Brent Small Named Senior Associate Dean for Research

Carolina Nursing is pleased to announce that Brent Small, PhD, has been named the senior associate dean for research, effective July 1, 2025.  

Brent joined Carolina Nursing in October 2023, bringing with him a distinguished record of research and academic leadership. He received his PhD from the University of Victoria in Victoria, Canada, and completed postdoctoral research at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

Before he arrived at Carolina Nursing, Brent served most of his academic career at the University of South Florida, where he held a range of leadership roles, including academic chair of the School of Aging Studies and chair of several college- and university-level research councils.

His research focuses on cancer-related cognitive impairment and has been supported by the National Institute for Nursing Research, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Aging. A Full Member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Brent has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications.

In his new role, Brent looks forward to fostering an innovative research environment that builds upon our strengths and promotes excellence in scholarship. He is particularly passionate about mentorship and is eager to support faculty and students in pursuing impactful and meaningful research that advances nursing science and improves lives.

This leadership transition follows an announcement earlier this year that Jennifer Leeman, DrPH, MPH, MDiv, will step down from the role of Senior Associate Dean for Research and return to the faculty. Jennifer’s expertise and dedication have been instrumental in advancing Carolina Nursing’s research enterprise these past two years. We are grateful for her leadership and delighted that she will continue her research and mentorship activities as a valued member of our faculty.

Please join us in thanking Jennifer for her many contributions and in congratulating Brent on his new leadership role.