Dr. William Richard Cowling Joins Chamberlain College of Nursing as Vice President of Academic Affairs

Chamberlain College of Nursing announced today the appointment of William Richard Cowling, III, PhD, APRN-BC, AHN-BC, FAAN, as vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Cowling brings more than 40 years of experience in nursing education, clinical practice, research and administration to his new role at Chamberlain. He will be responsible for the strategic direction of all academic programs at Chamberlain with a focus on quality, innovation and faculty development.

Dr. William Richard Cowling joins Chamberlain College of Nursing as vice president of academic affairs. (Photo: Business Wire)

"Dr. Cowling’s impressive depth of experience in nursing education and research will be an asset to Chamberlain,” said Susan Groenwald, PhD(c), MSN, president of Chamberlain College of Nursing. "His expertise will help Chamberlain prepare nurses to advance healthcare outcomes.”

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Cowling launched the first school of nursing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), where he served as its director for six years. Dr. Cowling helped establish one of the strongest PhD programs in the country, as evidenced by a four-year graduation rate of 83 percent.

"I am honored to join the outstanding team at Chamberlain that is building on its history of providing quality and innovative nursing education,” said Dr. Cowling. "Chamberlain is at an exciting point in its development, and I look forward to working with faculty and students to make a lasting impact.”

Dr. Cowling has conducted groundbreaking research in unitary appreciative nursing. He is also an active participant in the Society of Rogerian Scholars, which guides nursing practice and research towards human wholeness. Dr. Cowling currently serves as the editor of the Journal of Holistic Nursing and has published numerous articles related to holistic nursing, unitary healing and mental health.

Additionally, Dr. Cowling has received many prestigious awards, including the New York University’s Rogers Award for Unitary Nursing Science and the Martha E. Rogers Visiting Scholar. He has been recognized as an American Academy of Nursing fellow and the American Holistic Nurses Association’s 2008 Holistic Nurse of the Year. He is a longtime member of the American Holistic Nurses Association, the International Association of Human Caring, the American Nurses Association and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

Prior to his six years at UNCG, Dr. Cowling served as associate dean for graduate programs and interim chair of the department of nursing systems, community and psychiatric mental health nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. Dr. Cowling earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., a Master of Science degree in psychiatric mental health nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree from New York University in New York.

Dr. Cowling will start July 25, 2011 and will succeed Stephanie Stewart, PhD, MSN, RN. Dr. Stewart has taken on a new role at Chamberlain, responsible for the implementation of web enhanced blended learning, academic research and innovation.

For more information about Chamberlain College of Nursing, visit www.chamberlain.edu.

About Chamberlain College of Nursing

Chamberlain College of Nursing offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing. Campuses are currently located in Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville and Miramar, Florida; Addison and Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; Houston, Texas; and Arlington, Virginia.

Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, ncahlc.org. HLC is one of the six regional agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities at the institutional level. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the Addison, Arlington, Chicago, Columbus, Houston, Jacksonville, Phoenix and St. Louis campuses and the Master of Science in Nursing degree program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, 202.887.6791). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the St. Louis and Columbus campuses and the Associate Degree in Nursing program are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs at the Phoenix and the Addison campuses are candidates for accreditation by NLNAC. Candidacy is the first step toward NLNAC accreditation (NLNAC, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404.975.5000). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met.

Chamberlain College of Nursing 2450 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202 is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, 101 N. 14th Street, 10^th Floor, James Monroe Building, Richmond, VA 23219, 804.225.2600. Chamberlain College of Nursing has provisional approval from the Virginia Board of Nursing, Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463, 804.367.4515.

Program availability varies by location. Chamberlain reserves the right to update information as it becomes available. Information is current at the time of posting. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. For comprehensive consumer information, visit www.chamberlain.edu/studentconsumerinfo.

Chamberlain College of Nursing, LLC is a part of DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV), a global provider of educational services. ©2011 Chamberlain College of Nursing, LLC. All rights reserved. www.chamberlain.edu.

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