Dr. Nydegger’s path to academic leadership is as unique as it is deeply informed. Before nursing, he worked in banking until military service and a serious illness shifted his career trajectory. During his recovery, a nurse practitioner’s relentless persistence, including working beyond scheduled hours to uncover answers others had missed, saved his life and set him on a new course. That firsthand experience of what exceptional nursing care looks like in practice, combined with progressive roles in clinical practice, educational program development and healthcare administration, have given him exceptional insight into both industry needs and student success. His military background also deepens Westcliff’s commitment to serving its growing community of veteran students.
“Nursing is both a science and a calling,” said Dr. Nydegger. “The clinical knowledge matters, but so does the capacity for compassion, adaptability and an unshakable commitment to the patient in front of you. Our job is to graduate nurses who embody both.”
Dr. Nydegger steps into the role as the College of Nursing continues to expand as a destination program for aspiring nurses across the region. Based at Westcliff’s Corona, Calif. campus, the college offers pre-licensure pathways that integrate state-of-the-art simulation labs equipped with high-fidelity mannequins and hands-on clinical training, NCLEX preparation beginning on day one and immersive clinical placements with leading healthcare providers across the Greater Inland Empire—all designed to produce graduates who are ready to contribute meaningfully to patient care from their very first shift.
“Dr. Nydegger didn’t just study nursing, he was saved by it. That perspective changes how you teach, how you lead and how your students show up for patients,” said Dr. Anthony Lee, president and CEO of Westcliff University. “His depth of perspective, paired with his academic leadership and passion for student success, makes him the ideal dean to lead our College of Nursing forward. His appointment strengthens our commitment to preparing graduates who enter healthcare careers with the skill, confidence and dedication to patient care that make a tangible difference.”
As dean, Dr. Nydegger will guide the college’s continued expansion of its student-centered learning model across two pre-licensure pathways: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), designed for students entering with a high school diploma or some college credits, and the Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELM), built for career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Both are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and grounded in hands-on simulation training that prepares graduates for the realities of clinical environments before their first rotation.
“The average nurse gets to influence the lives of 30,000 patients and family members over the course of their career,” added Dr. Nydegger. “Every student who walks out of here ready to care for others takes that potential with them and grows it. That is the weight of what we are doing here, and why this work is so important.”
Under his direction, the college will continue advancing its goal of achieving 100% first-time NCLEX pass rates while expanding clinical training opportunities, academic support infrastructure and partnerships with healthcare providers across Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties. These efforts reinforce the college’s role as a vital talent pipeline for the region’s healthcare systems.
