In a field as demanding and high-stakes as nursing, student support requires a particular urgency.
A Dean's Office is often seen as the administrative backbone of a school, but in a nursing program the ripple effects impact society at large. The team behind the dean shapes the culture, values, and direction of an entire professional community, ensuring that students, faculty, and clinical partners all have what they need to do their best work. Dean's Office staff manage the complex web of accreditation requirements, curriculum development, student advocacy, and community partnerships that make it possible to train the next generation of compassionate, competent healthcare professionals.
Anya Villatoro is the Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Program & Student Success at the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. Check out what she has to say about working in the Dean’s Office.
What drew you to higher education specifically, rather than a similar role in another sector?
My undergraduate experience was transformational. I was highly engaged in the co-curricular space and was lucky enough to find wonderful staff mentors who empowered me. This allowed me to discover Student Affairs as a field. I saw a career in Student Affairs as a way to contribute to the transformative experience of students and to be a mentor, especially for students like me who identify as first-generation and low-income. I didn't yet fully understand the challenges I faced navigating higher education as systemic; however, I saw the impact that mentorship had in helping me thrive in college and felt called to do the same for future students.
What do you wish more people understood about the role staff play in a college or university's success?
I wish people more clearly understood the organizational complexity of a university and, with that understanding, could see the need and value of skillful administrators to the successful operation of the institution, educational mission, and delivery of services.
What's a skill or talent you bring to your role that wasn't in the job description?
I am bilingual, and that is a skill that has been particularly useful in various roles I have held. For instance, I worked in a First Year Experience Office, which oversaw University Orientation and my language skills allowed me to translate documents and engage with parents in attendance who did not speak English. In my current role, I oversee several global health trips and again, my language skills have been an asset in strengthening individual relationships with global partners and have allowed me to accompany groups abroad and help translate.
Describe a moment when your role directly changed a student's trajectory.
In my role, I have conversations with students about navigating academic challenges and finding resources all the time. In nursing, the enforcement of academic progression policies can require students to transfer to a different major. If students are in danger of not meeting the academic standards, that can result in significant academic stress and feelings of inadequacy.
A student who just graduated this year with their degree in nursing was in danger of failing a course for a second time; that outcome would likely result in them needing to transfer majors. I knew the student was working hard, going to tutoring, office hours, etc., but not seeing results. I decided to connect with their faculty, who expressed concern that the student seemed more intent on proving they understood the material than actually understanding it. I used this knowledge to validate the student's effort and commitment, and assure them that their faculty saw their hard work. I helped them understand that it was good to ask questions and be frank about what they did not understand. This way, the faculty would be able to look for a new way to explain things to them. The student achieved the grade they needed on the final exam to pass the course, and they did not have academic issues after that.
After the exam the student came back to share how instrumental a shift it was for them to overcome the pressure to prove themselves and admit what they didn't understand. It was a joy to see them celebrating on commencement day this year!
Anya Villatoro is the Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Program & Student Success at the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. She holds a BA in Political Science from Dominican University of California, an MS in College Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University, and completed her Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education at Boston College in May 2026.
Do you have a colleague who is doing impactful work on a college campus? I’d love to connect and highlight their work!
