By Hannah Webb | News Editor
For Dean Tanya Sudia, she cannot remember an “aha” moment when she decided to become a nurse. Instead, she said, nursing has always felt like a calling — one rooted in serving others.
Now, as the new dean of Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Sudia hopes to instill that same sense of calling in the next generation of nurses.
“I also don’t know any moment in time when I didn’t think of myself as wanting to be a nurse,” Sudia said. “This has been a lifelong passion.”
Sudia began her role June 1, returning to Baylor after previously serving as the School of Nursing’s research dean from 2014-2020 before leaving to lead nursing programs at other universities. During her time as research dean, Sudia developed policies and processes to strengthen research and faculty mentorship, according to Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman in a January announcement about her appointment.
Her return comes as the school prepares students for a health care industry increasingly shaped by new technology, including artificial intelligence. But while the tools nurses use may change, Sudia said Baylor’s nursing education will not.
“We believe nursing is a calling,” Sudia said. “We believe that our nursing students, our nurses, our alums, we prepare them to be the hands and feet of Christ.”
For Sudia, that means Baylor nurses must be prepared to do more than provide technically proficient care. They must also be prepared to see patients as people and approach them with compassion.
Students are taught that their faith can be part of their practice. She said students are encouraged to pray for patients, pray with them or pray for colleagues and other members of the health care team.
That Christ-centered approach, Sudia said, sets Baylor’s nursing program apart as technology continues to reshape the profession.
The Baylor nursing program is unique in that students begin their undergraduate degree in Waco before moving to the Dallas campus. Freshmen and sophomores spend their first two years in Waco before moving to Dallas for their junior and senior years, where Sudia said efforts aim to match the resources and support available on Baylor’s main campus.
“We have student services in Dallas, a chaplain in Dallas and try to mimic as much as what’s on the main campus there in terms of support services right there for our students,” she said.
The Dallas campus is preparing to open a new simulation center, giving nursing students expanded opportunities to practice clinical skills with new technology before caring for patients in real clinical settings.
Sudia said artificial intelligence can similarly enhance nursing practice, but it should remain a tool, not a replacement for human care.
“We like to say high technology, high touch,” Sudia said.
The phrase captures the balance Sudia hopes to maintain: nurses who are equipped to work with increasingly sophisticated technology while never losing the personal connection at the center of their profession.
That philosophy extends beyond the classroom.
The School of Nursing’s motto — “learn, lead, serve” — reflects what Sudia sees as its larger purpose. Students are expected not only to master the science of nursing and develop as leaders but also to serve others through mission opportunities around the world.
“We’re here to invest in students,” Sudia said. “We’re here for them to learn, to serve.”
Interim Provost Lee Nordt said in a statement that Sudia’s commitment to Baylor’s Christian mission will be an important part of her leadership.
“She has a commitment to advancing nursing education and research and a dedication to Baylor’s Christian mission are invaluable as LHSON continues preparing nurses who are equipped to serve patients with excellence, compassion and integrity,” Nordt said. “We appreciate the leadership and vision she brings to the School and the critical role LHSON plays in addressing healthcare needs across our state and nation.”
For Sudia, that preparation begins with mentorship. After years of teaching, research and nursing leadership, she said one of her greatest passions is helping students and faculty grow in their own work.
“I think my passion now is really mentoring other faculty and our students and others in teaching, research and scholarship,” Sudia said.
As she begins her first year as dean, Sudia is looking toward the future of nursing without losing sight of what she believes should remain at its center.
“When [students] leave us, they’re ready for practice, but they also bring that additional component of caring and compassion in a Christ-centered focus,” she said.
