Faculty

The School of Nursing is home to a remarkably dynamic, accomplished, and diverse group of scholars, teachers, and support staff.

Bonnie (Bonita Ann) Pilon, DSN, RN-BC, FAAN

Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Partnerships

Dr. Bonnie Pilon, HSM Program Director and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Partnerships, oversees the daily operations of all Vanderbilt School of Nursing practice sites. She earned her Doctor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, her Master's in Nursing from the University of Florida and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barry University. She is certified as Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) by the American Nurses' Association. Dr. Pilon has served as a chief nursing officer and health care consultant. She has numerous publications and awards. She is a founding member of the National Certification Board for Case Management Administrators and fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Terri Davis Crutcher, MSN, RN

Assistant Dean for Clinical and Community Partnerships and Assistant Professor

Terri is the Assistant Dean for Clinical and Community Partnerships at Vanderbilt School of Nursing and is an assistant professor in the Health Systems Management Program at Vanderbilt School of Nursing. She has been with the School of Nursing since 2000. She is the Clinical Director for West End Women's Health Center, a Vanderbilt Nurse Midwifery outpatient practice site. She oversees school based clinics in three enhanced-option, low income elementary schools in Davidson Co. She is on the Diabetes Improvement Project Team with the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance.

She was the Clinical Director for University Community Health Services (UCHS), a Federally Qualified Health Center in Davidson County, for over 7 years, and later served as a Quality Consultant to UCHS. She began her nursing career as a staff nurse and then a manager on a surgical step down unit in Vanderbilt Hospital. She was an internal consultant in the Center for Clinical Improvement at Vanderbilt. She received undergraduate degrees in nursing and biology from Western Kentucky University and her master's degree in Nursing Administration from Vanderbilt University. She is currently enrolled in the DNP program at Georgia Health Sciences University.

Debbie Arnow, DNP, RN, NE-BC

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Dr. Arnow is a registered nurse with over 35 years experience as a clinician, health care manager, administrator, and educator. Her experience as an educator has been in both the hospital and academic settings. She has significant experience in the development of high impact nursing education programs for a large academic medical center. Prior to her academic appointment as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Dr. Arnow was the Director of Clinical Education and Professional Development at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. She is currently serving as President of the Board of Directors for the Society of Pediatric Nurses, an international, professional nursing organization. She received her Bachelor of Science at Texas Woman's University in Houston, Texas and her Masters in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is board certified as a Nurse Executive with the American Nurse Credentialing Center.

Richard Watters, PhD, RN

Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Dr. Richard Watters joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing on a full time basis in 2008. He is the Program Director of the CNS/CNL specialty program. Dr. Watters earned his PhD from the University of Western Australia, Australia. He is an experienced nurse educator in both undergraduate and graduate nursing education. Dr. Watters has more than 25 years of experience in nursing education, nursing research and nursing practice. He has also served in a number of nurse leadership positions including chief nursing officer, and director of nursing research and education. His research interests include nursing leadership, evidence-based practice and nurse preceptorships.

Kelly A. Wolgast, MSN, MSS, RN, CHE, FACHE

Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Kelly is an Assistant Professor in the Health Systems Management program. Prior to arriving at Vanderbilt in August 2011, she served 26 years on Active Duty in the United States Army as an Army Nurse and retired as a Colonel. Her experiences include earning the Bronze Star for combat experience as Deputy Commander and Chief Nurse in Afghanistan, a deployment in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations in New Orleans, serving as a Hospital Commander, and serving as the Senior Nurse Executive of the US Army Medical Command. Kelly has many years of executive nursing and healthcare leadership experience and has a strong background in Medical-Surgical Nursing. Kelly earned her Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from Penn State University, a Masters of Science in Nursing (Administration and Education) from Vanderbilt University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. Kelly is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.