A Message from the Senior VP and Dean, School of Nursing, and Chief Integration Officer, UTMB, and the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs

Dear UTMB School of Nursing Community,

We are excited to announce that Dr. Jacquelyn Svoboda, Associate Professor and holder of the Joseph B. and Mary Alice Collerain Professorship will serve as Assistant Dean for Educational and Practice Innovations, effective June 1, 2025.

In this inaugural role, Dr. Svoboda will be responsible for identifying and prioritizing opportunities for practice engagement across varied learning spaces. Reporting to the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Svoboda will provide dynamic and visionary leadership to develop innovative approaches and models designed to advance teaching and practice across SON programs and initiatives. This includes advancing the effective use of innovative technologies among nursing faculty, developing strategies to facilitate student development in clinical reasoning and clinical judgment, and ensuring the SON strategic goals align with the needs of the healthcare community. As Assistant Dean, Dr. Svoboda will work closely with program directors, track coordinators and staff to ensure the success of innovative academic-practice partnerships and initiatives.

Dr. Svoboda is deeply engrained and invested in the UTMB community. She has more than 25 years of experience in obstetrical care nursing, including 20+ years as a women’s health nurse practitioner. She joined the School of Nursing as an assistant professor in 2013 and continues her clinical practice at UTMB OB/Gyn department. She passionately advocates for justice involved pregnant women through education in birth, breastfeeding and bonding and providing a bedside companion during labor.

Dr. Svoboda has received numerous awards and honors including the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, UTMB Excellence in Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Education (Faculty) Award, University of Texas Board of Regents Outstanding Teaching Award (ROTA), and UTMB School of Nursing Alumni Hall of Fame Award. She is also an Ohio State University Innovations Fellow.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Jacquelyn Svoboda, Assistant Dean for Educational and Practice Innovations!

Sincerely,