Nov. 11, 2009 | Called a remarkable researcher, clinician and educator, Claudia Barone, Ed.D, R.N., dean of the UAMS College of Nursing, accepted the Linda C. Hodges Dean’s Professorship on Oct. 29.

The investiture was held in front of a large crowd of friends, colleagues and family at the Fred W. Smith Conference Center at the UAMS Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute.

Presiding over his final investiture ceremony before retirement, former UAMS Chancellor I. Dodd Wilson said he knew early in Barone’s career as faculty that she possessed “all the makings of a great dean.” Since being named to the position in 2006, he said, Barone has proven it.

“The College of Nursing has been lucky to have a number of fine deans and Claudia is continuing that fine tradition,” Wilson said.

“This is a critical step in ensuring we keep moving forward and expanding one of the most important roles of the College of Nursing, which is growing the next generation of nursing professionals to meet Arkansas’ needs,” Barone said. “It’s exciting to have this resource to put towards meeting that demand.”

The Linda C. Hodges Dean’s Professorship is named after the longtime dean who held that position from March 1989 until she retired in October 2006.

Hodges is credited for greatly expanding the College’s academic programs to include the state’s first online higher education academic degree program, an outreach program for nursing students looking to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and several master’s specialty tracks including the first nurse practitioner program in Arkansas and the state’s only nursing Ph.D.

“I can list dozens of Dr. Barone’s accomplishments and honors she’s received over the years, but one thing people may not know is that she’s here at UAMS on most Friday evenings taking care of patients,” said Hodges. “She’s committed to excellence in every aspect of her job and is a great ambassador for the College of Nursing at UAMS.”

Barone first arrived at UAMS in 1988 and worked as a clinical nurse specialist for the UAMS department of nursing/surgical division until 1990, when she briefly left to serve as assistant nurse manager for an intensive care burn unit in Ohio. She returned to UAMS and joined the College of Nursing in 1991, eventually serving as interim associate dean for the master’s program, practice department chair and specialty coordinator for the acute care nurse practitioner program. Barone served as associate dean for academic administration during the four years prior to assuming the College’s leadership position.

The Hodges Professorship was funded in part with money donated by Daphine D. Doster, Ph.D., who was active in establishing the first nursing school in Arkansas to offer a bachelor’s degree in the early 1950s. In 1952 she was named as acting dean of the University of Arkansas School of Nursing and was instrumental in establishing a four-year baccalaureate nursing program. Doster retired in 1971 but never stopped giving her time and money to help produce nursing professionals in the state.

When Doster died in 2000, she left funds to establish the professorship to recognize Hodges’ leadership of the College of Nursing.

Doster’s nephew, Douglas Doster, traveled from North Carolina to help present the Professorship to Barone.

“I have a strong sense of pride being able to be here and see to it that the legacy of hard work and commitment that began with my aunt is being carried on,” said Doster. “I can honestly say that she’d be proud.”