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Agnes MacLeod was the first full-time Director of the School of Nursing. Under her guidance, in 1937, students could complete all five years of the degree program at the º£½ÇÉçÇø. With the guidance of Agnes, the degree program had a director with specific responsibility for the program's first years. She made several improvements. She was a leader within the academic sector and an active participant in humanitarian activities, including nursing service overseas in WW I. Though her tenure was only 3 years, Agnes Macleod inspired multiple nursing students to live by her example.

Helen Penhale's tenure significantly changed degree programming and the relationship between the degree and diploma programs at the º£½ÇÉçÇø. She instigated a short-lived four-year degree nursing program in 1952 and 1953. In 1954, the º£½ÇÉçÇø Hospital Board of Management began their hospital-based diploma nursing program, and the five-year degree nursing program was reinstated at the School of Nursing.

Dean Margaret McClure played a pivotal role in shaping nursing education at the º£½ÇÉçÇø. In 1947, during her tenure, the Nurses’ Residence was built to provide accommodation for all students. She guided the School of Nursing through major program changes, including the continuation of clinical training at the University Hospital until 1966, when the Universities Act established Nursing as an autonomous academic unit.

McClure was also a visionary in continuing education. In 1970, she initiated a program that offered non-credit courses, nursing conferences, and certificate programs in public health and teaching, laying the groundwork for expanded professional learning. Her leadership supported innovations such as the federally funded Nurse Practitioner Program (1971–1984). Importantly, her era saw the introduction of Alberta’s first Master of Nursing Program in 1975, advancing opportunities for nurses in practice, education, and research.

Amy Zelmer was the first to be hired as the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing. During her time in this role, she advocated alongside the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (now the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta) for increased degree opportunities for registered nurses. As a result, in 1979, the government provided funding to expand the BScN program, and incude a Post-RN program. After her time as Dean, Zelmer served as Associate Vice-President at the º£½ÇÉçÇø before moving to Australia, where she continued to provide exemplary nursing leadership.

Under Field's leadership, Canada’s first distance degree program saw significant growth. Enrollment in the Post-RN Program doubled from 72 to 144, leading to the establishment of an off-campus program. Building on this momentum, the four-year Basic BScN Program was expanded to accommodate 100 students in 1982. In collaboration with the º£½ÇÉçÇø Hospitals, a joint certificate program in neonatal nursing has been offered since 1982 and one in nephrology nursing was started in 1986.

Dr. Janetta McPhail guided the Faculty of Nursing through a pivotal period of academic growth. Her vision was to position the Faculty as a leader in nursing and health research and to establish Canada’s first doctoral program in nursing. At the time, few faculty held PhDs, and those pursuing doctoral studies often had to leave the country. Dr. McPhail championed the importance of doctoral preparation, supporting faculty to pursue advanced education while ensuring their teaching and research responsibilities were maintained. Many returned to Alberta to complete their doctoral research, and new tenure-track hires were expected to have doctoral training underway or completed.

Her tenure also saw innovations in specialized education, including the launch of a joint emergency and intensive care nursing certificate in 1984, which expanded to the º£½ÇÉçÇø Hospitals the following year.

Building on Dr. Janetta McPhail’s foundation, Dr. Marilynn Wood led the creation of Canada’s first funded PhD in Nursing program, formally established in 1991 after admitting its first students in 1988. The program quickly positioned the Faculty as a national leader in nursing research and education. Today, it has produced 272 graduates with 58 more currently enrolled.

Dr. Wood also championed accessibility through the Collaborative BScN Program, partnering with colleges in Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray and Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton to allow students to complete a º£½ÇÉçÇø degree in their home communities. Funding from the closure of hospital diploma programs in 1995 was redirected to strengthen nursing education.

This era also saw the launch of the Institute for Philosophical Nursing Research (1989), the RPN to BScN Program (1993), and the Mu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (1992). Anne Neufeld served as Acting Dean from 1992–1993.