Luci Baines Johnson and Ian J. Turpin Center for Gerontological Nursing

UT Austin School of Nursing faculty are translating National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding into action, advancing research that addresses a wide range of health challenges and engages different populations and communities.

Can we get an AMEN? For the past seven years, that’s exactly what Austin residents have gotten through Advancing Mental and Emotional Nourishment (AMEN), a program launched by the School of Nursing and financially supported by Austin Public Health. The program partners AMEN with two local faith-based organizations to provide mental health awareness in addition to vaccinations and blood tests, said Shalonda Horton, PhD, RN, who serves as program director.

Although Dean Kavita Radhakrishnan has held several leadership positions in the School of Nursing, serving as dean has been a different experience altogether. Radhakrishnan, PhD, MSEE, RN, FAAN, FAHA, took the reins as interim dean in March 2026, leading the School until her permanent appointment in September.