A two-time WSU Tri-Cities alumna who has led the WSU system’s College of Nursing on an interim basis for the past year now has the job permanently. 

Anne Mason will be the permanent dean of nursing beginning Nov. 1 after internal reviews and meetings with external stakeholders, according to a release. 

“Anne brings a deep understanding of the nursing profession, our students and the health care needs of communities across Washington,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Chris Riley-Tillman, in a statement. “Her experience and understanding of the state’s nursing workforce needs make her uniquely positioned to lead the college and prepare the next generation of Coug nurses for successful careers.” 

A Walla Walla native, Mason earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at WSU’s Richland campus. She also holds a doctorate in nursing practice from the University of Colorado at Denver. She is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and has cared for patients in the state Department of Corrections, private practice and adolescent mental health. 

Mason has been a clinical faculty member since 2010 and became associate dean for academic affairs in 2020. She saw the university’s nursing program transition from the consortium, the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education, to the WSU College of Nursing during her tenure and was on hand when the WSU Tri-Cities program moved into its current home next to the Kadlec Healthplex on Lee Boulevard in central Richland. Mason also has extensive experience in curriculum development, accreditation and interprofessional education. 

“It is an honor to continue serving Washington State University and the College of Nursing,” Mason said in a statement. “Our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners are advancing the future of health care through innovation, scholarship, and service. I am deeply inspired by WSU’s land-grant mission and our commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities. As dean, I look forward to building on our strong foundation, expanding access to nursing education, and preparing the next generation of nurse leaders who will help address critical workforce shortages and meet the evolving health needs of our state and beyond.” 

The College of Nursing graduates more than 335 nurses each year, including more than 200 new registered nurses.