Dr. Marlaine Smith served as Dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University from 2011-2019. She was the recipient of the DAISY Award in May of 2019 and is an Extraordinary Nursing Faculty and Leader. Dr. Smith displays Excellence in Teaching in the Classroom. She embodies care and compassion with students to facilitate learning in the classroom and clinical environment and provides an environment where students can freely express opinions and ideas in a respectful manner. Dr. Smith consistently lives the philosophy of the College of Nursing in teaching and leadership when relating to her colleagues, faculty, staff, and students. As Dean of our College, Dr. Marlaine Smith collaborates effectively with the healthcare professionals in local, national, and international communities to facilitate student learning in the community and clinical areas and provides meaningful learning opportunities grounded in caring science. 
 
Dr. Smith’s contributions to nursing can be clustered in two areas: developing knowledge related to processes and outcomes of healing, specifically, touch therapies, and analyzing, extending, and applying existing nursing theories. She has completed four studies related to outcomes of touch therapies and was invited to participate on the Samueli Institute's interdisciplinary scientific panel to advance guidelines for the study of healing. Dr. Smith’s work in theory development includes concept analyses, testing and extending nursing theories, meta-theoretical commentaries, and developing and evaluating models of theory-guided practice. She is the author of several books, including Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice; Caring in Nursing Classics: An Essential Resource; and the Nurse-Herbalists: Integrative Insights for Holistic Practice. 

Dr. Smith is a practitioner of holistic approaches to health and healing, self-reflection, and spiritual development. She has studied therapeutic touch, Reiki, High Touch Jin Shin, guided imagery, and meditation, and has completed a certificate program in aromatherapy. She is passionate about developing the discipline of nursing, unitary and caring perspectives in nursing, and transforming healthcare through holistic approaches to healing. In 1999, Dr. Smith received the NLN’s Martha E. Roger’s Award for her contributions to the Advancement of nursing science. In 2020, Dr. Smith was inducted into the Florida Nurses Association Hall of Fame and she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).