URI appoints one of its own to serve as dean
of its College of Nursing East Greenwich
resident selected for strong record as interim dean

KINGSTON, R.I. -- January 28, 2000 -- As interim dean of the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing, Dayle Joseph kept the College in step with the changing world of health care, strengthened URI fund-raising and alumni relations and bolstered initiatives to foster student and faculty excellence.

URI officials liked what they saw and recently appointed the East Greenwich resident dean of the College, which enrolls 531 students, 400 of whom are undergraduates.

"Dr. Joseph's activities as interim dean proved her to be an effective leader, manager and advocate for the College," URI Provost M. Beverly Swan said in making the announcement, noting that Joseph is held in high esteem by her peers.

Swan said Joseph's excellent reputation in the health care field is apparent in her appointment to committees at Miriam Hospital where she addresses issues ranging from ethics to research.

"Dr. Joseph brings energy, vitality and vision to the position of dean of the College of Nursing," Swan said. "As issues facing the health care industry become increasingly complex, we are confident that she will guide the College and by extension, the health care programs at the University of Rhode Island, with a sure and steady view to the future."

Last year under Joseph's leadership, the College prepared a planning document that showed the College should be paying particular attention to research, recruitment, diversity, practice, technology and outreach.

Joseph said she is proud of the College's role in the URI partnerships, special initiatives to encourage cross-disciplinary research and learning. "Our faculty members have gotten involved, particularly with the President's Health Promotion Partnership in the areas of gerontology and diabetes. I think there is so much more potential. It's wonderful that faculty members are working together on such a wide variety of projects."

But for those partnership projects to work well and for the College to thrive, the College must attract highly intelligent, highly motivated students. Joseph is heavily involved in that effort too. This month, she hosted a meeting at URI for Colleagues in Caring, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which will study the recruitment of nursing students and staff patterns in the clinical agencies. The meeting brought together representatives from all of Rhode Island's hospitals, agencies, and organizations involved in health care.

"We want to send the message to bright students that we need those who are interested in science and in helping people," said Joseph, who grew up in Cranston and is a graduate of Cranston High School West.

Joseph earned her registered nurse diploma from Rhode Island Hospital, a bachelor's degree in school-nurse teacher education from Rhode Island College, and holds two master's degrees, one in counseling from RIC and one in nursing from URI. She earned her doctorate in humanistic education from Boston University.

Her work experience is as varied as her educational record. She began as a staff nurse at both Rhode Island and Cranston General hospitals, and then became an instructor at St. Joseph's School of Nursing.

She joined URI as a part-time instructor in 1973, and steadily moved up the ranks to assistant professor, assistant dean from 1984 through 1995, associate professor in 1991, and then interim dean.

"I am very enthusiastic about the work I started here at URI," said Joseph who runs the only nursing college in the state that offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in nursing. "The College has been my home for most of my career. I know the different roles."

A contributor to numerous nursing journals and winner of several research awards, Joseph has reached out to the URI community by hosting "The Friends of the College of Nursing" reception each winter since 1996. That year, she also established the Annual Alumni Award, which recognizes URI nursing graduates who have become respected local and national figures in their fields.

"We invite students to the Alumni Award program because we want them to meet with the people who have accomplished so much with their nursing education from URI," Joseph said.

She has also thrown herself into fund-raising to benefit student scholarships and faculty development. She also launched a major beautification project of the College's exterior. The College has already raised $80,000 of a $100,000 campaign to renovate and expand the Hart Garden at the southeast corner of White Hall.

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For Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116