The future of nursing education at The University of Toledo will be in the hands of a leader and scholar with a passion for pediatrics whose research focuses on helping children and families cope with traumatic situations.

Dr. Linda Lewandowski is selected to join UT as the dean of the College of Nursing effective July 10.

Lewandowski comes to UT from the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing where she served as professor of nursing and former associate dean for academic affairs and graduate program director.

“I am proud to welcome Dr. Linda Lewandowski to The University of Toledo as dean of the College of Nursing,” Dr. Andrew Hsu, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said. “Her extensive experience in patient care, nursing education and research will advance and strengthen our commitment to research and training high-quality, versatile health-care providers who will make a difference in the community.”

“I feel very honored and privileged to be joining the UT community,” Lewandowski said. “Visionary and action-oriented new University leadership; leading-edge, innovative educational facilities; well-established interprofessional collaborative education programs; and talented and compassionate faculty, staff and students are some of the strengths that drew me to this position.”

Personally, this move brings her much closer to family.

“I grew up in Michigan and am looking forward to coming back to the Midwest,” Lewandowski said. “The fact that my daughter, son-in-law and grandchild – with another on the way! – live not too far away in the Detroit area is certainly a plus. I am looking forward to more frequent ‘grandma-time.’”

Lewandowski said she believes that universities play vital roles in advancing the health and well-being of communities, while providing meaningful and real-world learning experiences for students.

“Helping address and manage tough challenges, such as the growing opioid epidemic which affects families of every socio-demographic group, through our research, education and service activities is one example of how we can help make a difference in the State of Ohio as well as the nation,” Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski worked in a joint position at Wayne State University College of Nursing and Children’s Hospital of Michigan from 2003-12 as the Elizabeth Schotanus Endowed Professor of Pediatric Nursing and assistant dean of family, community and mental health.

While teaching at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing from 1993-2002, she was promoted to associate professor. Lewandowski also served as associate director for training and education from 2001-02 at the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence.

Lewandowski also held several positions at Yale University School of Nursing from 1981-93, including assistant professor, research associate and acting department chair. She additionally completed a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical psychology at Yale.

Lewandowski worked as a staff educator and resource nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center in San Francisco and in the pediatric intensive care unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Lewandowski earned a PhD in clinical psychology and master’s in psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also holds a master’s in pediatric critical care nursing from the University of California San Francisco. Lewandowski earned a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Michigan.

She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and holds leadership posts in national and international nursing organizations.

“I wish to thank Dr. Kelly Phillips for her leadership as interim dean during the last two years,” Hsu said. “Together with the nursing faculty, Dr. Phillips has made tremendous progress in moving the college forward.”