Nursing Bachelor's Degree Program (RN to BSN)

Dr. Holle began her nursing career as an LPN. She earned an ADN from the University of Bridgeport (CT), a BSPA in Health Care Administration from St. Joseph’s College (Maine), an MBA from Western New England University, and a DNP with a concentration in executive leadership at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship with the VA in Providence RI. Her areas of interest include healthcare policy and advocacy, promoting academic advancement for nurses, leadership development, disaster nursing, and population health. Her professional experience includes nursing care in acute, post-acute, and homecare settings and executive leadership in acute, post-acute, and managed care settings. She is a volunteer disaster health services nurse for the American Red Cross.

Dr. Stephanie Knutson is an accomplished nurse leader and educator with over 20 years of experience in diverse educational settings advocating for nurses, children and families. As the School Health Administrator and Education Consultant for School Nursing and School Health for the Connecticut State Department of Education, she provides state-wide educational leadership and facilitate policy development in the areas of school health, public/community health, students’ physical and mental health, health education and nursing in general. Her deep understanding of the role of health in individual student achievement, closing the achievement gap and promoting health to maximize educational opportunities, lends to her evaluation of school health services within educational institutions in Connecticut, where she creates and provide opportunities for professional development and enhancement of school nurses, health educators and school health programs.

Kathy Murphy received her nursing degree from St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Waterbury, CT and her Associate Degree in Science from Mattatuck Community College, Her Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Southern Connecticut State University, Master’s Degree in Science in Nursing from the University of Hartford, and her Doctorate in Education from the University of Hartford. Her doctoral thesis was on the Confidence of New Nurse Graduates in the Application of Environmental Health in the Nursing Process.

Dr. Murphy has a vast experience in pediatric nursing, working in pediatrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Waterbury Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, CT, as well as a Public Health Nurse for the City of Waterbury. She has considerable experience in OB nursing having worked in the Family Birthing Center of Waterbury Hospital providing care to new families. She has taught OB clinical experiences for NVCC, Gateway Community College and the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Murphy is a Professor of Nursing at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC), an adjunct clinical instructor for the University of Connecticut and adjunct faculty at the University of Hartford where she teaches a course Environmental Health and Nursing.

Dr. Murphy has several publications on environmental health and climate change and has presented at many conferences on these topics. She is an active member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, co-chair of the Education Workgroup and a member of the Steering Committee. She was the faculty advisor to NVCC”s NSNA chapter and former Connecticut Student Nurses Association advisor.

Ellen Duell is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and ARPN with a background in critical care, nursing education and wound, ostomy and continence nursing. She has experience in process improvement, program development, providing consultation services related to complex patient care management issues and the application of evidence-based, best practices to advance the practice of nursing at the bedside and across the healthcare system. She has been a member of the hospital Institutional Review Board for 10 years. Ellen holds a BSN degree from Saint Anselm College and a MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from University of Connecticut and is certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. She is also adjunct faculty at University of Hartford. She was the 2009 recipient of the Nightingale Award and the 2016 New England Region WOC Nurse of the Year Award.

I have been a nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital since 1988. My nursing career began on an adult renal-medical unit where I worked for 20 years as a preceptor, charge nurse and Assistant Patient Service Manager. During this time I enjoyed the balance of working and raising a family. My career path changed when I was invited to join Operations Support and develop/implement Transforming Patient Care. For the past 7 years I have served as the Patient Service Manager on an adult Progressive Pulmonary unit.

I received a BSN from Salve Regina College and Mount Saint Mary College and a MSN degree from Walden University. I am a graduate of Yale School of Management in Executive Education and hold a Certification in Nursing Leadership and Management through AONE.

Throughout my career, I worked in the Emergency Department, administered home antibiotic therapy, substituted as a school nurse, and was an adjunct professor for Nursing Leadership at Sacred Heart University.

My husband Rich and I have been married for 30 years. Our greatest achievement has been the birth of boy/girl twins, now 23, and a 20 year old daughter. They are pursing pharmacy, social work and Spanish education. We are also extremely fortunate share our home with my 92 year old father.

Kimberly Clear Sandor, MSN, RN, FNP, is the Executive Director of the CT Nurses’ Association and the Connecticut Nurses’ Foundation and is a Senior Training and Technical Assistance Associate with the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness.

As the Association Executive Director, she collaborates with state nursing specialty organizations, state departments, state medical associations, as well as community stakeholders to address nursing and health. She brings to the role, an entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit and her passion for nursing and those nursing serves. Through her work she leverages a deep understanding of policy, nursing and health care to advance health and wellness. Since taking on this role in 2013, the Association has doubled in size and increased their visibility in the state through advocacy and professional development.

