Holisa Wharton Ph.D, MS, RN, CNE, CNL
Dr. Holisa Wharton is an experienced nurse educator and academic leader with more than 20 years of combined experience in higher education and clinical practice. She has served at Lander University since 2011, where she currently holds the role of Dean, providing leadership in program development, accreditation, and student success initiatives across health-related disciplines.
Dr. Wharton also brings nearly a decade of clinical experience from her work as a Registered Nurse at Self Regional Healthcare (2012–2020), where she practiced primarily in the medical‑surgical resource pool. Her background in both academic and clinical environments strengthens her ability to support the preparation of future healthcare professionals.
Her earlier teaching career included serving as a Nursing Professor at Piedmont Technical College and working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Clemson University, where she contributed to instruction in core nursing subjects. Dr. Wharton earned both her Ph.D in Healthcare Genetics and Master of Science in Nursing Education from Clemson University. Her professional interests include healthcare genetics, nursing education, and expanding pathways for students pursuing health careers.