From Falcon Parent to Faculty, Dr. Crystal Bennett is Nurturing Future Nurses
Growing up in Pensacola, Dr. Crystal Bennett became interested in nursing after visiting her grandmother in a nursing home and witnessing the compassionate care provided by the staff.
“I remember watching people feed her and brush her hair,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Wow, what is that person like? What is that role?’”
From being a teen candy striper in a children’s hospital to becoming a registered nurse with 20 years of experience teaching in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, Bennett is passionate about preparing students for successful health care careers. She now serves as the inaugural dean of UM’s College of Health Professions.
“I want the College to become a beacon for the community,” she said. “Montevallo has these great programs that we’re known for. I want people to say, ‘And did you hear? They have this great College of Health Professions that is helping serve the community.’ If that’s all anybody can say about us, then that’s a win.”
Bennett joins UM from the University of West Florida, where she was director of the School of Nursing and an assistant professor of clinical practice. She may be new to the faculty, but she’s no stranger to the Falcon family. It was just a few years ago that she came for a campus visit with her son, Preston, who is now a junior track and field athlete at UM.
“I, as a parent, loved the fact that it was small,” the mother of four said. “I liked the location, and I could see my son being successful here. It was just this family-like atmosphere.”
Now returning to the bricks as a dean, Bennett is excited to help build the college and its new nursing program from the ground up.
“Knowing how my own son felt that sense of belonging and has really come into his own by being here — every parent wants that,” she said. “For some students, this program could be why they choose Montevallo. We could start our own legacy here and I could be a part of that. It was just too good to pass over.”
