About the College

The Auburn University College of Nursing (AUCON) was established in 1979 and admitted the first class of 27 juniors in the fall quarter of that year. Most of the students were recruited from the pre-nursing curriculum in the School of Home Economics. There were five full-time faculty members the first year. Twenty-four students graduated in the first class in 1981.

The first Dean of the School, Mary F. Woody, served from 1979 until 1984. Upon her resignation, Dr. Carol Thompson was named Acting Dean and served in that capacity during the 1984-85 school year. Dr. H. Terri Brower served as Dean from June 1985 until March 1988, when she assumed a faculty position. Mrs. Winifred H. Worman was named Acting Dean in March 1988 and remained through May 1989.

 

Dr. Edith Kitchens was appointed Dean in May 1989 and served in that position till June 1996. Upon her resignation, Dr. Eleanor Howell served as Interim Dean until August 1996. Dr. Charlotte V. Skelton was appointed Interim Dean from September 1996 until 1999. On September 1, 1999, Dr. Barbara Witt assumed the position of AUSON Dean. On Jan. 1, 2010, Dr. Gregg Newschwander was appointed Dean.

In addition to the baccalaureate program, the Auburn University College of Nursing offers a Master’s of Science in Nursing, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator certificates. An RN to BSN track and a Doctor of Nursing Practice program began in 2018, and in 2020, a concurrent RN to BSN track began.