A Legacy of Leadership and Compassion

Beloved nursing dean Pam Fifer died following a courageous battle with cancer

Pam Fifer, a transformative leader in nursing education and the beloved dean of the George Fox College of Nursing, died March 27 following a courageous battle with cancer. She was 55 years old.

Fifer served as the dean of the College of Nursing since 2017. Under her leadership, the college experienced historic growth, doubling in size and becoming one of the university’s top three majors. She also played an instrumental role in developing the graduate Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, ensuring a future of high-level clinical leadership for the region.

A nationally recognized voice, Fifer served as board president for the Oregon Center for Nursing and as a member of the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice.

Her nursing career began in the early 1990s as a registered nurse at Salem Hospital. Inspired by observing the various stages of health and illness within her own large extended family, Fifer developed a lifelong passion for acute care, long-term care and hospital administration. Her extensive clinical background eventually led her to transition into nursing education, where she sought to mentor students to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.

An alumna of the University of Portland and George Fox University, she was a devoted wife to her husband, David, and found immense joy in her role as a mother and grandmother.

Fifer leaves behind a legacy of compassion, excellence, and an unwavering belief in the power of nursing to change lives. Her family has established the Pamela J. Fifer Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship at George Fox University, ensuring her passion for nursing education continues to inspire future generations.