College of Nursing

Dean's Message

It is with great pleasure and appreciation as we update our alumni and friends of the change that took place January 1, 2026. The School of Nursing is now the College of Nursing. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Robert Dooley, who as interim gave us the permission to proceed with this request, Dr. Jerold Hale, Provost who worked closely with us as we submitted our request, Dr. Valerie Rutledge, our Dean who supported our efforts and has always had the best interest of the School as her focus, and finally, Dr. Lori Bruce, who presented our request to the UT Board of Trustees on October 24, 2025. We are all grateful for your support and belief we should be a standalone college.

There are many changes that will come. Those already in place include  Dr. Brooke Epperson serving as Associate Dean while still overseeing the Undergraduate Program and Dr. Christi Denton serving as the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs who will also remain the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Program Director. Lindsey Greiner will be the Business Manager. Dr. Kristen Singletary will now be the ABSN Program Director as Dr. Jason Peter devotes his energy to the DNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. All coordinators will have a title change to Program Director for their respective areas.

Construction on the Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building, home of the College of Nursing is well underway, and we are meeting monthly to get updates from the project manager.

Suffice it to say, 2026 is off to a great start. Students are back with us the 2nd Monday in January. Then the true work begins as we welcome new students as well as those returning. Check this message frequently to get updates about the UTC College of Nursing.  Happy New Year to all!
 

Christine Benz Smith, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
UC Foundation Professor
Dean, College of Nursing
Chief Health Affairs Officer
 

Check out the College of Nursing January Newsletter!

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.