As its nursing program enters its second academic year, Southwestern College has named alumna Sara Denly as director of the Grace and David Nichols Family Nursing Program, effective July 1.
Denly returns to her alma mater with 26 years of experience as a registered nurse, including the past six years as a nurse practitioner. Her background includes pediatrics, emergency medicine, critical care, urgent care and pulmonary and sleep medicine, along with leadership positions at William Newton Hospital and Children’s Nebraska.
“I’ve learned that in nursing, clinical skills are important, but our healthcare system needs nurses with character, resilience, critical thinking and advocacy,” Denly said. “I am deeply committed to ensuring this program prepares our nursing students for the realities of modern healthcare while empowering them to become leaders.”
Denly succeeds Shona Turner, who will retire from the program director role but will remain with the college through Dec. 31 to assist with the leadership transition. College officials said the overlap will provide continuity as the program continues its accreditation process and expands enrollment.
Southwestern officials said the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will welcome two cohorts of nursing students and two cohorts of pre-nursing students this fall. Denly and her husband, Dave, are also relocating to Winfield. Dave Denly, a former longtime Southwestern basketball coach and athletic director, recently joined the college as a major gifts advancement officer.
