Kristy Loewenstein named dean of Hofstra Northwell School

Kristy Loewenstein became dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies in Hempstead on Aug. 1.

Lowenstein has served as interim dean since 2024, bringing more than 20 years of experience at Northwell Health, including roles as a clinical leader, educator and mental health advocate. Most recently she served as deputy chief nursing officer at South Oaks Hospital in Amityville.

“Dr. Loewenstein’s experience and commitment to students, faculty, and the healthcare community position her well to lead the School in its next phase of growth,” Hofstra University President Susan Poser said in a news release about Lowenstein. “I am pleased to welcome her to the university’s leadership team, and I look forward to working with her in this role.”

Loewenstein, who served at Zucker Hillside Hospital for 22 years, has an extensive background in psychiatric and mental health nursing. This expertise, combined with her academic and interdisciplinary-learning focus, places her in a position to lead the school through its next phase of growth.

“Our partnership with Hofstra University continues to grow stronger through leaders like Dr. Loewenstein, who represent the best of Northwell’s clinical and nursing excellence,” Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell, said in the news release.

“By combining academic rigor with the full breadth of resources across our health system, this collaboration prepares future nurses and physician assistants to meet the complex needs of our communities with skill, compassion and purpose,” he added.

Lowenstein is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar and a triple-certified nurse leader in professional development, executive nursing and psychiatric mental health. During her interim tenure, Loewenstein led initiatives to support the school’s first undergraduate nursing cohort preparing for the NCLEX exam, emphasized research and faculty scholarship and expanded interprofessional education in collaboration with other Hofstra schools, including medicine, health sciences and counseling.

“Kristy Loewenstein is an accomplished clinician, educator and administrator,” the university’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Charles Riordan said in the news release.

“She brings a visionary yet pragmatic approach to academic leadership. Her commitment to excellence and equity will drive the school’s continued growth while addressing real-world healthcare needs,” he added.

“This is a defining moment for healthcare education,” Loewenstein said in the news release.

“I am honored to lead a school that combines state-of-the-art facilities, a deeply committed faculty, and a student body dedicated to service,” she added. “Our partnership with Northwell Health, along with Hofstra’s focus on interdisciplinary learning, gives us an extraordinary foundation to train the next generation of providers. I’m excited to build on our momentum and explore new ways to serve our communities.”

Loewenstein earned her Ph.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina and holds an M.S. and B.S. in nursing from Stony Brook University. She began her career with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens School of Nursing. Her professional certifications include Nursing Professional Development, Nursing Executive–Advanced, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, all from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.