The College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) has recently appointed three women to administrative leadership roles.
Suzanne Nuss is the assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing-Omaha Division. In addition to her new responsibilities, she will retain her current appointments as an assistant professor, assistant chancellor of clinical workforce development at UNMC, and clinical workforce development officer for Nebraska Medicine. Dr. Nuss began her career at Nebraska Medicine in 1996 as a clinical nurse specialist and case manager. In 2015, she was named chief nursing officer. From 2017 to 2024, Dr. Nuss was associate dean for Nebraska Medicine Nursing at UNMC.
Dr. Nuss holds a bachelor of nursing degree from Syracuse University in New York, a master of nursing degree from Seton Hall University in New Jersey, a Ph.D. from UNMC, and an MBA from the University of Colorado.
Tracie Kirkland is the college’s new associate dean for transformational practice and partnerships. She is also an associate professor and a Kenneth E. Morehead Endowed Chair in Nursing. Before joining the UNMC faculty, she was an associate teaching professor of nursing at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. With over three decades of nursing experience, she has conducted extensive research on social determinants of health, with a particular emphasis on the health of Black women and food insecurity.
Dr. Kirkland earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Hampton University in Virginia, a master’s degree in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University, a doctor of nursing practice degree from Texas Christian University, and a Ph.D. in nursing from Texas Woman’s University.
Kristi Lynch is the assistant dean for enrollment management and student success. Prior to her new role, she was the senior director of graduate, executive, and professional business programs for the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In this role, she frequently collaborated with the UNMC College of Nursing to introduce the university’s MBA program to nursing students, faculty, and staff.
Lynch holds a master of business administration.