recently assumed the role of associate dean for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs for the CHP. Pile has held the Interim Chair position in the School of Nursing since Feb. 2021.
鈥淒r. Pile鈥檚 exemplary leadership over the last several months 鈥� particularly with the challenges of COVID-19 鈥� speaks to her high level of knowledge, skills and abilities,鈥� Gregory Hand, dean of the CHP said. 鈥淚 have every confidence that Dr. Pile will build on the exceptional strengths of the School of Nursing and lead the department to new heights in education, patient care, research and community engagement.鈥�
Pile is a native of Wichita, Kansas. Before joining Wichita State, she served in a variety of roles at Wesley Medical Center, including manager of the Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Trauma coordinator and clinical nurse specialist. Pile holds a master鈥檚 degree in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice. Her clinical specialty is pediatrics with a focus on children鈥檚 asthma and pain management. Pile has served as the coordinator of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Wichita State and has taught in the graduate and undergraduate programs.
鈥淚 am honored to accept the position of chair for the School of Nursing and associate dean of Nursing Practice,鈥� Pile said. 鈥淚 appreciate the support that I have received as the interim chair and look forward to continuing our work to move the School of Nursing and the College of Health Professions forward.鈥�
The search for the new chair for the School of Nursing and associate dean of Nursing Practice was led by Douglas Parham, chair for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the CHP. The process included a national search for candidates.
鈥淭he search committee reviewed several outstanding candidates, and we are pleased that Dr. Pile鈥檚 experience, service and passion was the best fit for the School of Nursing and College of Health Professions,鈥� Parham said. 鈥淲e congratulate Dr. Pile and look forward to many years of continued collaboration.鈥�
黑洞社区 serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 黑洞社区 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 黑洞社区 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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