Wittmann-Price Appointed Dean of TESU School of Nursing

On Apr 24, 2023

Following a national search, Thomas Edison State University (TESU) has announced that Ruth Wittmann-Price, PhD, has been appointed dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Most recently, Wittmann-Price served as a professor of nursing and an undergraduate programs chair at Jefferson College of Nursing (JCN) in Philadelphia. Prior to her role at JCN, she served as the founding dean of the School of Health Sciences at Francis Marion University, S.C., where she oversaw the launch of the school’s flagship Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. She has overseen multiple initiatives at both institutions encompassing community outreach and diversity endeavors as well as the launch of interprofessional healthcare, physician assistant, healthcare administration and speech-language pathology degree tracks. Earlier in her career, she served as a nursing and health professions professor at various colleges and universities in eastern Pennsylvania.

“Dr. Wittmann-Price brings with her a wealth of experience in developing and expanding nursing and health professions programs as well as supporting traditionally underserved student and patient populations to her new role,” said Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, president, TESU, “We are excited to have her join our university.”

Wittmann-Price, who will begin her new position in May, was instrumental in garnering grant support for multiple academic endeavors, including recently obtaining nearly $7 million in federal funding to support nursing students from underserved communities who, in turn, are specifically trained to provide care for patients from those communities. She also has secured federal funding for veterans seeking bachelor’s degree completion. Most recently, she initiated a campaign to support at-risk nursing students by providing them with graduate student mentors, stipends and other resources to offset traditional academic barriers to degree completion.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Felician College in Lodi, and a Master of Science degree with a specialty in perinatal clinical nursing from Columbia University, N.Y. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Widener University, Chester, Pa., with a dissertation that earned her the Dean’s Award for Excellence. She possesses Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE), Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNEcl), Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), Academy of Nursing Education Fellows (ANEF) and Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) credentials. She is an editor, co-editor or chapter contributor of more than 70 publications, articles and refereed presentations, and has provided numerous conference keynotes and podium presentations nationally.

“Dr. Wittmann-Price will lend her deep expertise and academic vision to areas that are essential to our institution’s ability to attract pre-licensure nursing students, RNs and nurse leaders to our programs,” added Dr. Cynthia Baum, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, TESU. “She will also shepherd the expansion of the school’s health professions programs and strengthen our initiatives in the Trenton community.”

TESU’s nursing school recently announced that the New Jersey Board of Nursing had granted reaccreditation for its Accelerated BSN Program for a period of eight years. In its confirmation, the state Board of Nursing thanked the school for its dedicated service to nursing education and granted reaccreditation through 2031.

“The reaccreditation substantiates the quality, integrity and rigor of our Accelerated BSN Program,” noted Baum. “It also denotes a vital benchmark for the program, and we are proud of the school’s staff for this achievement. We look forward to our continuing role in the advancement of nursing education in the state and supporting the collective health and well-being of those in our community.”

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