Debra Simons, Ph.D.
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Purchase, NY
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Biography
Dr. Debra Simons became the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences in May
2019. With Dr. Simon’s visionary leadership, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences
offers programs that advance the preparation of well-educated health care professionals.
Dr. Simon’s leadership is grounded in the Caritas process and advancement of the philosophy, theories and practices
of Human Caring.
Prior to coming to Manhattaville, Dr. Simons served as the Dean of the School of Nursing
and Healthcare Professions at the College of New Rochelle. Her leadership influenced
the College of New Rochelle School of Nursing and Healthcare Professions to receiving
the first in the country academic affiliation with the Watson Caring Science Institute.
Her experience in creating clinical simulation environments for several academic intuitions
including Norwalk Community College and the University of Connecticut, allowed for
the expansion of this active learning strategy and the development of a “hospital
like” environment for the students. Before the College of New Rochelle, Dr. Simons
served as the Director of the University of Connecticut second degree accelerated
program expanding a campus. In addition, she was a tenured professor of nursing at
Norwalk Community College.
Prior to her academic career, Dr. Simons participated in the expansion of a corporation
formally known as Franklin Health Inc. which provided complex care management services
to employees in indemnified corporations and insurance company policy holders. She
served in many key executive roles advancing the expansion of partnerships and net
revenue of the organization.
Dr. Simons contributes to many scholarly publications and her piece on the use of
simulation in nursing was included in the book, “The New Nurse Educator: Mastering
Academe,” She is also passionate about mentoring providing a reflective response in
seeking lifelong mentorship in the book, Role Development for Doctoral Prepared Nursing
Practice. She has also developed a Quality and Safety Self-Efficacy Scale © Measuring
Self-Efficacy during Inter-Professional Clinical Simulation,
She has been inducted as a Fellow into the New York Academy of Medicine, serves as
a board member for a non-profit organization, Under One Roof, which addresses urgent
and complex needs facing older adults, affordable housing, and intergenerational living.
Simons is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.
Areas of Expertise
COVID-19 Effects on Seniors
COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Higher Education
Nursing
Health Science
Mental and Emotional Health
Advising
Education
2011
Ph.D., Leadership in Higher Education
2004
B.S., Nursing
2000
M.A., Nursing
Affiliations
- New York Academy of Medicine
Selected Media Appearances
Westchester County Business Journal
2020-04-24
This is a challenging time for older adults, whose routines and support systems may be disrupted because of social distancing.
The Journal News
2019-11-27
Manhattanville University is looking to open a nursing school. And Debra Simons, the former head of CNR's nursing school..
West Fair Online
2019-11-19
Debra A. Simons has been named dean of the new school. She joined the college in May of this year after serving as dean of the School of Nursing and Healthcare Professions at the College of New Rochelle, which closed this year. “Nursing and health science are complementary to Manhattanville’s rich history in the liberal arts,” she said. “Graduating a brand of design thinking, patient-centered, high tech high care, holistically educated nurses will impact our health care institutions seeking to improve safety and health outcomes while enhancing the patient experience and achieve magnet status,” she said. Simons had been with Norwalk Community College and UConn earlier in her career. She is a fellow in the New York Academy of Medicine...