Dr. Liz Sturgeon has been named the new director of the WKU School of Nursing and Allied Health (SONAH) in the WKU College of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Sturgeon, a professor in SONAH, has served as the interim director of SONAH since July 2023 and assumed the permanent position on March 1, 2024. She received ASN, BSN, and MSN (with an emphasis in Nursing Education) degrees from WKU. 

Dr. Sturgeon said, “Accepting the position of Director of the School of Nursing and Allied Health at Western Kentucky University fills me with profound gratitude and excitement. Working alongside an exceptional group of faculty and staff, I am honored to embark on this journey of giving back to my alma mater. As a five-time graduate of WKU, I am deeply committed to setting the direction of the school, ensuring that we graduate skilled dental hygienists and nurses equipped to meet the ever-evolving demands of healthcare. Together, we will create a course that not only upholds the legacy of excellence at WKU but also paves the way for a brighter, healthier future for our communities.”

Dr. Tania Basta, dean of the WKU College of Health and Human Services, said, “Dr. Sturgeon has done an outstanding job leading SONAH over the past 8 months and I am confident she will continue to do so in the coming years.” 

Dr. Sturgeon earned her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Kentucky.  She is recognized as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) by the National League for Nursing. 

Dr. Sturgeon has taught Evidence-Based Practice, Pharmacology courses, Medical Surgical Nursing, Leadership and Management, and Fundamentals of Nursing in the BSN curriculum. She also has Graduate Faculty Status with the Graduate School.

She is an active member of the American Nurses Association, Kentucky Nurses Association, Kentucky League for Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Her research interests include infection prevention, school nursing, occupational health, and nursing education.

Dr. Sturgeon began working at WKU in August of 2005. Before teaching, she practiced in Oncology and Critical Care Nursing Units.