The College of Nursing has made several changes to its senior staff ahead of the 2024-25 academic year.
Professor Dr. Karen Robinson has accepted the permanent assistant dean for graduate programs position after filling the role in an interim capacity. Robinson graduated from Marquette with her bachelor’s, master’s (nurse-midwifery), and doctorate degrees. Her program of research focuses on racial disparities in maternal-child health. In addition to her research work, Robinson has taught classes ranging from the undergraduate introductory Nursing and Health in the Jesuit Tradition course to graduate-level offerings such as Advanced Concepts in Antepartum Management. She also serves on various university committees.
Associate Professor Dr. Abiola Keller will serve as interim associate dean for research, a role previously occupied by Professor Dr. Marilyn Frenn. A graduate of Marquette University College of Health Sciences and UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health, Keller has conducted extensive research into reducing racial and ethnic disparities and improving health outcomes, particularly for African American women. She has been with Marquette for more than 10 years. Keller is also a faculty advisory committee member in the Institute for Women’s Leadership, a member of the board of directors at Meta House and chair of the healthy community working team for Near West Side Partners.
Dr. Jay Tumulak has accepted the role of program director for the Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program, a role previously filled by Dr. Lisa Thiemann. Before assuming his new role, Tumulak was the program’s first associate director, accepting the job in 2018. After completing his doctorate degree from Vanderbilt University in 2012, Tumulak has been heavily involved in the administrative aspects of nurse anesthesia education, and is currently a chair reviewer with the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. He has been involved in nurse anesthesia education for 16 years. Tumulak wishes to thank the program’s clinical partners and remains committed to ensuring the high quality of the program and rigorous standards for patient safety.
