Alumnus and longtime faculty member to become the nursing school’s 14th dean
Case Western Reserve University President Eric W. Kaler and Provost Joy K. Ward have announced that Ronald Hickman (CWR ’00; NUR ’06, ’13; GRS ’08, nursing), the Ruth M. Anderson Endowed Professor and associate dean for research in the Center for Research and Scholarship, will serve as the next dean of Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. Hickman will begin his role July 1, pending Board of Trustees approval this month.
“As a quadruple alumnus of Case Western Reserve University, Ron brings valuable perspective to the nursing school—not only as a nurse scientist but as a mentor and educator whose work has proven impact,” President Kaler said. “He is the ideal leader to drive our nursing school forward as we help meet our country’s demand for qualified nurses and nursing professionals.”
Hickman’s appointment follows a nationwide search for a successor to Carol Musil (NUR ’79; GRS ’91, nursing), who chose to return to the nursing school’s faculty after six years as dean. Musil—a double alumna herself—has supported Hickman throughout his career.
“I want to thank Carol for her strong leadership, including through unprecedented challenges to the nursing profession during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Provost Ward. “As we focus on the future, I’m confident Ron’s immense expertise and institutional knowledge make him the consummate choice to lead Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.”
In the decades since Hickman first enrolled as an undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve in 1996, he’s been ingrained in the fabric of the university—even meeting, and later marrying, his wife on the CWRU campus. He’s taught at all levels of the nursing curriculum, drawing on nearly two decades of personal experience as a critical care nurse and nurse practitioner.
“I find joy interacting with students and helping them understand how they can be more impactful when providing care to patients and their families,” said Hickman, who has earned both the John S. Diekhoff Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring and the J. Bruce Jackson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring. “This work extends from undergraduate students eager to start in the profession to graduate and doctoral students looking to elevate their impact and move systems as nurse leaders.”
Hickman has shown deep commitment to research as well, leading federally funded studies designed to help individuals—including family members of ICU patients—make informed decisions related to health or healthcare. He has expanded his approach into training programs, an example of his commitment to advance nursing science while growing academic offerings.
This commitment to research is one Hickman will continue as he moves into his role as dean.
“At the School of Nursing, we’ve been a consistent leader, driving nursing research even at times when nurses weren’t receiving federal funding,” Hickman said. “Advancing nursing science that benefits the public is part of our culture. It’s endemic to who we are.”
Hickman’s impact extends to a national scale, from his work on the board of directors for the American Academy of Nursing to his recognition in 2020 as the second nurse scientist to receive the prestigious Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine distinction from the National Academy of Medicine. But he’s especially eager to nurture community partnerships, not only working with healthcare systems but agencies, government partners and others to encourage chronic disease management, support family caregivers, and implement effective end-of-life strategies, as just a few examples.
“Frances Payne Bolton has been my academic and professional home over decades of learning, growing and service,” Hickman said. “It’s a tremendous honor to give back to a place, its people and the community in this new capacity.”
He also looks forward to engaging regularly with his fellow CWRU nursing alumni. These individuals, he says, exemplify the type of agile system thinkers who can lead at both the bedside and in the boardroom.
“As we weather challenges in our field, I’ll be calling on our broad network of alumni both locally and beyond to engage or reengage through their time and expertise,” he said, “and I look forward to engaging with other nurses who understand our identity as a school for nurse leaders.”