Linda Andrews, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment and nursing professor, will retire after 25 years at Rogers State University. Professor Andrews’ last day on campus will be Jan. 31.
The public is invited to a retirement reception for Andrews from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, on the second floor of the Centennial Center on the RSU campus in Claremore.
“I cannot think of anyone who has contributed to the growth and success of this institution more than Linda Andrews,” said RSU President Dr. Larry Rice. “She has touched the lives of countless students, and has provided vision and leadership for our highly respected nursing program since its inception. She performed a vital role in the RSU nursing program gaining status as one of the best in Oklahoma.”
As Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, Andrews provides strategic and academic planning, supports university-wide assessment and program review activities, and coordinates accreditation processes and major academic projects.
She played a key role in RSU gaining accreditation as a four-year university in 2000 and re-accreditation in 2004. She also led the university’s efforts to gain accreditation of its nursing program from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approval by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. In addition, she was instrumental in the design and development the bachelor of science in nursing and bachelor of science in sport management degrees, which were first offered at RSU in 2008.
“As an administrator, Linda was key in the development of our bachelor’s programs in the health sciences and has helped prepare and guide the university and its health sciences programs through several critical accreditation reviews,” said Dr. Richard Beck, RSU Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Andrews joined the RSU faculty in 1986, first serving as a nursing instructor and rising to assistant director then director of its health sciences division. She was named Head of the RSU Department of Health Sciences in 1999, a role she held until she was named Assistant Vice President in 2006.
She received a master of science from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor of science from the University of Texas, both in nursing. She has completed coursework toward a doctoral degree in family science with emphasis in gerontology from Oklahoma State University. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi chapter at OSU.
Her long career in nursing includes Home Health Administrator for Upjohn Healthcare Services in Tulsa and Bartlesville, Director of hospital-wide staff development at Doctor’s Hospital in Tulsa and Coordinator of Continuing Education at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa.
In addition, she served as Adjunct Professor at the University of Tulsa’s College of Nursing and Instructor at the Hillcrest Medical Center School of Nursing.
As a registered nurse, her clinical practice includes Intensive Care at Hillcrest Medical Center, Coronary Care at Arlington (Texas) Memorial Hospital and Men’s General Receiving at Fitzsimmons Military Hospital in Denver, Colo.