An accomplished nursing scholar whose academic career began in India has been appointed as dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Vinciya Pandian will officially take on her new role on July 1. In addition to serving as dean, she will hold the Lisa and Greg Reed Endowed Dean’s Chair and serve as the associate senior vice president for nursing academic-practice partnerships at the UT Medical Center.
Pandian’s foundations in healthcare began in India, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Christian Medical College in Vellore. She noted that the institution’s motto, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” established a lifelong commitment to service that aligns with UT’s Volunteer Creed.
After her undergraduate education in India, Pandian moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing as an acute care nurse practitioner and a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing, both from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore.
Read: Vinciya Pandian named to International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (May 4, 2026)
Pandian joins UT from Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, where she has been serving as associate dean for graduate education and professor of nursing. She also held a joint appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery within the Penn State College of Medicine.
As a researcher, Pandian is internationally recognized for her work in critical care, tracheostomy care, and improving outcomes for ventilator patients. She leads Penn State’s Center for Immersive Learning and Digital Innovation, which receives federal funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and has secured research funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Her career includes global engagement and research partnerships in India, Nigeria, and Portugal. She has served as president of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative, was named a Fulbright specialist by the U.S. Department of State and received a 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States.
Pandian succeeds Dean Victoria Niederhauser, who announced her retirement last fall after leading the college since 2011.
UT Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick praised Pandian’s record of leadership and innovation, expressing confidence in her ability to build upon the college’s strengths.
Pandian stated that she looks forward to partnering with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and healthcare leaders to continue preparing highly skilled nurses who improve community well-being.