MU School of Nursing dean to retire in December

October 18th, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Garnett Stokes announced today that Judith Miller, dean of the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, will retire effective Dec. 31, 2017. Miller has served as dean of the School of Nursing since August 2008.

“It is with great reluctance that I have accepted Dr. Judith Fitzgerald Miller’s request to retire as dean of the Sinclair School of Nursing,” Stokes said. “In all my years serving as a leader in higher education, I’ve rarely seen a dean accomplish as much or advocate as passionately for her school.”

During her time as dean:

• The School of Nursing launched the doctor of nursing practice program with an additional leadership component.
• All graduate programs were put online.
• Student enrollment increased by 400 and increased in all programs.
• Faculty diversity was expanded and diversity in the student body increased by 22 percent.
• Donors gave more than $15 million.
• All classrooms were upgraded to include the latest technology.
• School of Nursing excellence benchmarks exceeded those of aspirational national schools.
• Nursing researchers experienced an increase in research grants and contracts expenditures from $3.7 million in FY2008 to $6.8 million in FY2017.

Prior to being named dean at MU, Miller served as a professor, associate dean for academic affairs and interim dean of the Marquette University College of Nursing. Miller is a member of several organizations, including the American Association of Public Health, the National Association of Boards of Health and is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She also has received several awards for both teaching and research, including the American Nurses Association Eunice R. Cole Scholar Award, the Marquette University Teaching Excellence Award and the Sigma Theta Tau International Distinguished Lecturer Award.

“I want to thank the University of Missouri and my colleagues for giving me this privilege to lead such an outstanding school of nursing,” Miller said. “Together we have had fantastic, countless outcomes that fill several pages. Separating from an institution that is beloved to me is a difficult thing to do. Faculty, staff, students, donors, alumni, dean colleagues and other MU administrators have fostered these beloved bonds here. Life circumstances influence this difficult decision for me. This decision will afford me the chance to reconnect with and support my family and take advantage of other opportunities that foster a ‘life fully lived.’ ”

Miller received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her master’s degree in nursing from Marquette University and her doctorate in nursing and post doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago.