Coker University recently appointed Carolyn Hart, Ph.D., as Dean of Nursing. 

Dr. Hart will develop and launch the institution’s inaugural bachelor’s degree in nursing program, which is planned to start in the fall of 2022, pending approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing. 

“Coker University is happy to have Dr. Carolyn Hart on board to lead our bachelor’s of nursing program,” says Coker University President Dr. Natalie Harder. “Dr. Hart’s career has centered on student success and her track record in building strategic partnerships both inside and outside higher education, will strengthen Coker and the Pee Dee region overall.”

In her new role as Dean of Nursing, Dr. Hart will provide collaborative leadership as the university establishes its bachelor’s degree in nursing program. In addition, she will work alongside Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center and other health care providers to establish clinical sites and partnership initiatives. She will secure external funding from federal agencies, corporations, foundations, and interested donors to support the program. In addition to teaching courses, Dr. Hart will plan and develop program policies and its curriculum. 

Before coming to Coker, Dr. Hart was the Chair of Nursing at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, where she provided leadership within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences on all nursing academic programs. Prior to her position at Barry University, she was Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Chief Nursing Administrator at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Throughout her career, Dr. Hart has strongly supported student-centered learning, student access, and student success initiatives, all of which complement Coker University’s mission. Her areas of specialization include leadership, program development, and student persistence.  

Dr. Hart received her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, her M.S.N. in Nursing Education from South University (Florida), and her B.S.N. from Chamberlain University (Missouri). Dr. Hart started as Coker’s first Dean of Nursing on January 4, 2021. 

For more information about Coker University, please visit www.coker.edu.