Anne Norris, an internationally recognized nursing scientist, has been appointed Interim Dean for the University of Miami (UM) School of Nursing and Health Studies, effective January 3, 2017. Dean Nilda Peragallo Montano announced in August that she will be resigning at the end of the fall semester after 13 years of leading the school. She will be taking over as Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Norris has been a faculty member at UM since 2014, serving as associate dean for the PhD program and professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Her work as a nursing scientist focuses on sexual and reproductive health, particularly the role of culture and other social influences on behavior. Norris holds a PhD in nursing and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has held previous faculty and leadership positions at The Ohio State University, Boston College, and the University of Central Florida.

As the author of more than 90 scholarly publications, Dr. Norris has several received several prestigious distinctions throughout her career. Earlier this year, she was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame for her pioneering research and mentorship. She was also the 2011 recipient of the Mary Cash Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cultural Diversity in Nursing and Health Care and named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Norris is currently the principal investigator for a $3.3 million, five-year grant funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study, called JUEGA! (PLAY!), is to test the efficacy of Norris’ Mighty Girls program to teach adolescent girls about choices, consequences, and assertiveness in risky situations in 20 Miami-Dade County public middle schools.

See also
George Washington University School of Nursing Outlines Steps to Raise Research Profile

Thomas J. LeBlanc, executive vice president and provost at UM, is pleased to have Dr. Norris fill the important role of Interim Dean as the university conducts their search for a new dean. He believes Dr. Norris can ensure the School of Nursing’s continuity of excellence through the transitional period. Dr. Norris says she looks forward to the opportunity to build on Dean Peragallo’s legacy.

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