Quarterly Letter from Dean Valerie Howard — Fall 2023

Dear Friends,

As the air turns crisp and the trees lining Cameron Avenue begin to burst with color, there is no mistaking it — autumn has officially arrived in Chapel Hill. This season of change and new beginnings is a remarkably fitting time to update you on the extraordinary developments taking place at Carolina Nursing.

First, we have embarked on a project to replace the aging west wing of Carrington Hall, constructed in 1969, with a state-of-the-art Nursing Education Building. With demolition scheduled to begin this fall, we are thrilled to begin a new chapter in our School’s history.

To ensure a seamless transition and uninterrupted teaching, operational and research activities, all faculty, staff and students have been relocated to temporary spaces on campus. Before offices were emptied and classrooms relocated, the Carolina Nursing community gathered one last time in Carrington West to bid the building a very fond farewell.

We have eagerly anticipated the construction of this new world-class facility for many years, and I invite you to continue reading this issue to learn how it will transform nursing education and address the critical nursing shortages in and beyond North Carolina.

In addition to these changes to our physical space, I am thrilled to share that we have recently completed a comprehensive strategic planning process and unveiled our new plan, “Leading with Light.” Guided by our mission to advance health for all, this plan will chart our course for the next five years. As we begin the work of implementing our strategic plan, I am excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. I am confident we will embrace them as a community and continue to make a positive impact on the nursing profession and the lives of those we serve.

This is an exciting time for the Carolina Nursing community, and the many achievements of our School are a direct result of the unwavering support, hard work and expertise of our dedicated alumni, supporters, faculty, students and staff. I am grateful to each of you for your part in supporting the mission of Carolina Nursing, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish as we Lead with Light together.

Warmly,

Val Howard
EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Dean and Professor