Detlor announces retirement as dean of College of Nursing

Dorothy Detlor, who has served as dean of the Washington State Intercollegiate College of Nursing for more than eight years, has announced that she will retire from that position on Sept. 1, 2006.

“Dr. Detlor has served the university well in her leadership role,” said Provost Robert C. Bates. “She is a leader in nursing and health care related issues across the state as well as nationally. During her years in the role of dean, she has led the college as it extended its program offerings across the state, increased its student numbers by about 65 percent, expanded its focus on research and evidenced-based practice and enhanced the visibility of the college through its service activities.”

Bates said a search committee seeking Detlor’s successor would be appointed shortly.

“Nursing and nursing education has been an integral part of my life for over 45 years but it is now time for me to focus my energies in other directions,” said Detlor, who is the current WSU dean with the longest tenure in her position. “It has been a special privilege to serve the college and the university in my role as dean since 1997 as well as in my teaching role here during the late 1970s and ’80s. Much has happened within health care as well as within the college during those years and it has been exciting to be a part of the changes.”

Detlor holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing from Whitworth College, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Gonzaga University. Prior to accepting her current job, she served as dean of the school of nursing at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.

Detlor serves on the board of directors of Providence Health Care and is a member of its Strategic Planning Committee. She is a member of the board of the Washington Center for Nursing and currently serves as secretary-treasurer. She is actively involved in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and is a member of the Governmental Relations Committee, as well as being the grass roots liaison regarding legislative issues for Washington State Graduate School of Education.

“Nursing is integral to the health care system and our programs are vital to the communities we serve. The college is now well positioned to move into the future with the forthcoming new building in Spokane, the transition of the headquarters of the college to the Riverpoint campus, our expanded research focus and the planned implementation of a Ph.D. in nursing program. This is an appropriate time to seek a new leader to take the college to the next level,” Detlor said.

Detlor said she and Bates have agreed that she will continue to work with the college on a part-time basis over the next year or two to assist with the transition process.

Established in 1968, WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is the nation’s first, oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium.

The College of Nursing offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled in Spokane through its four consortium partners, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Washington State University and Whitworth College. The same programs are also offered in several communities across the state including Yakima, Vancouver, Tri-Cities and Walla Walla using the Washington Higher Education Telecommunications System’s interactive video as well as videoconferencing, video streaming and web based instruction.

As the largest college of nursing in the Pacific Northwest, the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is currently educating more than 850 upper-division undergraduate and graduate students, and each year graduates more entry-level nurses than any other educational institution in the state. In addition, its faculty researchers are contributing significantly to the knowledge base of the profession and of health care.