Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing Welcomes Four New Associate Deans in Fall 2022

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) is pleased to welcome four new Associate Deans to take the helm in Fall 2022 including: Dr. Lisa Jones, Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Programs; Dr. Deborah Petty, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Dr. Deborah Shirey and Dr. Stacia Hays, Associate Deans for the Online Graduate Programs.

“Baylor is blessed by a diverse and highly regarded faculty dedicated to providing an environment that integrates faith and excellent academics, “said Dean Linda Plank, LHSON. “We are pleased to welcome the leadership of four new Associate Deans, Drs. Jones, Petty, Shirey and Hays. Together we will strive to support the success of our students through our unique philosophy that nursing is a calling.”

Lisa M. Jones, DNP, MPH, RN, is the new Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Programs and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the LHSON. She will be working alongside Dr. Karen Cotter, Associate Dean for Pre-Licensure Programs. Prior to joining Baylor University, Dr. Jones professional background included: FT Faculty, Grayson College; PT Clinical Instructor, University of Texas at Arlington; Charge Nurse and Staff Nurse on Renal and Oncology Nursing Unit, Texoma Medical Center; Community Advocacy Director, American Heart Association-Chicago, Illinois and Health Promotion Specialist, Will County Health Department-Joliet, Illinois.

Dr. Jones completed her Doctor of Nursing Practitioner (DNP) from American Sentinel University in Aurora, Colorado; Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) from A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas; Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Illinois, School of Public Health in Chicago, Illinois and Bachelor of Science (BS) from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

Deborah S. Petty, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, is the new Associate Dean for the Faculty Affairs and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the LHSON. She has taught in the baccalaureate (traditional and FastBacc® tracks), masters, and doctoral degree programs. She has taught full-time in academic nursing education and has done so since 2009. She has facilitated courses in the face-to-face, online, clinical practicum, and lab settings, and mentors faculty. Prior to joining Baylor University in 2016, Dr. Petty was an Associate Professor and Program Director of an accelerated BSN program in the Kansas City metropolitan area. She is an Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her clinical practice includes roles as a cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist, manager of multiple perianesthesia units, director and provider at a community clinic, and bedside critical care nursing.

Dr. Petty completed her Doctor of Nursing Practitioner (DNP) from the University of Missouri - Kansas City; Masters of Science (MS) from the University of Kansas; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Missouri State University and Associates (AS) from Palm Beach Community College.

Deborah M. Shirey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, is the new Associate Dean for the Online Graduate Programs and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the LHSON. Previously, Dr. Shirey served as DNP-FNP Coordinator at the LHSON prior to her new role. She has taught both traditional and online courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels for universities for more than 20 years. In addition, she has served as DNP Project Chair and committee member for multiple DNP students. Dr. Shirey is an ANCC board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who is experienced in urgent care, community health, and infectious disease specialty. She is actively engaged in community partnerships with local non-profit organizations and serves as a volunteer provider at The Family Place in Dallas.

Dr. Shirey completed her Doctor of Nursing Practitioner (DNP) from Loyola, University in Chicago, Illinois; and her Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Stacia Hays, DNP, APRN, CPNP, CCTC, CNE, FAANP, is the new Associate Dean for the Online Graduate Programs and is a Clinical Associate Professor at the LHSON. Dr. Stacia Hays is Clinical Associate Professor and board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with an active pediatric practice. She is a current Primary Care Editor for the Journal of Pediatric Health Care. And holds national certifications as a Nurse Educator, Clinical Transplant Coordinator, as well as a Certificate in Public Health. Prior to her role at Baylor her experience includes DNP Program Director and Coordinator for Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks. Dr. Hays has extensive leadership with institutional Quality Improvement initiatives and project development. Her teaching is informed by her clinical, leadership, and institutional experiences while incorporating a variety of educational modalities. Internationally, she has been involved in developing a credentialing process for advanced practice nursing in Brazil.

Dr. Hays completed her Doctor of Nursing Practitioner (DNP) from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida; Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas and Certificate of Public Health from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.