Linda D. Scott, dean emerita of the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, passed away on November 17. She was 69 years old.
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Dr. Scott received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Michigan State University. After several years as a practicing clinical nurse in pediatrics and cardiology, Dr. Scott completed a master’s degree in nursing administration and pediatrics from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, where she joined the faculty and later served as a full professor and associate dean for graduate programs. While teaching at Grand Valley State, Dr. Scott earned her Ph.D. in nursing and health care systems from the University of Michigan. Next, she transitioned to the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she was associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Nursing.
In 2016, Dr. Scott was named the eighth dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, making her the school’s first Black woman leader. Over the past nine years, she developed new degree programs, doubled the number of tenure-track faculty members, and expanded research and clinical opportunities. In 2024, she oversaw the nursing school’s centennial celebration, which included a $45 million fundraising campaign.
In her scholarly work, Dr. Scott studied the impact of fatigue and sleep deprivation on both nurses and their patients. She also conducted extensive educational research on economically disadvantaged students, including those from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds. A past president of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Scott received the National Black Nurses Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in August 2025.
Earlier this year, Dr. Scott announced her retirement effective June 2026. However, she moved up her retirement date for health reasons, ultimately passing less than a week after stepping down from her deanship.