By Caitlin Hanbury
School of Nursing

Patricia Kinser, Ph.D., will serve as the dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing, effective May 12. Kinser, a longtime VCU faculty member, active clinician and nationally recognized researcher, has served as interim dean since April 2024 and brings more than two decades of leadership, scholarship and service to the role.

Kinser was selected after a national search, and her appointment is set for ratification at the next quarterly meeting of the VCU Board of Visitors.

An alum of the VCU School of Nursing, Kinser has served on the faculty since 2012. She previously served as assistant dean for research and scholarship and currently holds the Judith B. Collins and Joseph M. Teefey Distinguished Professorship. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in the school’s research mission, expanding academic programs and strengthening community engagement. Kinser's program of research is focused on the overall vision of helping mothers, families and children thrive, with ongoing funded research on biobehavioral mechanisms of and interventions for perinatal depression, long-term sequelae of SARS-COV-2 and methods to improve screening for and prevention of depression symptoms.

In addition to her academic work, Kinser maintains an active clinical practice as a women’s health nurse practitioner and serves as co-director of perinatal mental health research at VCU’s Institute for Women’s Health. Her career is marked by an integrative approach to health care that prioritizes mental, physical and social wellness — values that are reflected across her teaching, scholarship, and leadership.

“Dr. Kinser brings an inimitable combination of institutional knowledge, clinical expertise and research excellence to the role of dean,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., senior vice president of VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health. “Her longtime commitment to VCU, its mission and the future of nursing education makes her an outstanding choice to lead the School of Nursing during a time of transformative change in health care and higher education.”

As interim dean, Kinser has worked closely with university and health system leadership, faculty and clinical partners to strengthen student pathways into nursing and expand collaborative initiatives with VCU Health. She will continue to advance the school’s strategic plan, which focuses on educational innovation, research excellence, community engagement and workforce development.

Kinser is also serving her second term on the Virginia Board of Health, where she provides a nursing perspective on key public health policies and programs. She brings a strong advocacy voice to state and national discussions on maternal-child health, mental health and high-quality care.

“Becoming dean of the VCU School of Nursing is an incredible honor,” Kinser said. “This school shaped me as a student, nurtured me as a faculty member and inspired me as a nurse scientist and leader. I am committed to supporting our faculty, staff and students as we continue to lead in education, research, practice and service. Together, we will shape the future of health care by educating students to lead with purpose, fostering innovative research, advancing care delivery and practice, and ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve."