Deborah Leveille

Education: Ph.D. in Nursing Education, University of Massachusetts–Worcester | M.S. in Nursing, University of New Hampshire | B.S. in Nursing, University of New Hampshire

Prior to joining Arizona College of Nursing in 2026, Dr. Leveille served as Dean of Nursing at Carrington College’s Boise, Idaho campus, where she led the Practical Nurse and RN Bridge programs to consistent 100% PN NCLEX pass rates and ADN Bridge pass rates of 90% or greater over the past two cohorts – a significant improvement since before her arrival – with more than 98% of PN graduates now rolling directly into the Bridge program. She also guided the program through a successful ACEN accreditation visit, earning a full 10-year approval, and has held Dean and Dean of School of Nursing roles at American University of Health Sciences, Fortis College, and Stawa University in Kampala, Uganda. Across nearly two decades of nursing leadership, she has repeatedly led NCLEX turnarounds, taking programs from pass rates as low as 35% into the high 80s and 90s. Before entering nursing education, Dr. Leveille spent many years as a medical malpractice paralegal in Boston – an experience that continues to inform her focus on producing safe, practice-ready nurses. She is also a recognized Next Generation NCLEX item writer, having authored thousands of items for organizations including NCSBN, Wolters Kluwer, ATI, and UWorld.

As Dean of Nursing at Arizona College of Nursing – Chesapeake, Dr. Leveille brings her mission-driven leadership philosophy – “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” – to building a culture of academic excellence for faculty and students alike.