By education, she is a Family Nurse Practitioner with 25 years’ experience in child, family and community health. In her work with the Head Start National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness, she brings her deep understanding of the complexities of health and community expertise to support children and families in the Head Start program. In addition, she provides private health consultation and training to early childhood programs. She has worked as a Consultant to the Connecticut State Department of Education on projects related to HIV, Pandemic Flu and Lead Poisoning. She has taught nursing at the baccalaureate and associate degree levels. Kim has a BSN from Boston College and MSN from Columbia University, NY.

Kathy Urban is a Registered Nurse at Trinity Health of New England where she is the Valve Program Coordinator. In this role Kathy coordinates the care of the patient with valvular heart disease; developing, implementing, evaluation, and making revision to all aspects of the Valve Program.

Prior to this, Kathy was the Nurse Educator for the Critical Care Division at Trinity Health of New England, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Job responsibilities include: developing, implementing, evaluation, and revising programs for orientation, in-service training, workshops, and continuing education for Patient Care Services. Direct services and/or consultation to the design, presentation, evaluation, and professional development of programs.

Academically, Kathy is adjunct faculty at the University of Hartford where she teaches Nursing Research in the Bachelors of Science degree program in Nursing. This course focuses on the development of nursing research skills through critique of written research reports for application to nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of research to the knowledge base and practice of nursing.

Kathy is also an advanced cardiac life support(ACLS) instructor and basic life support (BLS) instructor and is certified in Critical Care and Cardiac Surgical care. Kathy received her Bachelors of Science degree at Central Connecticut University, and Master’s degree from the University of Hartford.

Kathy has received the National Patient Safety Fellowship award along with the Kathryn Mullane Nursing Excellence Award. Kathy has spoken at the National Institute of Teaching on “Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia”.

Kathy also enjoys, gardening, hiking; and follows world surfing.

My nursing career began 37 years ago, as a high school graduate from a practical nursing program. I worked as an LPN through the completion of my BSN program. My clinical background includes med-surg, maternal-child, high-risk OB, case-management, disease management, and leadership positions within the health care insurance industry. I have been a nurse educator for over 10 years, teaching in LPN and RN programs.

I received a BSN from Adelphi University in NY, an MSN., Ed from University of Phoenix, and a DNP from Chamberlain University.

A fun-fact: I have been training in martial arts for 17 years and am a 3rd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do karate. I also enjoy cardio-kickboxing and running.

I am a Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with strong interests focused on international development and capacity building within midwifery and women’s health, specifically in low-resource and low-income settings. Nursing began in the emergency department setting for me and after beginning to work and live internationally five years ago, this focus shifted to maternal and child health. I currently work for the HOPE Foundation for Women and Children in Bangladesh, in the role of Midwifery Supervisor for the main hospital and midwife-run birth centers.

I received a BSN from Lakeview College of Nursing, a Masters in Public Health from Indiana University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, completed a two year fellowship in Global Clinical Education through Massachusetts General Hospital, and a one year Advocacy and Policy Fellowship through the March of Dimes.

Working internationally and domestically has cultivated a strong sense of urgency within me around nursing and midwifery involvement in policy and development work, as a means of ensuring that changes occurring reflect the needs and desires of those they will impact. Policy, personal health, and education impact everything we do, every day and we have the opportunity to impact how these areas will transform or hinder the lives of individuals.

Joan K. Graham graduated from Holy Family University, Philadelphia, PA with a BSN. Dr. Graham's nursing experiences are in a variety of medical-surgical areas encompassing ortho/surgical, a medical unit with TB rooms, a neurosurgical/ICU step-down unit, surgical ICU, and a cardiac stepdown unit. She was a head nurse (when nurse managers were called that) as well as a nursing supervisor. While her children were young, she was a dorm parent for 43 senior girls at a private boarding school as well as an on-call nurse for a different private boarding school. Joan found her way into nursing education! Earned a Master's Degree in Nursing Education, MSN, from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA and a Doctor of Nursing Practice, DPN, from American Sentinel University Aurora, CO. Joan has also earned two certifications: Certified Nurse Educator from the National League of Nursing, NLN, and a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator, CHSE. Joan is a simulation specialist in an ADN program in CT where she facilitates simulation for faculty and students.

Dr. Graham and her husband have lived in CT for over 37 years. They have five beautiful children. Three are in healthcare: one being a physician and two are nurses. The other two are in technology and banking sales. Healthcare was not in their futures! She also has the most adorable red toy poodle. She loves to travel and read. Someday, she would love to get back to painting, drawing, and sculpting.

Linda is the RN to BSN Program Coordinator as well as the Director of System Nursing Curricular Operations for the CT Community College Nursing Program, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system.

Linda’s extensive expertise spans 38+ years in the nursing profession from clinical to instructional. She utilizes her real-world knowledge to positively impact the student experience.