News & Events

Baltimore, Md. – Seven University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been named Maryland state New Nurse Faculty Fellows, and one has been awarded a Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research. These awards are part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. New Nurse Faculty Fellowship The New Nurse Faculty Fellowship is for new nursing faculty members and helps cover the expenses of their graduate education. It was designed to assist Maryland nursing schools and academic programs with recruiting and retaining new nursing faculty required to educate the nursing graduates Maryland’s hospitals and health systems need. The following UMSON faculty received the maximum award amount of $10,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 - 2031, assuming continuous employment as faculty in good standing: Yanka Campbell, DNP, MSN ’17, RN, AGPCN-BC, CNE, assistant professor Yvonne Douglas, DNP, CRNA, CNE, assistant professor Leslie Greenberg, DNP, MBA, MSN ’04, RN, CCRP, OCN, assistant professor Yvette Hammond, MSN ’19, RN, clinical instructor Heather Johnson, DNP ’20, BSN ’08, CRNP, assistant professor Lee Moore, DNP, MEd, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, assistant professor Lyn Starrs-Zorn, PhD, CRNP (A/AC), CWS, CNOR, assistant professor NEDG for Practice and Dissertation Research Tolvalyn Dennison, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CNE, clinical instructor, received an NEDG, which provides funding to nurse faculty currently enrolled in or who have recently completed a doctoral degree and helps cover costs associated with their graduate education. These awards are contingent upon degree completion and employment as a faculty member. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral

Baltimore, Md. –  The University of Maryland School of Nursing's (UMSON) has once again earned national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s newly released “2026 Best Online Programs.” UMSON’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Leadership and Management (NLM) specialty tied at No. 5 nationwide for the second year in a row and is ranked No. 2 among public institutions in the Nursing Administration/Leadership category, continuing its long‑standing position among the country’s top programs. The School also advanced in two categories: the overall Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs, rising to No. 72 (tied) from No. 81 (tied) last year, and the Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs for Veterans, moving up to No. 24 from No. 26 in 2025. Among public schools of nursing, UMSON is ranked No. 16 nationwide in the veterans category. “We are thrilled to be recognized nationally for our MSN Nursing Leadership and Management specialty,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD '11, MS '05, BSN '04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing.  The U.S. News rankings represent the most respected and in-depth evaluation of U.S. graduate programs that are designed to be administered online. UMSON is among the 201 nursing schools ranked. The publication’s rankings are based on indicators such as student and faculty engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, student excellence, and peer assessment, using data collected directly from each institution. Only degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions are considered, and the programs that score the highest are those applying educational best practices specific for distance learners. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has appointed Kimberly Hampton, PhD, MBA, MS ’06, BSN ’02, RN, assistant professor, as co-director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. She will share responsibilities for leading the program with Nicole Smith, PhD, MS ’14, RN, CNE, CHSE, CNE-cl, assistant professor.  UMSON’s entry BSN program is ranked No. 13 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (tied with eight other institutions) out of 686 accredited nursing schools ranked. Among public schools of nursing, UMSON is ranked No. 10 in the nation (tied with four other public nursing schools). “I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hampton to the BSN leadership team,” said Katie McElroy, PhD ’16, MS ’10, BSN ’97, RN, associate professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “Her expertise in nursing administration and her passion for supporting students in their transition to practice will be instrumental as we prepare competent, compassionate graduates who are ready to lead the nursing profession forward.” The BSN program, which enrolls 220 students each semester across UMSON’s locations in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, prepares students to excel in nursing careers across a broad spectrum of acute, chronic, and community-based settings. As co-directors, Hampton and Smith will identify priorities and guide the program’s faculty development, student inclusion and success, and development of partnerships with community stakeholders. These efforts are aimed at continuing to create meaningful and engaging opportunities for students that also contribute to improving health care quality, equity, and outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Hampton joined the School of Nursing in November 2022. She earned her PhD in Nursing Education from the Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. She is a two-time alumna, having earned her Master of Science and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UMSON. She also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business. Hampton has more than 20 years of nursing experience with a specialization in nursing administration and leadership, quality improvement, and compliance. She has written and presented on the transition to nursing practice and on issues of nurse well-being and retention. As nursing education strives to prepare practice-ready nurses, her transition-to-practice research and expertise is an asset.  She also serves as the program coordinator for the Nurse Retention and Nursing Education and Professional Development focus areas of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center, housed at UMSON. In this role, she plans professional development for Maryland nurses. She also is a co-principal investigator on a study investigating retention efforts of Maryland hospitals and what encourages nurses and nursing staff to stay with their organizations. Hampton succeeds Hannah Murphy Buc, PhD, RN, assistant professor, who will be leaving her faculty position at UMSON in February for another opportunity. To provide a smooth transition, Hampton began her new role in November. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.