The School of Nursing announced the appointment of three new academic specialty directors for its Master of Science in Nursing program, as well as a new director of program evaluations.
Professor Sharon Karp, MSN’99, PhD’08, has been appointed director of program evaluations. In this role, she will direct efforts to measure overall program effectiveness for the school and use the outcome data to drive continuous improvement in program quality. Karp, who joined VUSN in 2008, will continue as an adviser for doctoral students as well as teaching PhD in Nursing Science students. Karp earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree at Xavier University before earning her master of science in nursing and PhD in nursing science at Vanderbilt. Karp’s appointment was effective May 1, moved up from July 1, when she was scheduled to take over from former director Tom Christenbery, MSN’87, PhD’04, who died earlier this semester.
Associate Professor Brenda Kulhanek, PhD, has been appointed academic director for the school’s Nursing Informatics specialty. Kulhanek is an experienced nurse informaticist with extensive academic and corporate expertise, including serving in senior clinical education roles for TriStar Health and HCA. She is a past president of the American Nursing Informatics Association and has published widely. She earned her bachelor and master of science in nursing degrees from Metropolitan State University and holds a PhD from Capella University. Kulhanek succeeds Patricia Sengstack, DNP’10, FAAN, who became senior associate dean for informatics in January.
Assistant Professor Aggie Read, DNP, has been named academic director for the school’s ASN to MSN program, which provides an accelerated path for registered nurses with diploma or associate degrees to become advanced practice nurses. Read takes over program leadership from Professor Sarah Fogel, PhD’94, MSN’10, who retired in June. A certified nurse educator, Read has extensive experience in teaching in both VUSN’s PreSpecialty and ASN-MSN programs, most recently focusing on courses in ethics, evidence-based practice and professionalism. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Indiana University, master of science in nursing at University of Texas and doctor of nursing practice at American Sentinel University.
Assistant Professor Kim Steanson, DNP, MSN’98, will become academic director of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Acute Care specialty, effective Aug. 1. Steanson has taught in the PNP–AC program for 10 years and has more than two decades of experience in pediatric intensive care. She has a bachelor of science in nursing from Texas Women’s University, a master of science in nursing from VUSN and post-master’s certification and a doctor of nursing practice from the University of South Alabama. Steanson follows instructor Sheree Allen, DNP, MSN’03, who is stepping down as specialty director after 10 years in the role.