معرفی
Kerry Thompson serves as the dean of the School of Health Sciences and holds the Glenn and Addie Ketner Family Nursing Professorship at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. With over 25 years of continuous, full-time service, she is a pivotal figure in advancing health sciences education and national nursing accreditation standards.
Her academic foundation includes:
- Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- M.S. in Nursing Education from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro
- B.S. in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Thompson's research program centers on critical care nursing, specifically addressing psychological and physiological challenges faced by congestive heart failure patients experiencing health uncertainty. This expertise directly informs her development of innovative curricula including the Master of Science in Nursing Administration and Education and the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nursing programs, which target critical workforce shortages in rural healthcare settings through evidence-based educational frameworks.
Her exceptional contributions have been honored with:
- The Roediger Distinguished Service Professorship (2014), awarded annually by the university president for distinguished service to the university, profession, and community
- Induction into the LR Servus Universitas Society (2016), an exclusive honor for employees with 25+ years of continuous service (achieved by fewer than 150 individuals in the university's history)
As an active Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditor, Thompson travels nationally to evaluate nursing programs while mentoring students and faculty in clinical practice excellence. Her leadership in program development and accreditation continues to shape nursing education standards and improve patient care outcomes across institutional and geographic boundaries.
