(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – January 19, 2024) Bridget Nettleton, Ph.D., the former dean of Empire State University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health and founder of SUNY Empire’s two master’s nursing programs, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2024.  

Nettleton began her career as a bedside nurse at St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady, NY. She became assistant director at Albany Medical Center School of Nursing and then director for the School of Nursing at Samaritan Hospital. After serving in several positions at the School of Nursing at Excelsior University, including dean, she came to SUNY Empire and became the first dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health. At SUNY Empire, she founded the MS in nursing education and MS in nursing administration degrees.

She retired from SUNY Empire in 2021. After her retirement, Nettleton worked as an adjunct at several colleges. She also served as a consultant for Davin Healthcare Workforce Solutions, a company owned by SUNY Empire alumnus David Theobald ’13, ’17 and member of the Foundation Board.

“Those of us who knew Bridget personally were overcome by her kindness, support, high standards, and clear vision,” said Provost Nathan Gonyea. “Bridget was a force in nursing education whose voice was respected by deans, faculty, and hospital administrators alike, and she was a visionary who dramatically grew SUNY Empire’s program’s reach. She will be sorely missed and long remembered for her contributions to our university.”

Nettleton, a native of Troy, NY, obtained her BS in nursing from the University at Albany, where she also received her doctorate in educational administration and policy. She also had an MS in nursing from Russell Sage College.

She is survived by her husband and two sons, among other family members.

For more information, read her obituary.