Sean Clarke has been appointed as the next dean of Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Clarke joins Emory from the New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing, where he serves as professor and the Ursula Springer Chair in Nursing Leadership, following prior service as executive vice dean.
An internationally respected nursing leader, researcher and educator, Clarke has held senior academic and research appointments at NYU, Boston College, McGill University, the University of Toronto and the University of Pennsylvania. He has helped shape the national conversation on nursing workforce, patient safety and health policy issues, and he brings to Emory a record of academic leadership, research excellence and service to the profession.
As dean, Clarke will report jointly to Badia Ahad, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Emory University, and Joon Lee, executive vice president for Woodruff Health Sciences of Emory University and CEO of Emory Healthcare.
“Dr. Clarke is an exceptionally accomplished scholar whose commitment to creating transformative learning experiences for students at all levels is evident,” says Ahad. “He brings a deep appreciation for the vital partnership between the liberal arts and professional education, and a clear understanding of how both advance the university’s mission and impact.”
“At Emory, we know strong nursing leadership is essential to the future of healthcare, alongside the deep connection between academic excellence and exceptional patient care,” adds Lee. “Sean Clarke brings both the vision and the experience to build on the School of Nursing’s extraordinary foundation and help lead it into its next chapter.”
“Nursing schools like Emory’s have a distinct impact on the profession and quality of nursing care nationally and globally. I’m incredibly proud and excited to carry that legacy forward as dean.”
Sean Clarke
Incoming dean, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Clarke has received numerous honors, including being named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2006. He has also held visiting and honorary roles at universities worldwide, and in 2025 was awarded the Academy’s Civitas Award, recognizing his commitment to advancing excellence in quality care. Since January 2023, he has served as the editor-in-chief of “Nursing Outlook,” the American Academy of Nursing’s official journal covering nursing practice and education, research trends and health policy.
Clarke earned a Master of Science (Applied) and a PhD in nursing from McGill University, where he later joined the faculty.
In their joint announcement of Clarke’s appointment, Ahad and Lee expressed appreciation to the search advisory committee for their diligence throughout the national search process, with special thanks to co-chairs Dani Fallin, the James W. Curran Dean of the Rollins School of Public Health, and Sharon Pappas, chief nurse executive for Emory Healthcare. Gratitude was also extended to Lisa Muirhead for her dedicated service as interim dean during this important period of transition.
Clarke says he is honored to join Emory and continue the School of Nursing’s record of excellence.
“Emory’s School of Nursing has long been distinguished by its expert faculty, leading the pack in research, preparing superb clinicians and maintaining a well-developed partnership with an academic health sciences system that robustly integrates academic nursing activities with care delivery,” he says. “Nursing schools like Emory’s have a distinct impact on the profession and quality of nursing care nationally and globally. I’m incredibly proud and excited to carry that legacy forward as dean, working with its exceptional faculty, staff and administrators as well as the larger community at Emory and Emory Healthcare.”
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