KU School of Nursing Leadership
Welcome to the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Whether you are just starting your career as a professional nurse; advancing your education at the masters or doctoral level; becoming an advanced practice nurse, nurse researcher, nurse educator, or health informatician; or embarking on an exciting second career as a professional nurse, there is a place for you here.
For more than 100 years, the School of Nursing has educated learners for vital roles in health care. As dean, I am privileged to work alongside a group of talented, creative faculty and staff who have developed innovative programs in curriculum, research, distance learning, rural health care, and interprofessional health informatics, who work daily to instill in our students the values of excellence, leadership, and compassion.
Looking toward the future, we are well-positioned to meet the challenges of an evolving health care environment that will be faced by all health care professionals as we move toward team-based, person-centered care. The School of Nursing, along with our colleagues in the School of Medicine and the School of Health Professions, wants to lead the way in interdisciplinary education for interdisciplinary practice, education, and research. All learners learn and work together to provide improved person-centered and population-based care to improve health outcomes.
I am very proud of our graduates who become expert clinicians, educators, researchers, and health care leaders. Our graduates play pivotal roles in advancing the nursing profession and health care, not only in Kansas, but regionally, nationally, and globally.
With an aging population and changes in health care delivery, the need for professional nurse clinicians, leaders and nurse educators will only continue to grow. Nurses play a vital role in shaping the future of health care and its delivery. The scope of the School of Nursing is broad, including interprofessional health informatics in its mission to improve the health and well-being of people and communities in Kansas and beyond.
I am confident that your time here at the KU School of Nursing will be exciting, intellectually stimulating and fulfilling.
Welcome,
Sally L. Maliski, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Dean, University of Kansas, School of Nursing
School of Nursing Administrative Leadership Team
Sally Maliski, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Executive Dean
Dawn Shew, EdD
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Nelda Godfrey, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Innovative Partnerships and Practice
Teri Kennedy, Ph.D., MSW, ACSW, FGSA, FNAP
Associate Dean for Interprofessional Practice, Education, Policy, and Research
Lisa Larson, Ph.D., RN
Dean for SON Salina Campus
Barbara Polivka, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Grants and Research
Cynthia Teel, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs
Anna Nguyen, MBA
Assistant Dean for Business, Finance and Marketing
To see a visual representation of KU School of Nursing leadership, view our organizational chart.
Learn about KU Medical Center leadership
The executive vice chancellor for KU Medical Center leads a group of administrators representing all three schools, as well as research, academic affairs and various support areas.