President Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, of Loma Linda University Health announced during a special luncheon at West Hall on Dec. 15 that the Board of Trustees has named Elizabeth (Becky) Bossert, PhD, as the new dean for the School of Nursing. Her tenure will become effective Jan. 1, 2015.
Bossert replaces longtime dean Marilyn Herrmann, PhD, who has led Loma Linda University School of Nursing in that position since 2006. Hart also announced that Trustees named Herrmann emeritus dean for the School of Nursing — a “well-deserved honor,” he said.
“Dr. Herrmann has provided extremely valuable leadership to this school and nurtured it,” Hart said, noting that without question the school holds a premier place not only in the Seventh-day Adventist educational network but also nationwide.
Bossert rose to the top of a field of candidates from both within and outside of Loma Linda University Health, Hart said.
Bossert is currently associate dean for academic affairs and graduate programs at LLU School of Nursing. She has taught there since 1978 and has a number of years of experience in research, including two RO1 grants that were awarded to the research team. She has published in numerous refereed journals, has served as reviewer for the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, the Journal of the Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, and Pediatric Nursing, and has presented at national and international conferences, among many other professional activities.
She is an alumna of Pacific Union College (AS), Walla Walla College (BS), and LLU School of Nursing, where she received a master’s of science in 1977 with a focus on maternal–child nursing and nursing education, before going on to receive her DNS with a focus on clinical research from the University of California at San Francisco in 1990. (UCSF recently converted this research-focused degree to the PhD designation.)
Also giving remarks at the event was Ronald Carter, PhD, provost of Loma Linda University. Calling the School of Nursing a “cornerstone of our medical enterprise,” he noted his appreciation of working with Herrmann over the years, and he said,
“The selection of Becky for this position has brought a lot of personal joy to me.”
Looking to Bossert, he said, “I know you’ll be very successful.” Carter added, “Becky is no stranger to administration. She has helped us in so many central committees. She has been the assistant chair of the university academic affairs committee. We’ve worked together on a number of research projects. She’s had many hats.”
Bossert said, “We have a good School of Nursing, and we’ll move forward in the way that Marilyn has led us in during these past years. And again I want to thank her.”
Presenting bouquets of red and white flowers along with kind words to Bossert and Herrmann was Kathie Ingram, DNP, assistant professor of nursing and chair of the School of Nursing faculty affairs committee.
To Herrmann, she said, “We will truly miss you. We know your style, we know your ways, and we’re going to miss all of that. And we’re very happy to hear about your emeritus appointment.”
Marilyn Herrmann joined the faculty of Loma Linda University School of Nursing in 1980, becoming assistant dean for undergraduate programs in 1989, and then associate dean for undergraduate programs in 1992. Since 2006, when she became dean, the School of Nursing has seen a significant increase in enrollment, added two new degrees, undergone a sizeable physical expansion, and been successfully reviewed by several accrediting bodies.