Professor Ellen Abate joins the nursing faculty at WestConn full time in the fall of 2007 as Associate Professor. Dr. Abate comes to WestConn with 25 years of experience in nursing higher education.  She was previously on the faculty at SUNY New Paltz, where she taught in the RN–BSN and graduate programs, and served as Nursing Director from 1999-2004. Her teaching responsibilities included family and community health, leadership and management, nursing research, health education, cultural diversity, and the professional and ethical issues related to nursing and health care delivery. Dr. Abate received her BS in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary College, MA in Nursing from NYU and her Ed.D from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Her clinical expertise and current research activities are in family and community health nursing.  

Professor Dr. Carol Avery, Ed.D, RNBC, Board Cert. in Perinatal Nursing

Dr. Carol Avery, who is a Full Professor in the Nursing Department, received her higher education degrees are from the University of Bridgeport (BSN), Hunter College of the City University of New York (MSN), Teachers College of Columbia University (Ed.D.). She is Perinatal Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Areas of teaching include undergraduate and graduate courses as well as graduate thesis advisement. Her research through several CSU grants have focused on areas of student nurse clinical practice and graduate nurse competency.

Kathy Barber, Department Secretary

Mrs. Barber started in the Fall of 1993 as the Secretary of the Western Connecticut State University Nursing Department, under the direction of Dr. Barbara Piscopo. Over the years Mrs. Barber has been involved in the WestConn Community as an employee, parent and supporter.  Many student have learned from Mrs. Barber as she has guided them in their role as students workers.

Assistant Professor Christine Berte, APRN-BC

Assistant Professor Christine Berté joined the staff of WestConn in the Fall of 2009.  She received her combined Nursing and Psychology undergraduate degree from Pace University.  She received her MSN from Fairfield University, in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, and holds a Post-Masters Certification as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner also from Fairfield University. Christine has developed her practice to specialize in pediatric and adolescent medicine within the juvenile correctional system.  For 13 years her practice was the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center, where she established a primary care medical office for the juveniles within the facility.

Professor Dr. Daryle Brown, Ed.D, RN

Dr. Daryle Brown joined the WestConn Nursing full-time faculty in fall 2003.  Dr. Brown received her BSN from Kent State University in Kent, OH. She received her M.A., M.Ed., and Ed.D. from Teachers College Columbia University with a major in nursing education/medical-surgical nursing/adult health/professorial role. She comes to WestConn after 23 years of teaching nursing at a private, suburban university, holding various positions.

Assistant Professor Eileen Campbell, RN, MSN, CNOR

Ms. Campbell has been an Adjunct faculty member of WCSU since the Fall of 2008, joining the nursing faculty as an Assistant Prof. of Nursing in the Fall of 2010. Received her ADN from Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY in 1996, BSN from Lehman College, CUNY, Bronx, NY in 2000 and MSN in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist track, WCSU in 2010.

Practicing as a Registered Nurse since 1996 within the areas of home health nursing, community nursing, long term care, medical-surgical and perioperative nursing. Maintains certification and professional practice as a Certified Nurse Operating Room Nurse since 2000.  Eileen was certified by ANCC as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult Health in December 2010.

Assistant Professor Nancy Carlson, MSN, RN, APRN-BC

Associate Professor Dr. Karen Crouse, Ed.D, APRN, FNP-BC, CEN

Dr. Crouse joined the faculty in fall 2002. Dr. Crouse received an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford, a senior professional certificate in Health Care Management from the University of New Haven,  a MS in Nursing from Sacred Heart University and a BSN from St. Anselm College.  In 2005, she was honored by Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Associate Professor Dr. Mary Ellen Doherty, Ph.D, RN, CNM

Dr. Mary Ellen Doherty, is a graduate of Mount Saint Mary College (B.S. in Nursing), Rutgers University (M.S. in Maternal-Child Nursing), University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery),and the University of Rhode Island (Ph.D.).  Dr. Doherty joined the WCSU faculty in the fall of 2008.  Her areas of expertise are nurse-midwifery, childbirth education, and maternal-newborn nursing. 

Professor E. Patricia Geraci, MA, Ph.D (candidate), ANP-BC

Professor Pat Geraci, received her Baccalaureate degrees in Nursing from PACE University. She completed her MA degree in Teaching Nursing in 1981, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut in the Educational Leadership Dept. in Adult and Vocational Education. In additions to teaching on both the graduate/undergraduate levels, she is professionally practicing as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in pulmonary/internal medicine practice in Fairfield, CT where  she emphasizes health care prevention strategies and management of acute and chronic illnesses.

