Ohio State appoints new College of Nursing dean

The Ohio State University has selected Karen Rose as the next dean of the College of Nursing, effective July 1, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. Rose currently serves as the college’s vice dean and is a tenured professor and director of the college’s Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care.

Rose will provide strategic vision and leadership for the college toward its goals of enhancing scholarship, promoting research and community-engaged scholarship, and educating the highest caliber of nurse leaders, researchers and health professionals. 

“I am excited for the college’s future under Karen’s leadership,” said Ohio State Executive Vice President and Provost Melissa L. Gilliam. “Please join me in congratulating Karen on this next chapter in her distinguished career as a leader, scholar and practitioner.”

“I am thrilled to continue to work with the fabulous faculty, staff and students in the College of Nursing,” Rose said. “We have amazing people in terms of our human capital, a state-of-the-art new facility in Heminger Hall, and endless opportunities for advancing education, research and evidence-based practice.”

Rose is widely recognized for her research on improving the quality of life and well-being for dementia family caregivers and people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Her research has been continuously funded throughout her career, including by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

In leading the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care, she brings together scientists, educators and clinicians with the shared purpose of improving health outcomes for aging and vulnerable populations.

“I’m energized by the college’s programs, including work at the Fuld National Institute for Evidence-based Practice and our Total Health and Wellness Federally Qualified Health Center,” Rose said. “Additionally, the college’s research touches the entire lifespan, from maternal and infant mortality to older adults and caregivers. The possibilities are endless, and this important work connects us with the citizens of Columbus and all of Ohio.”

Rose joined the college’s faculty in 2019 after arriving at Ohio State from the University of Tennessee College of Nursing. Previously, she held numerous roles at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, including director of the school’s PhD program. She has served in numerous teaching and leadership roles at several other colleges, universities and medical centers across the country throughout her more than 30-year career.

She earned her baccalaureate degree at Shenandoah University, master’s degree at Virginia Commonwealth University and PhD in nursing at the University of Virginia. She completed postdoctoral training with funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation.

“Karen will benefit from the strong foundation created by Bernadette Melnyk as she steps down as dean after 12 years of transformational leadership,” Gilliam said. “I am grateful for the dedication of the search advisory committee and appreciate the efforts of our colleagues at the College of Nursing and all who participated in the national search.”

“Our alumni have also made Ohio State’s College of Nursing the place where people want to come for nursing education,” Rose said. “People want an Ohio State nurse caring for them, and that’s a credit to the people in our college and to our Ohio State alumni.”