The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, announces the retirement of Victoria Niederhauser, Dean of the College of Nursing, at the end of this academic year after fifteen years of visionary leadership that transformed the college into a nationally recognized leader in nursing education, research, and practice.
“When I came to the college in 2011, I saw the hard-work and dedication of extraordinary faculty and staff who were ready to move to the next level of success”, said Victoria Niederhauser, “I am deeply thankful for the privilege to lead talented faculty, students, and staff to reach new heights during my tenure as dean.”
Appointed dean in 2011, Niederhauser has guided the College of Nursing through a period of extraordinary growth and innovation. During her tenure, enrollment expanded from approximately 500 students to more than 1,400, with graduates consistently outperforming state and national averages on licensure and certification exams and making the college one of the fastest-growing nursing programs in the country.
Major Accomplishments under Dean Niederhauser’s leadership include:
- Academic–Practice Partnerships: Established landmark partnerships between UT College of Nursing and the University of Tennessee Medical Center as well as with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, strengthening clinical education, advancing interprofessional collaboration, and expanding access to high-quality care.
- National and State Recognition: Elevated the College of Nursing to the #1 undergraduate nursing program in Tennessee and among the top 25 public programs nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report. Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP) ranking rose from 39th to 22nd among public universities in the last 4 years.
- New Academic Building: Led the planning and construction of a state-of-the-art new nursing building, opening in 2025, which will more than triple the college’s teaching, simulation, and research space.
- Community Impact: Founded the Center for Nursing Practice, expanding nurse-led health services across the region; established the Precious Prints Project, a cherished program providing keepsakes for families grieving the loss of a child; and expanded the Vine School Health Center from 1000 to over 7000 annual patient visits, improving access to care and health outcomes for underserved children and families.
- Research and Scholarship: Tremendously increased external research funding and advanced faculty scholarship, positioning the college as a hub for nursing science and innovation.
- Student Success and Support: Expanded scholarships, clinical opportunities, international opportunities, and mentorship programs to ensure graduates are highly prepared to meet the growing demands of health care.
- Leadership in Policy and Practice: Served as a national leader in nursing education and health policy, advocating for child health and influencing the future of nursing at the state and national levels.
- Increased Philanthropic Support: Raised over $45 Mil in philanthropic donations including tripling the College of Nursing’s Endowments.
“Dean Niederhauser has been a tireless advocate for students, faculty, and the nursing profession,” said John Zomchick, Provost. “Her vision, leadership, and dedication have not only elevated the University of Tennessee’s College of Nursing but also made a lasting impact on health care in Tennessee and beyond.”
Niederhauser’s career has been defined by innovation, compassion, and her unwavering commitment to advancing the nursing profession. The focus of her scholarly work is child and adolescent Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, with an emphasis on immunizations; her motivation to work in this important area stems from her passion to help children and their families be healthy and stay healthy.
Niederhauser published the book “Core Review for Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners” and has authored over 65 articles and book chapters on child health and educational issues. She has received funding for nursing research and training grants totaling over $16 million dollars.
Niederhauser is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow and a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She has received several National awards and currently serves on the Board of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is Past-President of the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Her impending retirement marks the closure of an extraordinary chapter, but her legacy of excellence will continue to shape the college for decades to come.
A national search for the next dean of the College of Nursing will begin this fall.
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CONTACT:
Kara Clark (865-974-9498, [email protected])