Emory University’s longest-serving dean, Linda McCauley (79N), will retire at the end of 2025. McCauley, dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, has served as dean since 2009, making her the only dean not replaced during outgoing University President Gregory Fenves’ tenure.
McCauley plans to continue as faculty after leaving the deanship, continuing her research and working on national health care initiatives. In the Emory News Center article announcing McCauley’s retirement as dean, Fenves said that McCauley “transformed” the School of Nursing.
“As dean, she has empowered nursing faculty to develop as innovators and prepared students to enter their profession fully ready to serve patients and communities,” Fenves said. “Her contributions to the field of nursing are unparalleled, and she will be known for elevating the school to extraordinary heights.”
Under McCauley’s leadership, the School of Nursing master’s program finished at the top of U.S. News & World Report’s rankings for nursing schools across the country in the past three years.
According to the press release, while McCauley has led the School of Nursing, the enrollment has tripled from 475 to over 1,400.
McCauley’s retirement comes at a time when Emory is already facing a slew of high-level leadership turnover. On May 27, the University announced that Fenves would be transitioning from his role as president to chancellor on Sept. 1. Additionally, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Ravi Thadhani stepped down from his role in July. These departures come as the University has extended its search for a new provost into the summer after initially announcing it would replace former Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost Ravi Bellamkonda, by the beginning of classes this fall.
Recent Emory deans, including McCauley, have served for shorter amounts of time as compared to peer institutions. Specifically, Emory’s deans have served for an average of 3.67 years, whereas the average dean tenure at peer institutions is 5.85 years.
McCauley said in the press release that leading the School of Nursing has been the “journey of a lifetime.”
“I am deeply proud to have served as the school’s sixth dean, and I am confident our remarkable faculty and staff — together with Emory’s leadership and our devoted alumni — will ensure that the next dean continues to prepare visionary nurse leaders and groundbreaking scientists,” McCauley said. “As a proud alum of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, I look forward to watching its reputation and impact continue to grow.”
Spencer Friedland (26C) is the Editor-in-Chief of The Emory Wheel. He is double majoring in Philosophy and Film. Outside of the Wheel he is a member of Emory's Honor Council and Franklin Fellowship. After college he is planning on attending law school.
