University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: February 22, 2007

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

The national search for a dean for the School of Nursing has begun with the appointment of a search committee that includes several members of the Western New York nursing community.

The search is seeking a successor to Mecca S. Cranley, who resigned as dean last semester due to illness. Cranley subsequently died on Nov. 20.

David L. Dunn, vice president for health sciences, has said the goal of the search is to have a new dean on board by this coming November.

Michael E. Cain, dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, has been named chair of the search committee.

Other members of the committee are Gayle A. Brazeau, associate dean for curricular affairs and associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Carol S. Brewer, associate professor in the School of Nursing; Jean K. Brown, professor and interim dean of the School of Nursing; Bonnie Glica, vice president of nursing at Erie County Medical Center; Mary Ann Jezewski, associate professor and associate dean for research in the School of Nursing.

Also, Maureen Kelly, chief nursing officer for Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Robin M. Lally, research assistant professor in the School of Nursing; Ann P. McElroy, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences; Michael J. Moley, senior vice president of human resources for the Catholic Health System; Ann Monroe of the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York.

Also, Peter Nickerson, professor of pathology and anatomical sciences in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and chair of the Faculty Senate; Michael F. Noe, clinical professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health and Health Professions; Nancy J. Smyth, professor and dean of the School of Social Work; Constance Vari, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Kaleida Healthcare System; M. Dian Chin-Kit Wells, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry in the School of Dental Medicine; and Camille Wicher, a doctoral student in the School of Nursing.

UB also has hired a consultant, Ilene Nagel of Russell Reynolds Associates, to assist in the search. Nagel has played a key role in most, if not all, of the recent administrative searches at UB, including the provostal and vice presidential searches, and searches for other dean positions, including the dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dunn said Cain will convene the search committee soon "to develop the search process and appropriate timetable, and to begin to solicit for nominations."