After serving fifteen years as Dean of the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Nursing, Dr. Victoria Niederhauser retired on July 1, 2026, stepping into her current role as Dean Emeritus while continuing part‑time consulting. Her career has been guided by a deeply held belief that “as a nurse leader it is important to provide professional service to nursing and health care organizations.”
Her board service began with The Beryl Institute (TBI), where she joined in 2010 after witnessing both “positive and negative” experiences in her husband’s care. Motivated by the chance to improve the patient experience, she says she “jumped on the opportunity to impact, in some small way, the experience of care in health care.” Over fifteen years on TBI’s Executive Board, she helped grow the organization from a handful of members to thousands worldwide, contributing to the launch of a journal, a Patient Experience certification, and the TBI Nursing Council.
She later served on the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR), joining at the request of a respected nurse leader. When she arrived, FNINR faced significant financial challenges. During her participation on the board, the board hired a professional management company and achieved a positive budget balance within two years. She helped expand the Ambassador program, strengthened advocacy for NINR, and held roles as President‑elect, President, and past‑President.
Her passion for nursing education led her to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), where she served six years, including two on the Executive Committee as Secretary. During her tenure, AACN navigated a global pandemic, released the new Essentials that reshaped nursing education, and confronted the DEI challenges facing higher education.
A defining highlight of her board career came in 2020, when she was invited to join the Dolly Parton’s Children’s Hospital Board. She is the first and only nurse to serve on this governing board and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee. Drawing on her background as a pediatric nurse and PNP, she explains, “I bring to the Board a VOICE for nurses,” challenging assumptions, elevating the importance of nursing, and asking clinical questions related to safety and quality.
Her nursing experience has been a powerful asset in every boardroom. At Dolly Parton’s Children’s Hospital, she has advocated for better utilization of Advanced Practice Nurses, noting that APNs could be “a financially advantageous solution to workforce issues.” She emphasizes that nurses learn to use their voice and seat at the table to make an impact, and her practical experience helps educate non‑nurses and non‑healthcare colleagues.
The hardest lesson she learned in board service was recognizing her own expertise: “I needed to be confident to share my experiences and expertise with others.” She also notes that serving on a governing board comes with significant responsibility.
Dr. Niederhauser believes strongly in the value nurses bring to boards. “Nurses can make a HUGE impact through Board service,” she says, citing their insider understanding of quality, safety, workforce challenges, and patient care. Their trusted voice, she adds, provides a perspective that non‑healthcare members simply do not possess.