COVID-19 Implications for Admissions and the Stability of Holistic Admissions Practices

Lisa Rosenberg, PhD, RN has worked in nursing education and administration for 34 years. She was employed at Rush University College of Nursing for 30 years in numerous academic administrative positions and is now Associate Dean Emeritus. In her former position as Associate Dean of Students for the College of Nursing she was charged with providing innovative and visionary leadership to the execution and supervision of all phases of admissions and matriculation. She was responsible for: developing and coordinating effective and cost-efficient enrollment management practices; directing and leading a successful CON Admissions and Recruitment Department charged with creating a highly qualified and diverse applicant pool and coordinating an applicant-centered admissions process; developing strategic goals and indicators of achievement for recruitment, admissions, and the student life experience consistent with the strategic goals of the College of Nursing and Rush University. As a member of the Office of the Dean she worked collaboratively with University and College Officers to represent student needs and coordinate student service activities in the College. She was also an Associate Professor in the Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing.

Over her career Dr. Rosenberg has successfully written numerous grants for scholarship funding for diverse and disadvantaged students, including six RWJF-New Careers in Nursing awards. She has also been involved in the establishment of affiliations and partnerships with colleges and hospitals to create a pathway to Rush for pre and post-licensure nursing education. She has published numerous articles on topics ranging from nursing education to humor and has presented extensively to regional and national audiences on nursing admissions and diversity issues.

Dr. David A. Byrd completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University in 2011. Dr. Byrd has taught college courses in Professional Leadership Development, Minority Issues in Education, Societal Issues in Education, and holds a certificate in college teaching from Texas A&M University as well as a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. Dr. Byrd has been elected to Gamma Sigma Delta, Tau Kappa, the Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Delta Pi.

Dr. Byrd presently serves as the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services in the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. Previously, he was the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs for the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) at Texas A&M University (TAMU), where in 2004, he earned the TAMU Executive Vice President and Provost Award for Diversity and served on several TAMU committees including the Minority Recruitment and Retention Leadership Team. Most recently, Dr. Byrd was selected to serve on the planning committee for the Graduate Nursing Admissions Professional’s Network of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Admissions Policies and Practices Committee of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and served on the Advisory Board for the Symposium on the Recruitment and Retention of Students of Color. He is also serving on the Commission on Ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and is on the board of directors for I Care San Antonio, a nonprofit that provides free eye care for low-income neighbors in Bexar County and South Texas.