Dr. Sherrill Dodsworth Smith

Class of 1981

Dr. Sherrill Jeanne (Dodsworth) Smith is being honored for her service to the nation and her profession and for dedication to the advancement of nursing education. Her contributions of knowledge, talent, and time and her record of achievement provide a role model for members of our community.

Sherrill graduated from Tomah High School in 1981. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing in 1985. She then went on to attain a Master of Science in Nursing from Wright State University in 1997 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008. Sherrill began her professional career as an active duty Air Force nurse. After leaving active duty in 1991, she continued as a nurse reservist. She was selected Air Force Reserve Nurse of the Year in 2005 and retired with the rank of Colonel in 2011.

While her career included leadership roles in community health, most recently Sherrill has pursued a path in nursing education, developing a research trajectory investigating novel uses of technology to enhance nursing learning. She has published 26 manuscripts, 3 textbook chapters, and presented numerous papers at regional, national, and international conferences. Her accomplishments in nursing education led to her appointment as Dean of Nursing at the University of Wyoming in August 2019. Her career achievements include the Wright State University Presidential Early Career Achievement Award, International Nursing Association for Simulation and Clinical Learning Integration of Simulation Award, and the Nursing Research Society’s Nursing Education Research Scientist of the Year.