FAMU appoints deans of School of Nursing, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences

Two of Florida A&M University’s colleges and schools have new permanent deans presiding over them following recent appointments.

While Shannon Smith — former associate dean of Nursing at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina — will oversee FAMU’s School of Nursing, Garlen Dale Wesson was promoted from interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences. Both academic leaders started serving in their roles July 1.

Smith’s appointment as dean of the FAMU nursing school comes after former dean and professor Shelley Johnson’s resignation from the university last July, which led to Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Lisa Gardner filling in as interim dean since last year during a national search.

“Dr. Smith and Dr. Wesson both possess extensive experience in Carnegie R1 (Very High Research Activity) institutions,” FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson Watson said in a prepared statement. “Their expertise will be instrumental in enhancing our academic profile and leading their respective units to new heights.”

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Smith received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina before earning a doctorate in nursing practice in organizational leadership and a doctorate in nursing science, both from the University of South Carolina.

She served as associate dean of nursing at Claflin — a private HBCU (historically Black college or university) with an enrollment of nearly 2,000 students — since 2016, leading the program to national prominence and achieving accreditation in 2018. Through the role, she also launched a new master’s degree program in nursing in 2021.

In addition, nursing students under Smith’s leadership have had consistent retention and graduation rates above 90%, according to the university.

Smith steps into her new role at FAMU after the nursing school’s licensure passage rate recently rose to 96.55% for the university’s 2023 spring cohort, exceeding the national average of 86% for first-time exam takers and ending a two-year probation by the Florida Board of Nursing.

More: FAMU School of Nursing probation lifted after nearly perfect pass rate

Before the turnaround, the nursing program’s 2022 overall annual pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) was 79.17%.

“My colleagues at FAMU have made great strides in academic nursing, and I am excited to build on their excellent work,” Smith, a Ritter, South Carolina native, said in a university release.

“As dean, my key priorities include further enhancing student performance on board exams, integrating innovative approaches into the curriculum, increasing nursing research activities and strengthening community partnerships to ensure our graduates are well prepared to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.”

‘A profound honor’

As the permanent dean of FAMU’s College of Agriculture Food and Sciences, Wesson enters the new role with 25 years of higher education experience.

He also steps into the new position after simultaneously wearing three hats while serving as interim dean since last year, associate vice president of Research and director of Land Grant Programs at FAMU.

While he will no longer serve as associate vice president of Research, he will continue his role as FAMU's director of Land Grant Programs since it falls under the dean position, according to a university spokesperson.

As dean, Wesson succeeds former dean Robert Taylor, who returned to the faculty last fall after overseeing the college for 10 years.

“It is a profound honor and responsibility being appointed as the new dean,” Wesson said in a prepared statement. “I aim to enhance our academic programs, encourage interdisciplinary research and strengthen our community partnerships to ensure our institution remains at the forefront of education and societal impact.”

Wesson holds all of his degrees in chemical engineering with a bachelor’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a doctorate from Michigan State University.

Before joining FAMU, he served as vice president for Research and Economic Development at Virginia State University, where he managed a research portfolio exceeding $25 million in annual expenditures.

The St. Louis, Illinois native — and professional engineer with 10 years of industrial experience — also served in roles including vice president for research positions at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and South Carolina State University as well as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Clark Atlanta University.

According to Watson, Wesson is “well-equipped” to move the agricultural school forward. Similarly, she believes Smith brings “extensive knowledge and a remarkable background” to her dean role as a new addition to the university.

Contact Tarah Jean at [email protected] or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU School of Nursing, College of Agriculture get new deans