Andrews assumes new role in the School of Nursing

GREENVILLE  —   Dr. Alta Andrews has been appointed associate dean for community partnerships and practice in the East Carolina University School of Nursing effective April 17. In addition, she will continue as Level III nursing chair and professor for the next several weeks.

Andrews is responsible for facilitating faculty practice, strengthening clinical programs and enhancing community outreach. She will work in collaboration with other nursing and health sciences division administrators and faculty to support and encourage practice initiatives, sustain and expand clinical partnerships and engage with the community in addressing health care needs.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Andrews in this role,” Dean Phyllis Horns said. “Her relationships with community partners is superb and will certainly facilitate our making swift progress in strengthening our partnership and practice efforts.”

A veteran faculty member, Andrews came to ECU as an assistant professor of family and community health nursing in 1977, previously serving as a staff nurse at the Pitt County Health Department and Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Andrews served as assistant professor until 1992, when she became an associate professor. In 1997, she became chair and associate professor of community nursing systems. In 2003, she was appointed chair and associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Nursing. She was appointed chair and professor in 2004. In 2005, she became chair and professor of Level III Nursing. She also serves an adjunct associate professor in the Duke University School of Nursing.

Andrews has a bachelor of science in nursing from ECU, a master’s of public health in maternal and child health, a master’s of public health in public health nursing administration and a doctorate of public health in maternal and child health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has served as an advisor of graduate student research and published in several journals and presented on community health nursing and high-risk infants and infant mortality.

An Ayden resident, Andrews serves on the CARE board of directors and Eastern Area Health Education Center’s home health advisory board.