NEW LONDON — Colby-Sawyer College’s School of Nursing & Health Sciences has a new dean.
Catherine Thomas, who previously served as associate dean for nursing at Worcester State University in Massachusetts, began her tenure in New London Monday, according to a news release from the college. She replaces Peter White, who led the program since 2024. White, a biology professor, is now the college’s director of liberal education, a Colby-Sawyer spokesperson said.
“As dean, I will prioritize nurturing and expanding clinical partnerships, working to align Colby-Sawyer’s graduates with the evolving workforce demands of New Hampshire and New England,” Thomas said in the release.
Thomas will oversee multiple nursing programs at Colby-Sawyer, including its bachelor’s degree in nursing, accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, and doctorate in nursing practice. She will also work closely with Dartmouth Health officials to connect students to jobs and strengthen the workforce.
“She is deeply committed to community service, regularly volunteering at free mobile medical and dental clinics and serving on the board for an organization that addresses regional housing insecurity,” according to the release.
Prior to serving as associate dean associate dean for nursing at Worcester State University, Thomas chaired the nursing department at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn., according to the release. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn., and a master’s degree in nursing with a focus on nursing education from the University of Hartford in Connecticut. She earned her doctorate in nursing practice with a focus on education from Regis College in Weston, Mass.
