The second of four candidates for the vacant dean position in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation spoke to staff and faculty Thursday, presenting his vision for the college’s future.
David Keller is the current associate dean and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at UTA and holds a doctorate in integrative physiology from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Keller has nearly 15 years of experience in administrative work, all at UTA.
His vision for the college focuses on growth and innovation, increasing research productivity and capacity, creatively growing financial resources through new programs, development and recruiting, and retaining and inspiring a deeply committed faculty and staff.
When asked about AI, Keller said the technology is changing lives on multiple fronts, including education. He said he supports the use of AI in curriculum, training experience and career readiness.
“Employers are relying more and more on AI and how they operate, whether that’s in a hospital setting, or research setting or wherever else our students may go,” he said. “Those that oversee the curriculum and this training, we have to be adequately prepared as well.”
Keller said he also wants to expand the college’s footprint and create new partnerships for students to get outside training for their profession of interest.
“I think with relying heavily on the expertise and history that our faculty, currently, and staff, have within the college is going to be critical for me and as next dean, in making sure that we’re really taking advantage as best we can of those partners,” he said.
The dean has to consider what the college brings to outside partners, Keller said.
Keller said he believes that UTA has an inclusive and diverse campus, and keeping it that way needs to be at the forefront of their plan.
As a faculty member, Keller said he has experience seeking research funding and targeting programmatic funding through agencies like the American Heart Foundation. He also has experience working with the Office of Development in securing endowed scholarship funds for students.
“[I] would expect that in the role of dean I continue to do that, obviously in a different way [than] as before, but I would look forward to that challenge,” he said.
The next candidate will speak March 17 followed by the fourth and final candidate the next day.
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