Dominican University New York announced that Annemarie McDermott, DNP, has been appointed Interim Director of the Division of Nursing, replacing Nancy DiDona, Ed.D. who unexpectedly passed away in May. McDermott’s appointment was announced to faculty and staff on August 6, 2026, by Dominican University President Manuel Martínez, Ph.D, .
McDermott has served in a number of faculty and leadership roles over the past 19 years. She taught primarily in the undergraduate nursing program before serving as Acting Graduate Director from 2012–2013 and has led the graduate nursing programs as Director since 2021. Under her leadership, graduate program enrollment has grown significantly, and national certification pass rates have consistently exceeded the national average for the past five years. She has successfully led two CCNE reaccreditation processes, including the University’s most recent accreditation review (2023), which resulted in the maximum 10-year accreditation awarded by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In addition to her academic leadership, McDermott remains active in clinical practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), bringing current evidence-based practice into the classroom while mentoring Dominican University FNP students and fostering the next generation of advanced practice nurses.
Now that McDermott has been promoted to a new role, Lynne Weissman, DNP, is returning to Dominican University as Director of Graduate Nursing Programs, a position she previously held from 2012-2021 where she provided visionary leadership in the development and implementation of the University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Throughout her tenure, Weissman was instrumental in the growth and success of both the FNP and DNP programs, helping to establish a strong foundation for graduate nursing education. A recognized leader in pediatric primary care, Weissman remains actively engaged in the community through her clinical practice and service on the Rockland County Health Advisory Committee. She is a frequent invited speaker for Head Start programs throughout the county, where she provides education on pediatric health, growth and development, and early childhood health issues. After stepping down from the director role, she continued to serve the Division as a dedicated faculty member, mentoring students and faculty while contributing to the continued excellence of the graduate nursing programs.