Kent State College of Nursing named Barbara Broome as its new dean. Broome currently serves as associate dean, professor and chair of the Community-Mental Health Department at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing, according to a Kent State press release.

Broome will begin her duties as dean on March 17, 2014. She succeeds Susan Stocker, who has been serving as interim dean of the college since Aug. 1. Stocker will return to her position as dean of Kent State’s regional campus at Ashtabula.

A graduate of Kent State, Broome received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in nursing, then went on to receive her doctorate in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to come back to Kent,” Broome said. “It’s coming full circle, as they say, and it’s great coming back to your alma mater.”

Broome said she saw an advertisement for the dean’s position at Kent State in late September or early October. A former colleague contacted her shortly afterward to apply for the position.

She was told she had been named dean last Monday.

According to the press release, she has authored several book chapters and journal articles. She has also received more than $2.5 million for mental health education, health screening and continence care.

Her research interests include mental health, adult health, women’s health and minority and aging issues in urinary incontinence in men and women.

Broome said she is excited to return to Kent State and continue the College of Nursing’s program of excellence.

“Kent State has an absolutely wonderful program with high-caliber students and graduates,” Broome said. “I hope to continue that and come make a difference in the lives of students and help the faculty with the students and their research.”

She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Kent State’s College of Nursing in 2000.

According to the press release, Broome is also a member of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of University Women, the American Nurses Association, the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, the Alabama Organization of Nurse Executives, the International Academy of Nursing Editors, the National Black Nurses Association, the Southern Nursing Research Society, the Society or Urologic Nurses and Associates and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

Contact Emily Mills at [email protected].