Dr. Mary McNamara named first provost for OSF Colleges of Nursing

Mary Maguire McNamara, DNP, APRN-FPA, CNP, FAANP, has been named the first provost of OSF Colleges of Nursing. Dr. McNamara will officially begin her tenure at Saint Anthony College of Nursing and Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing on August 4, 2025. As the provost, Dr. McNamara will report directly to Dr. Charlene Aaron and the respective college boards.

In her new role, Dr. McNamara will serve as the chief academic officer for the Colleges of Nursing, providing leadership and oversight to drive the successful implementation of new educational essentials. She will also offer support and guidance to the deans and faculty at both Saint Anthony College of Nursing in Rockford, Illinois, and Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois.

"Dr. McNamara's academic career has prepared her well to become the chief academic officer to build upon the academic excellence of each OSF Colleges of Nursing in Peoria and Rockford, to ensure student success and build faculty capacity," says Dr. Aaron. "Together we will build the pipeline of nurses and nurse educators to serve OSF communities in Illinois and Michigan."

Over the past year, the Colleges of Nursing have conducted a thorough search to identify the ideal candidate for this important role. Dr. McNamara emerged as the perfect fit, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the nursing profession. Most recently, she served as the associate dean for Innovative Partnerships, Faculty Practice, and Graduate Clinical Programs at Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.

"I am deeply honored and energized to serve as provost for the OSF Colleges of Nursing," says Dr. McNamara. "This is an extraordinary opportunity to advance nursing education, foster innovation and prepare the next generation of nursing leaders. I am excited to collaborate with our dedicated faculty, staff and community partners. Together we can ensure our students thrive in a supportive and academically rigorous environment, ultimately shaping the future of health care."