Peter White Named Dean of Colby-Sawyer College School of Nursing & Health Sciences

Peter White has been named Colby-Sawyer College’s next dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences.

White, who has been serving as the school’s interim dean since January, joined the Colby-Sawyer biology faculty in 2001. He holds a BS from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and a PhD in cellular and molecular biology from Indiana State University. In his more than 20 years at the college, he has served as a professor in the School of Arts & Sciences and has been an active member of all standing governance committees. He was named the Sonja C. and William H. Davidow Endowed Chair in 2021.

“As a professor, advisor, committee member and researcher, Dr. White demonstrates an unflagging commitment to our students, faculty and staff, liberal education, and the college's mission, vision and values,” Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty Eden Wales Freedman said. “He has been interim dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences since January 2024 and was unanimously recommended by SNHS faculty and staff to continue as dean.”

As dean, White leads the school at an exciting time, as it prepares for the fall 2024 opening of the Janet Udall Schaefer Center for Health Sciences, a $19 million, 20,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. He will provide leadership and management to undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and clinical partnerships.

“The faculty and staff in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences are a remarkably talented and dedicated group,” White said. “It’s quite an honor to be named dean of the school and to have this opportunity to help lead our outstanding programs into the future.”

White’s previous leadership roles at the college include co-chair of the Assessment Committee, faculty moderator, member of the steering committee for New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accreditation and faculty representative on the Budget Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Senior Leadership Team. White will begin his five-year appointment in summer 2024.