Michelle Edmonds named assistant dean for prelicensure programs 

The UNC School of Nursing is pleased to announce that Michelle Edmonds, DNP, MSN, RN, will join Carolina as assistant dean for prelicensure programs this summer.

In this role, Edmonds will advance academic excellence and student success across the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), accelerated BSN and military pathway programs. She will provide strategic vision, leadership and ongoing evaluation of prelicensure programs by collaborating with School leaders on curriculum planning, faculty assignments, program evaluation and mentorship of program directors and staff. She will also represent the School to internal and external stakeholders, including the N.C. Board of Nursing; collaborate on recruitment, admissions and progression initiatives; and lead faculty development, succession planning and continuous improvement of clinical placements and program outcomes. 

Edmonds has been a registered nurse for 30 years. Her clinical career spanned 12 years in emergency nursing, where she served as a charge nurse and, later, department director. She transitioned to academic nursing in 2009 as the inaugural dean for nursing at Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC), where she also served as assistant vice president for academic affairs and workforce services and as interim dean of humanities, social sciences and business. 

After 13 years at SVCC, Edmonds joined Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Nursing in 2022 as associate dean for undergraduate programs and department chair for family and community health. She currently serves as an associate professor and holds the Betsy A. Bampton Endowed Professorship in Nursing. 

Edmonds earned her BSN from VCU and her Master of Science in Nursing, Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education and Doctor of Nursing Practice — all from Old Dominion University, with a focus on nursing leadership and education. Her scholarly interests include improving teaching practices and student learning, mentoring students for practice readiness and emotional intelligence. 

Ranked first among public schools of nursing in the nation, Carolina Nursing’s prelicensure programs prepare exceptional nurses to meet the state’s most urgent health care needs. Dean Valerie Howard is confident Edmonds will build on this foundation of excellence. 

“With decades of experience in academic nursing leadership, Edmonds will bring a wealth of knowledge to our prelicensure students and faculty. Her expertise will be instrumental as Carolina Nursing continues to expand enrollment in its prelicensure programs to help address North Carolina’s nursing shortage. We look forward to welcoming her to campus this summer,” said Howard. 

The School is grateful for the leadership of Associate Professor Elizabeth Stone, who led the prelicensure programs from June 2024 through December 2025, and Rebecca Hill, senior associate dean for academic affairs, who currently leads the programs on an interim basis. 

We also extend our appreciation to Jessica Williams, assistant dean for the PhD program and associate professor, for chairing the search committee, and to all search committee members for their dedicated service.