Faculty Newsbreakers

ABOVE: Simulation instructor Elizabeth Denby-Callahan leads a simulation with a student.

Photo by Fairfield University Media Center

Associate Professor and associate dean for undergraduate studies, Audrey Beauvais, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, was awarded the Connecticut League for Nurse Leadership and President’s awards for her outstanding state-wide leadership throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Professor of the practice Steve Belmont, DNP, MSN and Nancy Moriber, PhD, CRNA, APRN completed the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EPEC) training program in the fall. Associate Professor Jaclyn Conelius, PhD, FNP-BC, FHRS, CHSE, FNAP completed the AACN 2020 Digital Innovation Boot camp. Professor of the practice and assistant dean

BC completed the Telebehavioral Health Institute Board Certification in Telehealth Level I and Level II.

Associate professors Sally Gerard, DNP, RN, CDE, CNL and Alison Kris, PhD, MSN, RN were both promoted to full professor. Dr. Gerard’s book, Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Review 3rd Edition, was published by Springer Publishing Company. Associate Professor Diana Mager, DNP, RN-BC won the Friend to Healthcare at Home award by the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home for her work in advancing the home care and hospice industry in Connecticut and nationwide. Assistant Professor Nancy Moriber, PhD, CRNA, APRN was selected as a reviewer for the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). She will also serve as president-elect for the Connecticut Association of Nurse Anesthetists (CTANA). Professor Eileen O’Shea, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC, CHPP and Associate Professor

featured their Teaching Tip as a video abstract on the Nurse Educator website.

Under the leadership of professor of the practice Kim Oliver, PhD, LCSW, CSAT, the Social Work Department now has their own chapter of the Social Work Society Phi Alpha – Chi Psi Omega. Professor Eileen O’Shea, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC, CHPP completed the one year journey through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.

Visiting Professor Gina Peterson, MSN, RN, CHPN, CHSE passed the Certified Health Simulation Educator examination.

Assistant Professor Jennifer SchindlerRuwisch, DrPH was awarded an institutional research grant for “Breastfeeding Perspectives: Reactions to Breastfeeding Imagery and Social Norms.” Her scholarly breastfeeding work with co-author Dr. Kathryn Phillips was also featured in U.S. News & World Report. Associate professor and Alpha Sigma Nu Teacher of the Year Kathryn Phillips, PhD, ANP-BC completed the Telebehavioral

Health Institute’s Board Certification as a Telehealth Professional Level II. She also received The Ruth M. Olson Excellence in Nurse Education Award from the Connecticut League for Nursing. Assistant professors Tanika Eaves Simpson, PhD, MSW and Dorothy Vittner, PhD(c) MSN, BSN were both approved to take pretenure leaves during the next academic year. Assistant Professor Tanika Eaves Simpson, PhD, MSW was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for The Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH), a nonprofit professional organization offering training in infant/early childhood development and promotion of secure attachment, and early relationships to child welfare, early intervention, Early Head Start, and home visiting programs across the state.

Professor of the practice Kelly Sullivan, DNP, MSN has been named the new project coordinator for the Matter of Balance falls-prevention program. Professor Kathleen Wheeler, PhD, APRN, FAAN received the 2020 NYU Rory Myers College of Nursing Maes-McInnes Alumni Award for outstanding work in clinical innovation on behalf of professional nursing. She also published two new books with Spring Publishing Company: Psychotherapy for the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse: A How-To Guide for Evidence-Based Practice (ed.), 3rd edition and Case Study Approach to Psychotherapy for Advanced Practice Nurses.

I am incredibly honored to be recognized in this way, especially when this was bestowed among the amazing educators [that] I am so grateful to call colleagues at Fairfield University. This award is particularly meaningful as it comes from the students during a particularly challenging academic year. I am touched that they felt inspired by my teaching. The opportunity to work closely with students, getting to know them as individuals while helping them learn and grow as clinicians and individuals, is a wonderful gift that I am humbled to be able to do as a career.

My research has two foci: nursing education and integrative care. In the area of nursing education, I am constantly striving to find innovative ways to make learning fun and effective with a sound evidence base. As for integrative care, I’m interested in how health behaviors can be improved through bolstering individuals’ resilience and helping them process aspects that are holding them back from living their best life.

In the area of nursing education, I’m currently working on assessing how we can optimally assist new nurses as they transition to practice during the pandemic. In integrative care, I’m continuing prior work on improving restraint practices and finding ways to support the mental health of children and adolescents.

Mentoring students in research and integrating simulation into the curriculum. It’s a joy to journey alongside students, supporting them as they achieve goals that seemed so far away. I also want to thank the team of colleagues that has helped me grow as an educator and continue to underpin my teaching success, including the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), technology services, and the Egan School faculty and staff. I am blessed to be a part of such an incredible teaching institution. l E