Nora Silvia joins College of DuPage as new director of nursing
With extensive experience overseeing nursing programs in higher education and in clinical settings, Nora Silvia is well-suited to serve as the new director of nursing in the Nursing and Health Sciences Division at College of DuPage.
Her wealth of experience will allow her to lead program approvals and accreditation processes, evaluate program goals and outcomes, and oversee curriculum.
Prior to her appointment, Silvia served as Assistant Dean and Nurse Administrator for Health Professions and Public Service at Waubonsee Community College. She has held past positions as a health care coordinator at Sunrise Senior Living, a regional nurse at Silverado, and a nurse manager at an assisted living and memory care facility.
"Nora brings a wealth of academic and administrative experience in the field of nursing," said COD Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Jared Deane. "She understands the distinctive challenges facing our current and future nurses and is well-equipped to help train the next generation of nurses."
As she continues to meet with nursing faculty to review the current curriculum, Silvia is focused on recruiting and retention, as well as individual student success.
"I truly love working in the field of education and preparing our nurses for a workforce that makes a positive difference in our communities," she said. "I'm drawn to the passion and energy of students and I'm looking forward to witnessing their academic journey at COD."
Nursing is one of a number of growing fields with a projected job growth rate of more than 12 percent through 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now more than ever is a great time to be a nurse, Silvia said.
"Earning an associate degree in nursing remains a relevant choice for students entering the profession with vast opportunities for advancement," she said. "Nurses are expected to play an increasingly important role in health care delivery due to changes to the health care system and there are vast opportunities for nursing graduates to practice with a lot of flexibility."
Silvia holds a Master of Science degree with a concentration in nursing administration and education from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Saint Anselm College.
Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), the Associate Degree in Nursing program at College of DuPage is a two-year, sequential program that prepares students for a career in nursing through a combination of classroom, lab activities, simulation and hands-on clinical experiences. As an added benefit, students completing the first year of the ADN program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam and go on to work as Licensed Practical Nurses while completing their ADN degree at COD. Learn more about nursing at COD at cod.edu/academics/programs/nursing/.
College of DuPage is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving more than 22,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The college grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.