Sherrill Smith, dean of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming, has received the 2024 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Advocate of the Year Award. She was honored for her outstanding promotion of the academic priorities for nursing education.
Dr. Smith took the helm of the University of Wyoming’s nursing school in 2019. Prior to her current role, she spent over a decade on the faculty at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. While there, she served in several leadership roles, such as assistant dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Nursing and Health, director of the pre-licensure bachelor’s degree program in nursing, and director of the graduate concentration in clinical nurse leadership. Before her career in academia, Dr. Smith was a clinical nurse in various environments, including the United States Air Force.
In her own research, Dr. Smith primarily focuses on nursing education. She is a dedicated advocate for simulation technology in education, such as using robotic patients for nurse training. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the International Nursing Association for Clinical and Simulated Learning.
Dr. Smith received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, her master’s degree in public health nursing and nursing education from Wright State University, and her Ph.D. in nursing education from the University of Northern Colorado.