Dr. Solina Richter Re-appointed as Dean of USask Nursing
Dr. Richter will return to the College of Nursing for a second five-year term.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has re-appointed Dr. Solina Richter (DCur) as dean of the College of Nursing for a second five-year term, effective July 1, 2026.
Dr. Richter was first appointed in August 2021 and since then has led the college through growth, built strong relationships, and re-energized the strategic focus of the college.
“Since her initial appointment, Dr. Richter has championed the College of Nursing’s vision to become a global leader in nursing education,” said Dr. Patricia McDougall (PhD), interim provost and vice-president academic.
Throughout the past five years, Richter has guided the college through a complex and changing environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, global health challenges, and a growing demand for nurses. Her leadership has focused on improving program quality, increasing student success, and being responsive to the needs of the Saskatchewan health care system.
Richter played a key role in advancing provincial priorities to address the nursing shortage across Canada. The College of Nursing has contributed to the Government of Saskatchewan’s health human resources expansion plan, including adding additional seats in both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing undergraduate program and nurse practitioner program.
Expanding access to undergraduate nursing education across Saskatchewan and supporting students in communities throughout the province has been a priority for Richter since her arrival. Under her leadership, the college has strengthened its “Learn Where You Live” education model, adding four additional distributed nursing sites.
During her first term, Richter helped strengthen research and scholarly activity within the college, while also maintaining her active research portfolio.
Beyond academic programming, Richter has placed emphasis on building a strong and inclusive college community.
Over the past five years, her leadership has supported faculty development, enhanced communication and transparency, and fostered a college culture of collaboration, respect and well-being.
Engagement has also been a key priority for Richter, strengthening relationships across provincial and national nursing leadership networks, government partners, alumni, donors, and Indigenous communities.
Looking ahead, Richter feels the future is bright.
“I continue to be inspired by the work of our faculty, staff, and students, and I truly believe in this college,” said Dr. Richter.
“I am excited for what we can achieve together in the next five years and am confident in our potential to be a national and international leader in nursing education.”
Sustaining the good momentum achieved during her first term, while positioning the college for long-term impact, will be a focus for Richter moving forward.
Her priorities include continued excellence in teaching and learning, matching programs to meet workforce needs, advancing equity, diversity and inclusion, and expanding partnerships locally, nationally, and globally.
Her vision for the college also emphasizes innovation in nursing education, including new approaches to distributed learning, as well as strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and advancing reconciliation.
Richter has described her leadership approach as grounded in connection and collaboration, drawing on concepts, such as wahkohtowin, a Cree worldview that highlights the importance of relationships and interconnectedness.
In announcing the re-appointment, McDougall noted Richter is seen as a “resilient, thoughtful, and approachable leader” who has built strong relationships and earned trust across the college, the University of Saskatchewan, and with stakeholders.
“I look forward to the continued growth and success of the College of Nursing under Dr. Richter’s leadership,” McDougall concluded.
About Dr. Solina Richter
Dr. Solina Richter is dean of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Nursing and a professor with extensive experience in nursing education and academic leadership.
Prior to joining USask in 2021, she spent 18 years with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, where she served as professor, associate dean of global nursing, and interim associate dean of the undergraduate nursing program.
An internationally educated nurse, Dr. Richter completed her nursing education in South Africa before moving to Canada in 2003. Her credentials include a Bachelor of Nursing Science, diploma in midwifery, Baccalaureus Curationis (nursing), Master of Nursing Science, and Doctor of Nursing.
Her research focuses on the social determinants of health and frontline practices that protect and promote the health of low socioeconomic populations. She is particularly interested in global collaboration, emphasizing the importance of combining international expertise and resources to address complex health challenges.