Assistant Professor Dr. Robin Goodrich, Ed.D, MS, RNC-NIC

Ms. Robin S. Goodrich joined WCSU faculty since the spring 2007.  She received her diploma from Arnot-Ogden Hospital School of Nursing(1987), BSN from the University of Phoenix (2004) and MSN from WCSU (2007).  Ms. Goodrich has been a practicing registered nurse for 20 years in medical-surgical, maternal-child, and neonatal intensive care nursing.  She maintains professional practice in level III neonatal intensive care.

Professor Dr. Laurel Halloran, Ph.D, APRN

Dr. Laurel Halloran, who is a Professor of Nursing, has been on the faculty at WCSU since 1986. She received her BSN from Georgetown University, MSN from Hunter College of City University of New York, PhD from the University of Connecticut and a Post Masters Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Pace University.  She maintains an active clinical practice in Pulmonology and Family Practice.

Assistant Professor Jeanette Lupinacci, MS, BSN, CRRN

Professor Lupinacci received her BSN from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Ct.  She received her M.S. focusing on Medical Surgical Nursing-Clinical Nurse Specialist tract from WCSU.  Currently she is in the final stages for completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford. Prof. Lupinacci joined WestConn Nursing faculty in 2005.

Prof. Lupinacci has been a registered nurse practicing medical surgical nursing for 15 years.

Assistant Professor Bozena Padykula, PMHNP-BC,APRN,MSN,RN,AHN-BC

Mrs. Padykula is a new member of WCSU faculty starting the fall of 2010. For seven years she was a member of UCONN School of Nursing. She received her ADN from Capital Community College of Hartford(1997); BS from the Charter Oak State College, New Britain(2001); MSN from University of Hartford, West Hartford(2003); and PMC from St. Joseph College, West Hartford (2009) in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner track. 

Mrs. Padykula has been a practicing registered nurse for 12 years in the areas of psychiatric, geriatric-medical/psychiatric, medical-surgical nursing.

Assistant Professor Dr. Joan Palladino, Ed.D, RN, CCRN

Ms.  Joan Palladino joins the WCSU staff in the Fall 2004. Ms. Palladino has been a nurse for 24 years working primarily in critical care. She earned her BSN from St. Joseph College in 1980, and an MSN in nursing education from the University of Hartford in 2004.  Dr. Palladino graduated from the University of Hartford's Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program in May 2009. 

Professor Dr. Barbara Piscopo, Ed.D, RN

Barbara Piscopo joined the faculty of the Department of Nursing at Western Connecticut State University in 1985.  She holds a doctorate in Nursing Education from Teachers College Columbia University.  Dr. Piscopo’s clinical focus is maternal-newborn health.  She has served as Department Chair and Undergraduate Program Coordinator.   Currently she serves as the RN-BS Program Coordinator. 

Professor Dr. Catherine Napoli Rice, Ed.D, RN, BSN, MA

Since joining the department in 1997, Catherine Napoli Rice RN, Ed.D. , has taught a variety of courses at the undergraduate level, graduate level, and serves as a thesis advisor.  Dr. Rice, is a graduate of Rockland Community College (A.A.S), Hunter College (B.S.N), New York University (M.S in Nursing Education and Nursing Administration), and the University of Bridgeport (Ed.D.). 

Professor Mary Ann Riley, MA, M.Ed, CRNI

Ms. Mary Ann Riley,  has been a full time member of WestConn’s Nursing Dept. since 1977.  Prior to coming to WestConn she taught at Pace University and Dutchess Community College. She received a BSN from SUNY- Plattsburgh, MA and M.Ed. degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University. Professor Riley serves as a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Infusion Therapy.

Assistant Professor Monica Sousa, ACNS-BC, MSN, APRN

Ms. Monica Sousa recently joined the WCSU Nursing Department faculty as a full-time Assistant Professor of Nursing.  She had previous experience as Adjunct Professor for the Nursing Department.   She received her BSN and a minor in Psychology from Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in 2004, and MSN from WCSU in January of 2010 in the Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator track. 

Assistant Professor Kathleen Thelian, PMH-NP-BC, PMH-CHS-BC,PH/CMN-CNS-BC

Assistant Professor Linda Warren, RN, MSN, CCRN

Ms. Linda Warren has been a member of the WCSU faculty since the Fall 2008.   She received her diploma from Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in 1973 and earned her BSN from Southern Connecticut State University in 2004 and an MSN in nursing education from the University of Hartford in May 2008. Ms. Warren has been a nurse for 37 years working primarily in the critical care area.