Nursing dean Dr. Tilden to retire in 2011

Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc.

Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the College of Nursing for the past seven years, will retire next June, after 36 years in nursing education.

A desire to be closer to her six children and six grandchildren on the west coast was behind her decision.

“We have a large and wonderful family 2,000 miles away. We love it here. It was a hard decision,” Dr. Tilden said. “It’s given me tremendous satisfaction to lead a college of high caliber within an excellent academic medical center. Whatever successes the college has had is a direct credit to the hard work of the faculty.”

Dr. Tilden’s file Previous position: Endowed professor and associate dean for research, Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, Portland Research: Nationally known for extensive research related to end-of-life care; Co-founder of the Center for Ethics in Health Care, led the center’s research program on improving care of the dying; and Principal- or co-investigator of National Institutes of Health-funded research and training grants since 1986. Education: Master’s degree in psychiatric nursing, 1971, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing; and Doctorate in nursing science, 1981, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing.

Under Dr. Tilden’s leadership, the college increased the number of nurses in the state through expanded enrollment and more programs.

Accomplishments include:

• The addition of a fifth division in Norfolk and a new nursing science facility in Omaha;
  
• Approval from the Board of Regents for a new facility for the UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division;
  
• Two new accelerated degree programs and a post-doctoral research program;
  
• Numerous federally funded training grants;
  
• Three endowed chairs;
  
• A large increase in private gifts; and
  
• A flawless report in its national re-accreditation process.

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., said Dr. Tilden has been a model dean and a national leader in nursing.

“Her accomplishments at UNMC are exemplary, including increased grant support, new educational programs, recruitment of top faculty, new building initiatives and expansion of the workforce in Nebraska,” Dr. Maurer said.

Dr. Tilden was the college’s sixth dean and succeeded Ada Lindsey, Ph.D.

“I have so much appreciation for the wonderful people of this state — their generosity, work ethic and love of family and the land,” she said. “It’s been a privilege to be embraced into this environment.”