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Designed for experienced nurses seeking to elevate their practice, the post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, established at the School of Nursing in 2015, equips students with the skills to translate evidence-based research into real-world health care solutions.

The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing is proud to announce that Dean Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN, has been selected as president/chairperson of the World Academy of Nursing Science (WANS), effective January 1.

Kelly Pretorius, PhD ’19, MPH, APRN, CPNP-A/C & P/C, BSN ’07, RN, clinical assistant professor, has come full circle. In 2024, she returned to the School of Nursing, where she once studied, as a faculty member dedicated to advancing pediatric safety, global health initiatives and policy advocacy. A passionate advocate for child health and well-being, Pretorius brings a wealth of experience from her research, international work and policy involvement to shape the next generation of Longhorn nurses.

When leaders from the School of Nursing learned there was a critical need for health care services at a new permanent supportive housing site in Austin for older adults exiting homelessness, they stepped up. Now, more than a year later, the onsite health clinic at Pecan Gardens, operated by the School of Nursing, has become a cornerstone of care for residents aged 55 and older who are disabled and working to overcome chronic homelessness.

Even nursing students could use a recess break sometimes, especially one that teaches a lesson. That’s why Lynn Rew sent her class out to the School of Nursing courtyard a few years ago. “I remember one fall when I was teaching the honors research course, and I had a hard time getting the students interested in research,” Rew shared. So, she made a game out of it.

After a remarkable career spanning more than three decades, Professor Emerita Jane Dimmitt Champion, PhD, DNP, MSN, MA, FNP, AH-PMH-CNS, FAAN, FAANP, retired from the School of Nursing in 2025 after 13 years of service, leaving behind an indelible legacy of excellence in teaching, research, clinical practice and global mentorship.

The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing is excited to introduce the next group of Social Media Ambassadors for 2026. Building on the success of this year’s inaugural program, this initiative continues to highlight the vibrant student community and the unique experiences that define life at the UT Austin School of Nursing.

Ana Loera, RN, primary care nursing supervisor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing’s Children’s Wellness Center (CWC), received the SON Star Award for Texas Nursing staff in December 2025.

For Christy and David Dauphin, giving back to the School of Nursing is more than a personal mission—it’s a way to help shape the future of nursing. Through the Christy and David Dauphin Graduate Fellowship in Nursing, the couple supports graduate students who are focused on pediatrics, have financial need and are graduates of a Texas high school.

For Sharon (Leyland) Ahrari, MSN ’93, RN, the dream of becoming a nurse began as a child in her grandparents’ home in San Antonio. “I borrowed my grandmother’s long white half-slip, a white blouse from Catholic school and a large white dinner napkin folded into a triangle on which, I drew a cross with a red crayon, pinned the napkin into my hair with bobby pins, and thus began my nursing career.”