Holden-Huchton named nursing dean

Dr. Patricia Holden-Huch­ton has been named dean of the College of Nursing at Texas Woman’s University.

Huchton previously served as the interim dean of nursing and as the associate dean of nursing for TWU’s Denton campus. She began her duties April 1.

“I am both honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in this leadership position,” Huchton said in a news release. “The College of Nursing has a national reputation for excellence in its bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D. and the new doctorate of nurse practice program. The exceptional faculty are dedicated to teaching, service and research of the highest quality, and our students are outstanding.”

Huchton grew up in Odessa and received her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, her master’s in nursing from TWU and her doctorate from the University of Ala­bama at Birmingham.

Prior to joining TWU in 2005, Huchton held academic leadership positions in Ken­tucky and Nevada. She has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years.

She was president of the board of directors of Hospice of the Kentucky River, a commissioner of the National League for Nursing and a member of the board of directors of an HIV certification board. She also has held positions in chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Kentucky Nurses’ Association and the Texas Nurses’ Asso­ciation.

Her funded research has been in the area of HIV.

Uphouse named Piper Professor

In recognition of her dedication to her students and to the teaching profession, Dr. Lynda Uphouse, TWU Cornaro professor of biology, was recently named a 2008 Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation.

Awards were announced Thursday.

The award, which includes a $5,000 stipend, was created in 1958 to honor outstanding teaching in Texas colleges and universities. The foundation makes only 15 awards each year. Selection is made on the basis of nominations submitted by each college or university in Texas.

Uphouse is the ninth TWU faculty member to be named a Piper Professor.

As a research scientist, Uphouse has been the research adviser for more than 50 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students since 1973.

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