The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) announces the appointment of Dr. Lisa Lewis as the new dean of the School of Nursing. Dr. Lewis, a distinguished leader in nursing education and a champion of diversity, equity and inclusion, stepped into her role on Aug. 1, 2024.
Dr. Lewis brings an extensive background in culturally relevant health care and nursing excellence to UVI. She succeeds Dr. Beverley Lansiquot, who retired in July after a decade of dedicated service as dean.
Before joining UVI, Dr. Lewis made significant strides at Rutgers University as a professor and senior associate dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Her leadership journey also included key roles at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where she was the Inaugural Calvin Bland Fellow, associate professor, and associate dean for Equity and Inclusion. Additionally, she served as faculty director of Penn’s College Houses and Academic Services, where she provided academic leadership for 13 college houses and 5,600 undergraduate residents.
UVI President Dr. Safiya George, who shares a background in nursing education as the former Dean of the College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, warmly congratulated Dr. Lewis: “I am excited to work closely with Dr. Lewis to advance our shared vision. Her experience in nursing education and passion for fostering equity and inclusion will undoubtedly strengthen our School of Nursing and prepare our students for the dynamic and evolving health care landscape.”
Dr. Lewis is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and American Heart Association (AHA). In 2024, she was selected as an Inaugural Distinguished Fellow in the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (FADLN) because of her demonstrated nursing experience and noted expertise in the areas of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her service contributions are wide-ranging and underscore her commitment to the nursing discipline, academic excellence, and advancing cardiovascular health equity.
Dr. Lewis’ research, which explores sociocultural influences on treatment adherence and interventions for hypertensive Black populations, has garnered substantial federal funding and is widely published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Lewis’ dedication to developing culturally competent nurses has earned her numerous accolades, including the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University’s Estelle Osborne Recognition Alumni Award for her commitment to diversity and social justice.
Dr. Lewis holds a PhD in Nursing with a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia, an Master of Arts in Nursing Education from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Syracuse University. A member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Dr. Lewis is of Trinidadian and Carriacouan heritage. She was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Lewis expressed her excitement about joining UVI: “I am honored to lead the School of Nursing at such a pivotal time for the profession. I look forward to collaborating with the faculty, staff, students, and community partners to advance the School's mission and amplify its impact on USVI health.”
As Dr. Lisa Lewis is welcomed as the new Dean of UVI’s School of Nursing, the University extends its deepest gratitude to Dr. Beverley Lansiquot for her distinguished service since 2014. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Lewis at the helm of UVI’s School of Nursing to prepare our future nurses for the everchanging demands of the profession,” said UVI provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, Dr. Camille McKayle. “At the same time, I would like to recognize the significant contributions of Dr. Lansiquot whose leadership brought numerous curricular advancements and infrastructure improvements to the nursing program. Dr. Lansiquot’s dedication to UVI and its students has been exemplary, and we wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”
For more information, contact pr@uvi.edu.
