Elizabeth Gmitter

Elizabeth Gmitter, Ph.D., PT, M.S., is a visionary academic leader known for advancing healthcare education through strategic expansion, innovative program development, and workforce-driven partnerships. She currently serves as Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions (CONHP) at Valparaiso University, where she leads a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs dedicated to preparing values-based healthcare practitioners and leaders.

Dr. Gmitter’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in the College’s evolution, coinciding with the launch of a transformational campaign to build a state-of-the-art health professions facility. Under her leadership, Valpo is designing an academic home shaped by cutting-edge simulation, immersive technologies, interprofessional learning, values-based leadership development, and expanded research and clinical training opportunities. This investment will position Valpo as a regional anchor and national leader in health professions education.

Before joining Valparaiso University, Dr. Gmitter served as Dean of Health Sciences and Career Programs at Malcolm X College in Chicago, one of the nation’s most comprehensive urban healthcare education hubs. There, she oversaw 20+ certificate and degree programs, including 12 with specialized accreditation, and led major initiatives in program expansion, accreditation compliance, strategic planning, and academic innovation. Her leadership included launching the City of Chicago’s first public Physical Therapist Assistant Program, strengthening program accreditation across allied health disciplines, and scaling multiple high-impact learning pathways.

A prominent workforce development strategist, Dr. Gmitter has secured over $7 million in federal and state grants, including $2.4 million in HRSA funding to develop healthcare apprenticeships and more than $4 million to expand equitable workforce pathways in behavioral health, clinical research, and emerging allied health professions. Her work has produced nationally recognized apprenticeship models, innovative stackable credential pathways, and partnerships with major healthcare systems, universities, and community organizations.

Throughout her career, Dr. Gmitter has been deeply committed to equity-minded workforce development, student success, and values-based leadership. She has led efforts to integrate data-driven advising, strengthen retention and completion, and create wrap-around student supports that expand access and improve outcomes for diverse learners. Her leadership ethos emphasizes purpose, belonging, academic rigor, and preparing graduates to serve with competence, compassion, and integrity.

As Dean at Valpo, Dr. Gmitter is guiding the College’s new five-year strategic plan, anchored in three pillars—Enrollment (Widen the Welcome), Momentum (Sustain Progress), and Excellence (Elevate Outcomes)—that chart a bold pathway for academic innovation, recruitment growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional distinction. She collaborates closely with faculty, clinical partners, and industry leaders to meet urgent workforce needs across Northwest Indiana and beyond.

A licensed physical therapist with a strong background in curriculum design, accreditation, assessment, and clinical education, Dr. Gmitter previously served as a faculty member, program founder, and associate dean before transitioning into senior academic leadership. She is recognized for her ability to cultivate strong teams, drive complex institutional initiatives, strengthen donor and alumni relationships, and articulate a compelling vision for the future of healthcare education.

Dr. Gmitter holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instructions with a Health Professions, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy, and a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Sports Medicine. She is an active contributor to accreditation bodies, state workforce boards, and higher education collaborative networks, and is dedicated to advancing excellence across the full continuum of nursing and health professions education.

Licensed Physical Therapist, IL and IN

Certified Coach, Institute for Coaching Mastery