FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Wesleyan University has announced the appointment of Dr. Terri D. Kane as Dean of the School of Health Professions. As a TXWES faculty member and program leader since 2012, Dr. Kane brings more than three decades of clinical expertise, exceptional academic leadership and a transformative vision to one of the university's fastest-growing academic divisions. 

Dr. Kane has served as professor and program director of the university’s nationally accredited Nurse Anesthesia Program. In that role, she led the landmark transition from a master’s-level to a doctoral-level program and secured a maximum 10-year reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs — the highest available. 

"It is an honor to be named Dean at Texas Wesleyan, a university that has helped nurture my career both in the operating room and in the classroom. TXWES has long been a national leader in nurse anesthesia, and I look forward to broadening that recognition across the full spectrum of health sciences," said Kane.  

“There is no one who better represents what Texas Wesleyan stands for than Dr. Kane,” said Texas Wesleyan University President Dr. Emily Messer. “She leads with connection, compassion, commitment and courage. Her students feel that every day. The fact that our nurse anesthesia program has grown into one of the largest in the nation, producing some of the most sought-after graduates in the field, is a direct reflection of her vision and her heart. We are thrilled she will serve as dean.” 

A Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and a four-time recipient of the university’s Faculty Scholar designation, Dr. Kane is one of the most notable nurse anesthesia researchers in Texas. Her record includes more than 15 peer-reviewed publications and dozens of peer-reviewed contributions to leading journals including the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Journal and the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. She has chaired more than 60 doctoral and master scholarly projects, shaping the next generation of advanced practice clinicians. 

Administratively, Dr. Kane has overseen a $3.2 million program budget, managed contracts and scheduling across approximately 60 clinical sites in nine states and administered a $500,000 awarded grant. Her university service includes the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, the Graduate Faculty Council and multiple presidential and provost search committees. Externally, she has served as an on-site reviewer for the Council on Accreditation, an editorial board member of the AANA Journal, and an item writer for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. 

Before stepping into the classroom, Dr. Terri Kane spent nearly two decades caring for patients. She began her nursing career in 1983 at Baptist Medical Center, where she worked in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, the emergency department and as a flight nurse. Those high-pressure environments demanded sharp clinical judgment, quick decision-making and the ability to act independently. 

She later advanced to shift charge nurse before practicing as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for more than 20 years. During that time, she served as Chief CRNA at Ft. Worth’s Anesthesia Associates and spent many years with Northstar Anesthesia, specializing in cardiothoracic anesthesia while mentoring incoming providers. 

As a two-time alumnus, Dr. Kane earned her Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia and her Master of Health Sciences in Nurse Anesthesia from Texas Wesleyan University. She earned her Master of Nursing Science with a specialty in Education and Practice, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.