Campus News
By Abby Knox, Staff Writer
Dr. Nezam Al-Nsair has resigned after nearly three years as the Dean of the College of Nursing, and the search is on for a new one.
“Dr Nezam Al-Nsair, Dean of the College of Nursing, has recently left Xavier University for family reasons,” the university said in a statement two weeks ago.
Before becoming dean at Xavier University, Al-Nsair was the Dean of Nursing at York College of Pennsylvania. Prior to that, he was the Executive Dean of Health Sciences at Higher Colleges of Technology. Al-Nsair has close to eight years of experience as a dean of nursing at various institutions.
The College of Nursing will be supervised by Interim Dean Dr. Terri Enslein and Dr. Brenda Wiles for the spring semester.
Enslein has been at Xavier since 2016 and has been Associate Dean of Graduate Programs for over a year. Wiles has been at Xavier since 2011 and has been Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs for close to three years.
Dr. Nezam Al-Nsair (right) has been the Dean of Nursing for the past three years. After his resignation, the search for a new dean is on.
As for a new dean, Xavier University is partnering with a national firm as well as a committee of current faculty members of the College of Nursing to find the next dean. The committee will help screen applicants and lead interviews.
“We always need somebody who is thinking outside the box, but also thinking inter- collaboratively,” Enslein said.
With the future opening of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, it is even more crucial now to find a dean who can best utilize relationships and work collectively, Enslein noted.
“This shift in leadership, although daunting, should not panic anyone,” Enslein said.
Dr. Al-Nsair took a leave of absence last semester, a transition that flew relatively under the radar of students.
“I think the fact that he was on leave last semester, but that it wasn’t even necessarily picked up on by students is very telling.” Enslein said. “I think things are operating just as they would with a smooth transition (of leadership).”
Many students in the nursing program were unaware that Dr. Al-Nsair was resigning until after it had already been announced.
“I didn’t know he resigned. None of us knew what was happening,” junior nursing major Audrey Bramblett said.
The collaboration that will occur between Enslein and Wiles now and in the future aims to encourage an engaging, accredited and innovative environment for nursing students.
When the time comes and there are a few finalists for the position, there will be a way for students to hear from and to give their opinions on the finalized candidates for the new Dean of Nursing.
