Luther P. Christman (1915-2011) was a nurse, professor, sociologist, and administrator. He was the first male dean of a nursing school in the United States. As dean of Vanderbilt University's School of Nursing, he was the first to employ African-American women as faculty at Vanderbilt.

Christman was born in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania February 26, 1915. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing for Men in 1939. He earned his BA in nursing (1948) and his MA in clinical psychology (1952) from Temple University. Dr Christman received his PhD in sociology and anthropology from Michigan State University in 1965.

Mr. Christman was a private duty nurse at the Pennsylvania Hospital from 1939-1948. Then he became an instructor at the Cooper Hospital School of Nursing from 1948-1953. Luther was director of nursing at the Yankton State Hospital from 1953-1956. Then he was a nursing consultant for the Michigan Department of Mental Health from 1956-1963. Then he joined the University of Michigan as an associate professor of psychiatric nursing from 1963-1967. He also worked as a research associate for both the Institute of Social Research and the Bureau of Hospital Administration from 1964-1967 and 1965-1967. Luther then became a professor of nursing and sociology, Dean of the school of nursing, and Director of nursing services at Vanderbilt University and Hospital from 1967-1972. Luther then went to Rush University as a professor of nursing and sociology, dean of the college of nursing, and vice-president of nursing affairs from 1972-1987. He was also a senior scientist and attending staff at the Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center from 1972-1988. Luther then returned to Vanderbilt as an adjunct professor of nursing from 1991-1995. He died in Nashville on June 7, 2011.