Dr. Jean Leuner is the founding dean and Barbara S. Witt Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) in Alabama. Dr. Leuner received her Diploma from St. Luke’s Hospital in NYC, her BSN from Seton Hall Univ.in NJ, and her MSN and PhD from Boston College, MA. She was the founding dean at the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 2003-2013. From 1996–2003, she was the Associate Dean for Academics and Evaluation at the Medical University of South Carolina and from 1985- 1996 she held leadership positions at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. She has been the primary/co-investigator for over 37 grants and awards totaling over $19 million. She initiated a master of science in nursing and doctor of nursing practice program at AUM and she has consistently received external funding to maintain an interprofessional outreach program in the Black Belt underserved region of Alabama.

Dr. Leuner was a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for eight years and she is currently a member of the Board of Commissioners for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). She has also been a long time CCNE team leader and site evaluator.