Dr. Sheila Garland is ready to get to work.

 As Georgia Perimeter College’s new dean of Health Sciences, her first priority is helping GPC’s nursing program transition from a two-year RN to a four-year BSN program, she says.

Garland has already overseen such transitions at colleges in West Virginia, Florida and Arkansas.  

“Leading nursing organizations, including the American Association of Colleges and Nursing, all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting,” Garland says.

“Offering a baccalaureate degree in nursing is exciting to the GPC community and vital to the success and needs of our students and communities. The change also will broaden nursing students’ clinical opportunities in hospitals around metro Atlanta.”

A New York native, Garland comes to GPC with the full spectrum of nursing experience: from practicing as a nurse to teaching nursing on both the associate- and baccalaureate-degree levels to serving in administrative positions in acute care, long-term care and academic settings.

In addition to nursing, Garland also will be working with the college’s dental hygiene and imaging programs.

“Right now, I am assessing the needs, resources and funding streams of the health-care programs, while looking forward to ongoing collaboration with various hospitals, schools and community stakeholders to understand how we can better serve our students and communities,” she says.

Like many of the nursing students who come to GPC, Garland started her road in the profession as a nursing assistant and licensed practical nurse (LPN) before climbing the educational nursing ladder to become a registered nurse (RN) and eventually earning her Ed.D in nursing education.

Garland especially loved working in critical care settings in hospitals. “I love the pace and the need for strong decision-making and critical-thinking skills—to make a decision at a moment’s notice,” she says.

She also loves to teach and spent 12 years in the classroom as nurse educator, helping students prepare for the practice setting.

“I had many great mentors, and teaching was a way for me to give back and to grow; it’s wonderful to give back and impart knowledge while having the opportunity to see the light bulb go on for yourself as well as others.”