TTUHSC Names New Regional Dean for the School of Nursing

• By Meaghan Collier
• September 9, 2025

Louise Rice, DNP, RN, has been named regional dean of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing on the Amarillo campus. TTUHSC School of Nursing Dean Holly Wei, Ph.D., MBA, said Rice brings more than three decades of nursing and health care education experience to the role and is deeply committed to advancing nursing practice and student success in the region.

“Dr. Rice brings both heart and expertise to this role,” Wei said. “She has a deep understanding of the unique strengths and needs of Amarillo and I am confident she will inspire excellence among our students, faculty and community partners.”

Rice’s official nursing career began in the early 1990s, but she said she fell in love with health care when she was a candy striper in Tyler, Texas, as a young girl. That experience sparked her work in the field in many capacities at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. More recently, Rice’s work has centered on being a sexual assault nurse examiner. This work ensures survivors of sexual assault and other violence receive compassionate, trauma-informed care.

“I became a nurse because I’ve always felt called to care for others,” Rice said. “What I love most about nursing is the people. It’s sitting with someone when they’re scared, celebrating the little wins that mean so much or cheering on a student as they find their way. Those moments of connection are what stay with me, and they’re what make nursing feel like more than just a job—it has become a part of who I am.”

Her work in health care education began in 2011 and continued at several institutions of higher education until she joined the TTUHSC School of Nursing faculty in 2021.

“Nursing education is especially important here in the Panhandle because our communities depend on local providers for their care,” Rice said. “With fewer large medical centers nearby, having well-prepared nurses right here at home makes all the difference. When we educate nurses in the Panhandle, we’re not only building a stronger health care workforce—we’re also shaping professionals who understand the unique needs of our region and who are committed to caring for their neighbors, families and friends.”

The School of Nursing at Amarillo prepares nursing students to meet the challenges of today’s complex health care environment with multiple BSN degree paths available.

“My hope is that the TTUHSC School of Nursing in the Panhandle continues to grow as a place where students feel supported, inspired and prepared to lead,” Rice said. “I’d love to see us expand opportunities for advanced education, strengthen partnerships with our communities and create even more pathways for students who want to serve this region. Most of all, I hope we continue to be a school that feels like family—where we not only teach nursing skills but also nurture the heart of what it means to be a nurse.”