The University of Texas at Austin has named Kavita Radhakrishnan, PhD, MSEE, RN, FAAN, as interim dean of the School of Nursing. A nationally recognized nurse scientist and educator, Radhakrishnan brings extensive experience in research leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and faculty development to the role.
Radhakrishnan has been a member of the UT Austin faculty since 2012 and has held a series of leadership roles, including associate dean for research, assistant dean for research, and director of the Luci Baines Johnson and Ian J. Turpin Center for Gerontological Nursing.
“I am humbled to serve as interim dean of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing,” Radhakrishnan said. “In the weeks ahead, I look forward to meeting with many of my colleagues listening to their ideas and learning from the expertise across this remarkable community.”
Growing up in India, she earned a degree in Mumbai in electrical engineering and came to the U.S. to pursue graduate study in the field. While looking for engineering work in Boston, she found herself volunteering at a hospital. Observing the nurses there, she was inspired by the deeply analytical, problem-solving nature of their work. The clinical care was anything but routine—it reflected systems thinking, real-time decision-making, and human connection.
“At the same time, I noticed a recurring frustration among them,” she recounted. “The technology they needed to support patient care simply wasn’t available or effective. That struck a chord with me. I realized that if I wanted to create tools that truly addressed the needs of nurses and patients, I had to become a nurse myself.”
Now, Radhakrishnan holds a PhD and BSN in nursing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in addition to a master’s degree in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from the University of Mumbai. Her interdisciplinary background has shaped a research program focused on developing accessible, scalable digital health interventions to support chronic disease self-management, particularly among older adults and underserved populations.
Since 2010, her research has centered on technology-enabled approaches that allow individuals to manage their health and remain in their homes and communities. “I believe in the concept of aging in place,” she said, “and I believe technology, when thoughtfully and ethically applied, can help make that a reality for more people.”
Radhakrishnan’s scholarship has been supported by federal and state funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. In recognition of her contributions to nursing science, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Heart Association and, in 2025, into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Researcher Hall of Fame.
As interim dean, Radhakrishnan will provide leadership for the School of Nursing’s academic, research, and service missions while continuing to advance its commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the preparation of future nurse leaders. “I am grateful for the dedication members of our school bring to their work every day,” she said, “and I am excited about what we can accomplish together.”