Latest News

The College of Nursing invites you to an evening of celebration, connection, and recognition during National Nurses Week. Join us on Thursday, May 7 for a special event honoring our graduates and celebrating Dean Victoria Niederhauser and her remarkable leadership and service to the college. This evening will bring together alumni and friends of the… Read more: Celebrate National Nurses Week with the College of Nursing

This March, the college had the privilege of hosting the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Nursing Faculty Professional Development (NFPD) Consortium.  Each year, nursing faculty from SEC universities gather to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and explore practical ways to better support nursing educators across the region. Led by Tami Wyatt, associate dean of research, this year’s… Read more: SEC Nursing Faculty Consortium Brings Collaboration to the Innovation Room

For Ashley Curl, MSN ’16, nursing has always been about more than treating symptoms. It’s about restoring quality of life, dignity, and hope. Curl is now the founder of AgeWell Medical, a nurse-owned, woman-led concierge clinic redefining how patients experience care. Curl’s leadership journey began during her graduate education, where she served as a graduate… Read more: Alumni Award Spotlight, Ashley Curl

For most of Jenny Burghardt’s life, everything unfolded just as planned. A Knoxville native and Bearden High School graduate, she met her husband while attending Clemson University. The couple moved to Aiken, South Carolina, where she worked in tourism and settled into a carefully imagined five-year plan. Time to enjoy the newlywed life, followed by… Read more: More Love to Pour Out

Elizabeth Sowell (’14, ’17, ’24 ) has embedded herself into the UT and nursing family for life. First as an alumnus and now as faculty, her nursing journey is deeply rooted in tradition, shaped by meaningful mentorship, and driven by a passion for advancing the future of our nursing students.  A Fourth Generation Calling  Nursing has always been a natural fit, an art and a… Read more: Continuing a Legacy of Care

The college has completed its first five months in its new home with remarkable momentum, building connections, and a growing sense of community. Since opening its doors in August, the college has welcomed new and returning students, launched state-of-the-art simulation teachings, and cultivated a collaborative learning environment rooted in the Volunteer spirit.  For many students, the new building has already transformed the… Read more: College of Nursing Marks Five Months in New Home with Momentum, Community 

As we look back on 2025, the College of Nursing celebrates a year of incredible milestones, achievements, and growth. Here are the key highlights that shaped an unforgettable year: January  The year began with an international trip to Nyeri, Kenya. Nursing students and faculty have the opportunity to travel to Kenya each year, where they collaborate in a partnership with… Read more: 2025 A Year in Review

As a PhD-prepared nurse practitioner and gerontologist, Assistant Professor Sarah Neller brings both heart and innovation to her work. Neller, a Nashville native and mother of three, began her nursing journey at the bedside in a cardiac intensive care unit. “I kept seeing the same patients admitted for heart failure management,” she said. “It made… Read more: Leaving a Legacy: How One Faculty Member Is Redefining Generativity in Nursing

Through her generosity and expertise, Research Professor Maureen Groër (MSN ’80) is helping accelerate laboratory research in the College of Nursing. Groër, now 80, has devoted over 40 years of her nursing career to biobehavioral research, investigating the links between biology and behavior. The new College of Nursing Building includes the Groër Family VolBiome Lab,… Read more: Trusting Her Gut: Groër’s Gift, Mentorship Support New Era of Research

Amy Alspaugh, assistant professor at the college, has been named a 2025 Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. The ACNM Fellowship honors certified nurse-midwives whose contributions have significantly impacted the profession. “It’s a real honor to be named an ACNM Fellow,” shared Alspaugh. “Being a midwife is such an important part of my identify and… Read more: Alspaugh Named ACNM Fellow

The University of Tennessee’s Volunteer Creed offers a challenge and a promise: “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.” Philanthropy is the living expression of that torch. When donors give, they portray the Volunteer spirit—using their generosity to help others shine, often without seeking to spotlight themselves. Those contributions provide… Read more: Philanthropy Is the Volunteer Creed in Action

For more than a decade, Stephanie Fancher worked in acute care pediatrics, often on the front lines of children’s health. In 2019, while working in a children’s emergency department, she noticed a troubling trend. More children were arriving with illnesses that vaccines could have prevented. “That realization unsettled me, and it lingered,” Fancher shared. One… Read more: Resilience in Action, PhD Spotlight