UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Vinciya Pandian, associate dean for graduate education and professor in Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, has announced her departure from the University effective June 30.
Pandian will assume a new role as dean and professor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing, where she will hold the Lisa and Greg Reed Endowed Dean’s Chair. In her new role, she also will serve as associate senior vice president for nursing academic-practice partnerships at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
“Vinciya’s contributions to Penn State and the field of nursing have been profound. She has played a key role in expanding graduate education and research opportunities, leaving a lasting foundation for future success,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “We are deeply grateful for her many contributions to the college and all she has done to strengthen our community. She will be an exceptional dean and continue to advance the profession in meaningful ways.”
During her tenure at Penn State, Pandian oversaw the launch of several advanced nursing programs, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice–Nurse Anesthesia option and the Doctor of Nursing Practice–Nurse Educator option. She has been an integral contributor to various college initiatives, like serving as a co-chair for the college’s National League for Nursing Center of Excellence renewal and leading the strategic planning process for the college.
Pandian’s research center — the Center for Immersive Learning and Digital Innovation (CILDI) — is a patient safety learning laboratory focused on transforming patient safety and healthcare outcomes using advanced technology from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, CILDI leverages virtual experiences to aid learners in placing and caring for central lines and ventilators to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
An internationally recognized leader in tracheostomy care and airway management, Pandian has made significant advances in improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with airway disorders and those requiring mechanical ventilation. In recognition of this work, she was named a 2026 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame inductee by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Pandian also serves as editor-in-chief of ORL - Head and Neck Nursing and Tracheostomy, and as an editor for the Journal of Clinical Nursing. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American College of Critical Care Medicine. In 2023, she received a lifetime achievement award from AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States in recognition of her commitment to volunteer service. Pandian has been an active member of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative since 2014 and currently serves as the collaborative’s vice president.
Additionally, Pandian was awarded a joint appointment with Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Penn State College of Medicine, highlighting her contributions to team science, as well as her commitment to advancing patient care and research in tracheostomy and airway management.
Prior to joining Penn State, Pandian served as an associate professor and assistant dean for immersive learning and digital innovation at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Pandian earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, master’s and doctoral degrees at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and an MBA at the University of Baltimore.
Marie Boltz, current associate dean for research and innovation, will serve as administrator of the Nese College’s graduate programs while the college assesses the future structure, scope and strategic priorities of the role.