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Welcome from the Dean
Over the past century, the University of Maryland School of Nursing has emerged as one of the most respected and highly- acclaimed schools of nursing in the U.S. and in the world. Consistently ranked among the nation's top 10 schools of nursing by U.S. News & World Report, we employ and partner with the leaders of today in order to create the leaders of the future. Our location on a professional campus with schools of medicine, pharmacy, law, social work and dentistry allows our students and faculty to engage in a variety of inter-professional collaborations.
As the largest nursing school in the state of Maryland and one of the largest in the U.S., we currently enroll over 1,600 students in our baccalaureate, master, and doctoral programs. More than 41 percent of our 16,000 alumni contribute to the nursing workforce of our state. Our belief in life-long learning is evidenced by our dynamic and forward-thinking professional development programs that are attended by more than 3,000 participants each year.
Thirty-six percent of our student body consists of minority ethnic groups and 11 percent are males. This rich diversity enables our students to learn and participate in an environment where cultural and racial differences are acknowledged and embraced. Additionally, our graduates are prepared with the cultural competency that is critical to providing effective nursing expertise.
Recent educational endeavors of our School include the launching of Maryland’s first Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Master of Science (MS) specialty, the state’s first Nurse Anesthesia MS specialty, and the state’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. These programs put us in the vanguard of nursing education and practice, and respond to the expanding needs of the nation’s health care system.
In the spirit of discovery, and in support of the science of nursing, many of our faculty and students are conducting original scientific research. Groundbreaking research is being conducted in the School’s first Center of Excellence—the Center for Work and Health Research—as well as the studies on disorders of neuroregulatory function that are being carried out in our developing Center of Excellence. Our research grants for 2008 exceeded $3 million.
I’m glad you have taken the time to visit our Web site. Please come back often for updates on new courses and programs, special events, and other news about our School. I also encourage you to visit our beautiful state-of-the-art facility in Baltimore and make an appointment to explore the many educational opportunities we have to offer. Appointments can be made by contacting our Office of Student and Academic Services at 410-706-0501. I hope to meet you in person soon.
Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean and Professor