W&J appoints chair of new nursing program
Washington & Jefferson College has appointed Dr. Linda Edwards as professor and chair of nursing, and will lead the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program.
The new nursing program – a partnership with Washington Health System – will enroll its first group of students in the fall of 2024. Students who successfully complete the four-year program will become a registered nurse (RN) though Washington Health System and BSN from Washington & Jefferson College.
“We are pleased to introduce and welcome Dr. Linda Edwards as the inaugural chair of W&J’s newly created nursing program,” said Dr. Jeff Frick, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the College. “We are excited to launch this program next fall and are confident that Dr. Edwards brings the right clinical and academic experience to be successful.”
Edwards has more than 25 years of health-care experience with a primary clinical nursing focus in adult health, sub-acute rehab nursing, geropsychiatry nursing, and gerontology. She has served in various teaching and leadership roles at Florida A&M University, ECPI University and Sumner College.
“I am most excited about the opportunity to join a talented team of W&J colleagues and collaborate with our community partners and stakeholders to develop and launch a program that will not only support the community but also be a part of the solution to meeting the growing demand for qualified practice-ready nurses in the region and across the nation,” Edwards said. “With this program, W&J will continue to be a trailblazer in the academic preparation of the next generation of health-care professionals.”
Edwards holds a BSN and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington and a doctorate in nursing from Walden University.
Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released earlier this year stated the country will need an additional 203,200 registered nurses each year through 2031.
To apply, visit washjeff.edu/apply or call 888-W-AND-JAY.