UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has named Vinciya Pandian as associate dean for graduate education, effective July 1.
Pandian will oversee the college’s graduate programs, working closely with program directors and faculty to deliver the exceptional educational experience Penn State Nursing is known for.
“We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Pandian to our college,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “I’m confident her leadership will shepherd our graduate programs to new heights as she brings a wealth of experience and innovative approaches to teaching, learning and patient care.”
Formerly, Pandian served as an associate professor and assistant dean for immersive learning and digital innovation at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She is internationally renowned for her clinical work improving the care, safety and quality of life for critically ill patients. Pandian’s research focuses on identifying signs and symptoms of laryngeal injury post-extubation in the intensive care unit with funding for this work being awarded by the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Parlaying her research into more innovative solutions, Pandian founded the Center for Immersive Learning and Digital Innovation, where she established the infrastructure necessary to develop a multi-user virtual experience that delivers educational modules to aid learners in placing and caring for central lines while minimizing patient risk. In 2023, her work with the center led to its accreditation by the Society of Simulation in Healthcare.
“I am thrilled to join the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, where tradition and innovation intersect to shape the future of healthcare,” said Pandian. “Our nursing program will empower students to innovate and pioneer compassionate, safe, and groundbreaking patient care practices. Together, we will harness cutting-edge research and technology to cultivate a learning environment that meets the evolving demands of healthcare."
Pandian is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Critical Care Medicine. In 2023, she was awarded the Johns Hopkins Award for Excellence in Research Mentoring which recognizes faculty who promote independent scholarship among students. She is also the recipient of a lifetime achievement award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service, which was awarded by the AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States. Pandian has been an active member of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2014, currently, she serves as the collaborative’s vice president and chair of the educational committee. She also serves as the editor for the Journal of Clinical Nursing, an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal that aims to advance and support the practice and discipline of nursing.
Pandian earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, master’s and doctoral degrees at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and an MBA at the University of Baltimore.