Patricia Cumella

Patricia J. Cumella, Department of Nursing

Patricia J. Cumella, Associate Professor joined the Western Connecticut faculty in January 2016. Patricia graduated from the State University of NY, Downstate Medical Center and received her Master’s in Science from Adelphi University School of Nursing. In December 2019 Patricia earned her doctorate in Nursing Education at Western Connecticut State University. She holds certification in both Medical-Surgical Nursing from the Association of Medical Surgical Nurses, and Certified Nurse Educator from the National League of Nursing.

For the past six years, Dr. Cumella have taught sophomore nursing students Fundamentals of Nursing and Drugs and Diagnostics. She also supervises upper-level students in the Community Nursing clinical setting. Dr. Cumella’s clinical areas of expertise include community and medical-surgical nursing.

She has held several nursing classrooms, clinical and leadership positions throughout her career including acute care nursing administration and Assistant Director of Nursing appointments.

Dr, Cumella was student voted Educator of the Year, School of Professional Studies, May 2019. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau since 1985 and has held several board positions. Professor Cumella is active in university governance and have served as the faculty elected Senator for The School of Professional Studies for the past three years. Dr. Cumella is actively involved with the community and is an active Certified Emergency Response Team member.

Dr. Cumella’s dissertation investigated Student and Faculty Perceptions of Incivility in Online Nursing Education. In Fall 2020, Dr. Cumella completed a qualitative research study on student’s perception of learning during COVID vaccine clinics. Dr. Cumella’s research activities are ongoing and include methods to facilitate student learning and NCLEX test preparation.