Rate My Professor Susan Kehl

Susan Kehl, Ph.D., RN, CNE, serves as Dean of the Carr College of Nursing and Professor of Nursing at Harding University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Harding University in 1984, Master of Science in Nursing from Abilene Christian University, and Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University. A distinguished alumna, Kehl received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Nursing in 2008. She joined the Harding faculty and was granted tenure in 2012 before being promoted to full Professor in April 2021. On June 1, 2014, she began her tenure as Dean of the Carr College of Nursing, becoming a key member of the university's Executive Leadership and University Cabinet.

Under Susan Kehl's leadership, the Carr College of Nursing has achieved numerous milestones. In her early years as dean, she oversaw the successful submission and approval of critical reports, including full approval from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing for the undergraduate program and continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The college subsequently earned accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2017. Harding University nursing graduates have demonstrated exceptional performance, attaining 100% first-time pass rates on the national NCLEX-RN exam in years such as 2017 and 2019. Kehl spearheaded the launch of an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2018 and advanced plans for graduate offerings, including a Family Nurse Practitioner Master of Science in Nursing program. She collaborated with faculty on curriculum evaluations and revisions, updating clinical courses and admission standards. In July 2021, Kehl completed training as a Federal Compliance Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and fulfilled four peer reviewer assignments, including two virtual comprehensive team visits. The college expanded with a new nursing training facility in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2023. Her contributions underscore her commitment to excellence in nursing education.