Iona College in New Rochelle has announced the appointment of Sherylyn Watson, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CNE, as director of nursing and associate dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences,
As nursing director, Watson will spearhead Iona”™s rigorous, values-oriented nursing program, which offers two pathways to a bachelor”™s degree: a traditional four-year undergraduate program and an accelerated, second-degree program.
Watson will also serve as the first associate dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, offering a new vision for collaborative health care education, modern workforce development and community care. NewYork-Presbyterian, consistently recognized as a leader in medical education, groundbreaking research and innovative, patient-centered clinical care, supported the creation of the new school with a gift of $20 million.
In this new role, Watson will collaborate with NewYork-Presbyterian to provide opportunities for students to learn from top professionals in state-of-the-art facilities, while offering access to clinical placements and full-time career opportunities with New York”™s No.1 hospital, as ranked in “U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals.”
Watson previously served as associate dean of Academic Affairs in the Davis & Henley College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University. Under her leadership, the undergraduate nursing program experienced a 400% increase in class size and a 95% or above National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate for a decade.
Watson”™s experience has also stretched internationally, developing educational opportunities abroad in countries such as Ireland, Australia, Jamaica and Ghana.
Watson, who has been widely published, worked in the field of nursing throughout Connecticut from 1997 through 2010 is the recipient of many professional awards. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Fairfield University, Master of Science degree in nursing from Quinnipiac University and Ph.D. in nursing education from Capella University.
