Ruth Wittmann-Price, PhD is Appointed Dean of TESU W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions

Thomas Edison State University has appointed Ruth Wittmann-Price, PhD, Dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions.

"Dr. Wittmann-Price brings with her a wealth of experience in developing and expanding nursing and health professions programs as well as supporting traditionally underserved student and patient populations to her new role," said Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, president, TESU, "We are excited to have her join our university."

Recently, Dr. Wittmann-Price served as a professor of nursing and an undergraduate programs chair at Jefferson College of Nursing (JCN) in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to her role at JCN, she served as the founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Francis Marion University, SC, where she oversaw the launch of the school's flagship Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs.

Dr. Wittman-Price earned her BS in Nursing from Felician College in Lodi, NJ and her MS with a specialty in prenatal clinical nursing from Columbia University in NY. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Widener University, Chester, PA, with a dissertation that earned her the Dean's Award for Excellence. She possesses Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE), Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNEcl), Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), Academy of Nursing Education Fellows (ANEF) and Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) credentials. She is an editor, co-editor, and chapter contributor of more than 70 publications, articles and refereed presentations, and has provided numerous conference keynotes and podium presentations nationally.

Additionally, Dr. Wittman-Price has helped secure grant support for multiple academic endeavors, including recently obtaining nearly $7 million in federal funding to support nursing students from underserved communities and federal funding for veterans seeking bachelor's degree completion. Most recently, she initiated a campaign to support at-risk nursing students by providing them with graduate student mentors, stipends and other resources to offset traditional academic barriers to degree completion.

"Dr. Wittmann-Price will lend her deep expertise and academic vision to areas that are essential to our institution's ability to attract pre-licensure nursing students, RNs and nurse leaders to our programs," added Dr. Cynthia Baum, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, TESU. "She will also shepherd the expansion of the school's health professions programs and strengthen our initiatives in the Trenton community."

To learn more about the programs available in the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing, visit www.tesu.edu/nursing.