UR Nursing Senior Leadership Team
The University of Rochester School of Nursing is guided and directed by a team of accomplished and inspiring leaders who embody our historic mission of unifying nursing education, practice, and research.
Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Dean, University of Rochester School of Nursing
Independence Foundation Chair in Nursing Education
Vice President, University of Rochester Medical Center
Professor of Nursing & Geriatric Medicine
An accomplished scholar, researcher, educator, and clinician, Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, was appointed the sixth dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing, professor of nursing and geriatric medicine, Independence Foundation Chair in Nursing Education, and vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center in September 2022. She previously served as the associate dean for graduate education and director of the PhD program at the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State University. She has extensive clinical research experience with the palliative care needs of persons living with complex chronic conditions and their family caregivers, especially in the context of advanced heart failure.
Contact the Dean's Office
(585) 275-8902
Daina Druzynski, Executive Assistant to Dean Lisa A. Kitko
Sally Norton, PhD, RN, FNAP, FPCN, FAAN
Senior Associate Dean for Research
Sally Norton, PhD, RN, FNAP, FPCN, FAAN, a longtime faculty member at the School and a nationally-recognized expert in palliative care research, served as associate dean for research from 2019 to 2024. Over the past five years, Norton has significantly advanced the School’s research mission, supporting faculty and students, and enhancing the School’s areas of research excellence. In her role as senior associate dean, Norton will continue this work as well as oversee the PhD in Nursing & Health Science program to continue fostering research growth and mentorship within the School.
(585) 275-9814
Sally_Norton@urmc.rochester.edu
Renu Singh, MS
CEO, UR Medicine Employee Wellness
With 25 years of leadership experience in health care program design and implementation, finance, and operations, Renu Singh, MS, has a passion for wellness which has led to the development of the school's evidence-based wellness program, where she also currently serves as CEO.
(585) 275-2830
Renu_Singh@urmc.rochester.edu
Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP
Senior Associate Dean for Graduation Education and Innovation
Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, is a professor and distinguished leader in nursing education at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. As the senior associate dean for graduate education and innovation, Rotondo oversees the master's programs in nurse practitioner specialties, leadership, and nursing education, as well as oversees and directs the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. In her role, Rotondo is committed to promoting interprofessional education and exploring innovative solutions to address workforce and community needs. Over the past decade, in her previous role as associate dean for education and student affairs, she has led the School's development of an academic innovation infrastructure, transforming nursing education through the implementation of competency-based learning.
(585) 276-5424
Lydia_Rotondo@urmc.rochester.edu
Lisa Brophy, EdD, RN, MSBA, CNE
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Lisa Brophy, EdD, RN, MSBA, CNE, assistant professor of clinical nursing, is the associate dean for undergraduate education at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. In her role, she oversees the School's undergraduate programs, with previous leadership roles as the assistant dean for education and co-director of the accelerated nursing programs. As a nurse for more than three decades, she has held positions in practice, education, and leadership caring for patients in a variety of acute care settings as well as providing perioperative and emergency nursing management.
(585) 273-2535
Lisa_Brophy@urmc.rochester.edu
Carla DeLucia, EdD
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Carla DeLucia, EdD, assistant professor of clinical nursing, serves as the associate dean for enrollment management and student affairs at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. In her role, DeLucia oversees the admissions and student affairs offices, spearheading initiatives to strengthen the School’s recruitment and admissions efforts, adapt to market demands, and support student needs. With more than 17 years of experience in higher education administration, DeLucia brings significant expertise in predictive analytics and student financial services to the role. She earned her doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University.
(585) 275-8408
Carla_DeLucia@urmc.rochester.edu
John Eaves, MBA
Associate Dean for Operations & Finance
John Eaves, MBA, was named the School of Nursing's chief financial officer in September 2022 and interim associate dean for operations finance in 2023. Eaves previously served as the director of finance where he was responsible for all financial reporting and budgeting for the education, research, practice, and administrative missions at the School. As CFO, Eaves serves as an advisor to the dean and provides overall financial and strategic direction for the budgetary and fiscal affairs of the School of Nursing. Eaves has 10 years’ experience in financial planning. He earned his master’s in business administration from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester and his bachelor’s in corporate finance and political science from St. John Fisher College.
(585) 275-8842
John_Eaves@urmc.rochester.edu
E. Kate Valcin, DNP, RN
Interim Chief Nursing Executive, URMC
E. Kate Valcin, DNP, RN, currently serves as the interim chief nursing executive (CNE) for the University of Rochester Medical Center. As interim CNE, Valcin oversees a department of 3,500 nurses, patient care technicians, and unit secretaries. Valcin began her 27-year URMC career as a staff nurse working in gynecology/oncology and adult surgery units. She rose to clinical nurse educator and senior nurse manager of the MICU before taking the helm of adult critical care nursing in 2015. She is also a preceptor and educator at School of Nursing. Additionally, she is the current president of the New York Organization for Nursing Leadership (NYONL).
