Tonya Roberts ’03, MS’08, PhD’12, RN, FGSA, has been named the new associate dean for faculty affairs for the UW–Madison School of Nursing.
Dr. Roberts was officially announced as the new associate dean for faculty affairs in December 2024 after serving in the role in an interim capacity since February 2024. She assumed interim responsibilities upon the announcement of the upcoming retirement of Susan Zahner, DrPH, RN, FAAN, who had served as associate dean since 2014.
“Over the past months as interim dean, Dr. Roberts has demonstrated exceptional dedication, strategic vision, and a collaborative spirit, all of which have been and will continue to be instrumental in advancing our shared mission,” said School of Nursing Dean Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “I look forward to her continued leadership and contribution to our school community in this important capacity.”
In addition to her role as associate dean, Dr. Roberts continues her important work as an associate professor and the inaugural Karen Frick Pridham Professor in Family-Centered Care, as well as the co-director of the Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE).
Dr. Roberts, who is a long-time mentee of Dr. Pridham, will continue to carry out important research that focuses on the delivery of patient-centered care to older adults who require long-term care. Dr. Roberts uses evidence-based research to promote a practical, philosophical, and cultural shift, from a long-term care model that prioritizes staff efficiency, to a new model. This new model is structured for care delivery that is consistent with residents’ expectations and preferences.
Dr. Roberts hopes to advance a re-imagination of the long-term care facility as a place where residents go to live and thrive. She is developing methods and interventions for nursing home staff to optimize the benefits of patient-centered care delivery in nursing home settings. This includes equipping staff to identify, characterize, and increase levels of nursing home resident participation in directing their own care. Her work is grounded in the foundations of nursing, industrial and systems engineering, and health services research.
Learn more about Dr. Roberts and her research.