Texas A&M Appoints New Dean For School Of Nursing

Dr. Trisha Leann Horsley has been named dean of the School of Nursing at Texas A&M University, effective July 1, 2023.

A scholar, certified health care simulation educator and researcher, Horsley’s 29-year career includes administrative, faculty and health care service at the University of Oklahoma and South Dakota State University. Most recently she served as professor and dean of the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University.

“We are honored to have Dr. Horsley join the legacy of nursing education that began at Texas A&M in 2008 when the School of Nursing was established,” said Dr. Alan Sams, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Her administrative skillset and prior experience at a land-grant university will further our mission to educate highly skilled Aggie nurses dedicated to providing patient-centered care, leading nursing research and serving their communities.”

Horsley’s research focuses on the use of clinical simulation with interprofessional education and collaborative practice to improve team training and patient safety. She served a two-year term in 2019 as vice president for programs on the board of directors for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. Horsley has authored numerous publications and been invited to present both nationally and internationally.

As dean of the School of Nursing, Horsley will provide strategic, scholarly and financial leadership for the school, as well as support for faculty, staff and student success. She will oversee the development of operational procedures, degree programs, research initiatives and service efforts, along with research productivity, clinical activities and more.

Horsley earned both her bachelor’s in nursing in 1990 and her master’s in nursing education in 2005 from the University of Oklahoma. She received her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Kansas in 2012.