Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing

06/05/2026

Professor Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz, PhD, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, FACE, welcomed Sally Havers, PhD, FACIPC, CIPC-E, president of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, to Driscoll Hall to lead a research seminar this week.

Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in infection prevention and control, Dr. Havers discussed "Consensus, Complexity and Change: Building an Embedded Infection Prevention Research Program." She is internationally recognized for her work advancing embedded, practice-based infection prevention research and holds a conjoint appointment with Queensland Health and the University of Queensland.

Villanova University

06/04/2026

We are excited to welcome our new post-master’s DNP cohort to the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing!

This cohort brings together experienced clinicians dedicated to advancing their leadership and impact in healthcare delivery and outcomes.

Villanova University

06/01/2026

Pride Month, celebrated in June, honors the presence and contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals to history, culture, and society at large.

05/29/2026

Assistant Professor Brianna Morgan, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN, shares how poetry can support older adults and caregivers in a recent Songwriter Podcast interview.

Reflecting on a story about a near-death experience and caregiving, Dr. Morgan draws on her work with older adults experiencing cognitive change to show how poetry and storytelling can surface strengths, highlight the realities of caregiving and make complex health experiences more accessible.


Villanova University

Caregiving researcher Dr. Brianna Morgan works predominantly with older patients experiencing dementia. Many of them struggle to talk about their experience....

05/28/2026

Welcome to our new class of Second Degree Accelerated BSN students in the 14-Month Express Track! They are joined by Director Jennifer Brown, DNP, MSN, RN, and Associate Professor Carol Toussie Weingarten, PhD, RN, ANEF.

05/27/2026

Two special members of the College staff marked important milestones in their academic journeys at Commencement: a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration Higher Education Leadership for Carly Zalis, coordinator of Prelicensure Programs (first photo), and a Master of Business Administration for Cathleen Miller, assistant director of program operations, Second Degree Accelerated BSN (second photo).

Congratulations, Carly and Cathleen!

05/26/2026

In a recent AWHONN Insights podcast, Professor Michelle Kelly, PhD, CRNP, CNE, FAANP, FAAN, explores the lasting impact of premature birth.

From respiratory and cardiovascular challenges to mental health outcomes, the episode highlights how early birth can shape health across the lifespan, and what clinicians need to know to improve care.

Villanova University

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Villanova Nursing's PhD program passed the 150 mark! Congratulations to our final four students to successfully defend their dissertations in the spring semester:

Sarah White, #148

Dissertation title: First Generation College Students' Perceptions of the Barriers and Facilitators to Academic Success. Dr. White's dissertation chair was Dr. Linda Carman Copel, and her committee member was Dr. Jennifer Ross. Dr. Catherine Curley and Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth served as examiners for the dissertation defense.

Susan Koronkiewicz, #149

Dissertation title: Determining Essential Prelicensure Nursing Curricular Competencies, Content and Learning Experiences Related to Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Koronkiewicz's dissertation chair was Dr. Suzanne Smeltzer, and her committee member was Dr. Jan Hinkle. Dr. Michelle Kelly and Dr. Melissa Bourne served as examiners for the dissertation defense.

Julie Crump, #150

Dissertation title: "Missed Nursing Care in Postpartum Maternity Settings: A Mixed Methods Study Examining Prevalence, Frequency, and Key Contributing Factors." Dr. Crump's dissertation chair was Dr. Deborah Mayer, and her committee members were Dr. Kim Trout, Dr. Heather Brom and Dr. Paul Bernhardt. Dr. Elizabeth Petite de Mange and Dr. Jennifer Yost served as examiners for the dissertation defense.

Lauren MacNeal, #151

Dissertation title: "Integral Factors Related to Neonatal Sepsis and its Associated Mortality in Liberia." Dr. MacNeal's dissertation chair was Dr. Kim Trout, and her committee member was Dr. Amy McKeever. Dr. Sherry Burrell and Dr. Carol Weingarten served as examiners for the dissertation defense.

05/21/2026

We are proud to celebrate our 2026 PhD in Nursing graduates.

This year’s class includes the first graduates of the Joanne and William Conway PhD Fellows Program, an accelerated, three-year track with generous support from the Bedford Falls Foundation.

Together, these graduates represent the next generation advancing nursing science, education and practice. We look forward to the impact they will make across academic and health care settings.

Photo 1: PhD in Nursing graduates 2026
Alanna Owens, Anna Sparrow, Katelin Crane, Mollie Ostick, Maggie Runyon, Julie Crump, and Kristen Oakley

Photo 2: Conway PhD Fellows with Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor Donna S. Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN (center)
Maggie Runyon, Mollie Ostick, Kaitlin Crane, Julie Crump
Missing: Kendra Duran