Angela Amar joined UNLV School of Nursing as its Dean during January 2018. She is excited by the university’s Top Tier initiative and the school of nursing’s amazing students, faculty, and staff. Prior to her new role, Dean Amar led the undergraduate programs including pre-nursing courses, nursing, and accelerated programs at Emory University. Through her vision and innovation, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing advanced the learning and leadership among undergraduate students, particularly within forensic nursing and cultural diversity. Her funded projects included an NIH-sponsored Bridges to Baccalaureate Program and an HRSA funded Nursing Workforce Diversity grant.

Dean Amar dedicates her career to enhancing diversity within nursing leadership, and improving care and support for survivors of violence and trauma when they enter the health care system. An advanced practice psychiatric nurse, Dean Amar co-authored an award-winning book on forensic nursing titled A Practical Guide to Forensic Nursing.

Prior to joining Emory University, she developed forensic nursing programs for Georgetown University and Boston College, and established an educational model for nursing schools nationwide. Her research focused on sexual assault, dating violence, and mental health responses to traumatic experiences has received support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Nursing Research. She has published papers about dating violence and sexual assault, and is active in university service related to violence and diversity.

Dean Amar is an American Academy of Nursing fellow, an International Association of Forensic Nurses distinguished fellow, and National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing Education fellow. She is on the National Advisory Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholars program and was recently a committee member for the Biological and Psychosocial Effects of Peer Victimization: Lessons for Bullying Prevention, Academy of Medicine, formerly known as the Institute of Medicine. She also serves as a reviewer for the Scientific Merit Review Board of the Health Services Research & Development within the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Dean Amar is certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Advanced Practice Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health, and as an Advanced Forensic Nurse.