After serving as dean of the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing in an interim role since June 6, Paul Smith has been named the permanent dean of the school effective immediately.
Smith, a professor of nursing, has been a nurse educator at Linfield since 2007, beginning as a clinical adjunct professor. He continued as an adjunct until 2014, when he was hired as an assistant professor of nursing. During that time, he also was a nursing faculty and program director at Chemeketa Community College. Smith earned the rank of associate professor with tenure at Linfield in 2018 and full professor in 2022. He served as an associate dean of the school from 2018 until being named interim dean earlier this year.
“Dr. Smith has been a dedicated team member of the School of Nursing for 15 years,” said Miles K. Davis, Linfield University president. “From his time as an adjunct professor to his rise as interim dean, Dr. Smith has demonstrated the kind of collegiality and leadership that has earned the respect of students and his peers. His permanent appointment as dean of the School of Nursing is well deserved.”
Smith focuses his research on diversity, cultural competence and heath disparities seen in the LGBTQ+ community and how educators can prepare future nurses to provide adequate care for and meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. He has published numerous articles and book chapters on these subjects and presents regularly at conferences throughout the United States.
Smith also co-edited the 7th edition of “Family Health Care Nursing: Theory, Practice, and Research” (2022). This educational text is used throughout nursing programs in the U.S. and Canada and features chapters written by several current and previous Linfield faculty members.
During his time at Linfield, Smith has held a variety of school- and university-wide leadership roles, including faculty advisor for the Linfield Student Nurses’ Association and Semester III coordinator, among others.
“One of the main reasons I was drawn to Linfield was the focus on students,” Smith said. “As a first-generation college student, I understand how important it is to develop rapport and relationships between faculty and students. This mentoring relationship continues even after students complete their nursing education. To be able to witness the amazing things our students are doing is what brings me joy and continues to ignite my passion for educating future nurses.”
Outside of Linfield, Smith is a volunteer for the Multnomah County Health Reserve Corps. He participates as an active member of the National League of Nursing (NLN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, SIGMA and Western Institute of Nursing Research. He was elected as a commissioner for a three-year term on the NLN Commission for Nurse Educator Certification in 2017 and was selected to participate in the LEAD program for emerging nurse educator leaders in 2013.
Smith has long been a popular professor and educator in both the BSN and RN to BSN programs at Linfield, teaching Evidence-Based Nursing, RN to BSN Transition to Professional Practice and Nursing Care of Clients and Families Across the Lifespan with Acute Conditions. Graduating cohorts have voted for him to serve as a faculty pinner or faculty speaker during their pinning ceremonies multiple times while Smith has been a faculty member.
“He cares so deeply for students and continues to check in on Linfield alumni. He truly is passionate about the course content and teaches it in a way that makes it clear to understand and fun to learn,” said a student who nominated Smith for the 2022 Daisy Award.
“Dr. Smith is uniquely qualified to lead Linfield University’s School of Nursing through this period of change and transformation,” said Mark McPhail, Linfield’s interim provost and vice president of academic affairs. “He embodies the qualities of servant leadership, placing the institution, its students and faculty first, and brings strength of competence and character to the office of the dean.”
Smith said he is thankful to have the opportunity to continue as dean.
“Students are at the center of all that we do at Linfield. What an honor and privilege it is to now serve them, and my colleagues, in the role of dean,” he said. “I look forward to both bolstering the amazing programs we currently offer, as well as looking toward the future of how we educate nurses.”
Prior to becoming a nurse educator, Smith was a registered nurse for more than 24 years, working primarily in intensive care units. He maintains his RN licensure in Oregon in Washington.
He earned his associate degree from Southern Union State Community College, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, a master’s degree in community/public health and nursing education from Washington State University and his doctorate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During his doctoral education, Smith was selected as an American Academy of Nursing Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar, a mentoring and professional development opportunity given to only six rising nursing leaders each year.
