Dr. Julia Behr, former Assistant Dean for the Augusta University College of Nursing at Athens, has been named Dean of the R.H. Daniel School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Piedmont College.
Dr. Behr completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing-Athens, and she has worked and taught in Athens for more than 25 years. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Alabama–Birmingham. As a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, she has clinical experience in acute care, emergency room care and in specialty care clinics. Her practice and research areas of interest include HIV/AIDS, addiction and urgent care treatment.
Beginning as an instructor for the MCG School of Nursing-Athens in 1992, Dr. Behr served on the faculty for more than 22 years. In addition to serving as Assistant Dean, she was a member of the College of Nursing Senior Leadership Team and a member of the University of Georgia Medical Reserve Corps Advisory Board.
“We are extremely fortunate to find someone with Dr. Behr’s experience as a nurse practitioner and as an educator to lead our nursing and health care programs,” said Piedmont President Dr. James F. Mellichamp in a press release from the college. “Our School of Nursing has always produced excellent graduates, and with Dr. Behr’s leadership, I am sure that will continue.”
“I am very excited to be part of the team at Piedmont College. The faculty and staff in our nursing and health sciences programs are truly dedicated professionals in their fields. The stellar reputation of Piedmont graduates clearly demonstrates our pursuit of excellence in education. As a longtime member of the health care community in Athens, I am pleased to be able to impact health care education both here and in Demorest," Behr said.
The nursing and health sciences programs at Piedmont are growing rapidly, Behr said. While final numbers are not yet in, this year’s enrollment at the two campuses includes 165 student nurses, up from 140 a year ago. Enrollment in health sciences programs also has grown from 83 students last year to 126 this fall semester.
In recent years, Piedmont has added undergraduate health care programs in Cardiovascular Technology—the first such program in Georgia—as well as Health Care Administration, Exercise & Sport Science, Applied Health Science, and Sport & Fitness Administration. Piedmont’s popular undergraduate Athletic Training program is also transitioning to a graduate program beginning in 2017.
In addition to the academic changes, Dr. Behr said upgrades to the School of Nursing facilities at both campuses are in the works. In Athens, Piedmont plans to move the classrooms and training labs at its North Milledge Avenue location to the main Athens campus on Prince Avenue. In Demorest, the nursing facilities now in Daniel Hall will be relocating to a recently purchased building just off Historic Highway 441.
“With our increased enrollment, we’ve outgrown our current space,” Behr said. “Health care technology is constantly changing, and the new facilities will provide our students and professors with the most up-to-date training environment,” she said.
Dr. Behr lives in Oconee County with her husband of 26 years, Michael, and daughters Caroline and Gracyn.
