Dean Wilkerson named Academy of Nursing Education fellow

Sharon Wilkerson, Ph.D., RN, CNE, dean of the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Nursing, was recently named a fellow of the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Academy of Nursing Education.

Established in 2007, the Academy of Nursing Education fosters excellence in nursing education by recognizing and capitalizing on the wisdom of nurse educators who have made sustained and significant contributions to nursing education.

According to the official press release from the NLN, fellows provide visionary leadership in nursing education and support the vision of the NLN to promote standards of excellence in nursing education that will increase the number of graduates from all types of nursing programs. Fellows serve as important role models and resources for new educators and for those who aspire to become nurse educators.

A 30-year veteran in undergraduate and graduate nursing education, Dr. Wilkerson was appointed founding dean of the TAMHSC-College of Nursing in 2008. During her time with the college, Dr. Wilkerson successfully developed the college’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) programs and is currently working to provide graduate-level education in the near future. Under her leadership, the college boasts a 100 percent pass rate on the national licensing exam, significant given the national pass rate is 90.22 percent for all first time test takers.

Prior to her time with TAMHSC, Dr. Wilkerson served various roles with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Purdue University School of Nursing, Indiana University and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan.

In addition to her new role with NLN, Dr. Wilkerson also serves on committees and boards at the state and national level. She is president-elect of the Texas Organization of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Educators, serves on the inaugural board for development of the affiliate constituency organization of NLN, the Texas League for Nursing, and currently serves as chair of the Baccalaureate Conference program planning committee for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

“Dr. Wilkerson has created an atmosphere in the College of Nursing that draws outstanding faculty recruits and strongly supports continuing education with all faculty,” said Lee Ann Ray, Ed.D., chief of staff, Texas A&M Health Science Center and associate vice chancellor for health affairs, The Texas A&M University System. “She is viewed as a leader in education and very willingly gives of her time and skills to others. She will be a great ambassador for the Academy of Nursing Education.”

Dr. Wilkerson joins the academy’s 144 fellows representing nursing schools and programs throughout the United States. She will be inducted during a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C. this fall.

For more information about the Academy of Nursing Education, visit http://www.nln.org/recognitionprograms/academy/index.htm.

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