As I look back on my first months as dean of the College of Nursing and look ahead to 2017, one word repeatedly comes to mind: opportunity. Most importantly, I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with a community of accomplished faculty and administrators, dedicated staff and motivated students, and to meet such a great group of alumni and friends of the College.

And I am thrilled that the College of Nursing is well positioned to pursue opportunities for growth and enrichment as part of URI’s newly launched Academic Health Collaborative. The Colleges of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, with which we share a great affinity, join us in this innovative model for transforming health and wellness in Rhode Island and beyond. The Collaborative will provide leadership opportunities through interprofessional education, research, and outreach.

Later this year, a seminal opportunity for true leadership in nursing education will be realized when we open the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center in Providence. Shared with Rhode Island College’s School of Nursing, the center will offer upperclassmen and graduate students the most advanced technologies and curricula available. This unprecedented facility is state-of-the-art and will provide unparalleled high fidelity training opportunities for our nursing students.

Clearly, the opportunities open to us are limited only by our energy and imagination. It is a great time to be part of URI’s College of Nursing.

— Barbara Wolfe, Dean