The Marquette College of Nursing has named Associate Professor Dr. Jennifer Ohlendorf as the interim director of its Ph.D. program. Ohlendorf replaces Dr. Kristina Thomas Dreifuerst, who will take the job of senior associate dean for academics at Vanderbilt University at the end of July.
Ohlendorf has been a member of the College of Nursing’s faculty since 2006. Her research involves development of interventions to support self-management of preventive health behaviors during the perinatal period and also involves art-based storytelling to understand embodiment of trauma.
“Our nursing Ph.D. program has prepared nurse-researchers for two decades to improve healthcare systems, community wellness, and nursing education itself,” said Ohlendorf. “I’m proud to serve the College of Nursing in this new role, developing the next generation of innovative, justice-oriented nurse-researchers who are ready to shepherd our discipline into an exciting future.
“Dr. Ohlendorf has exhibited a consistent dedication to her students and to serving the nursing profession,” says Dr. Jill Guttormson, dean of the College of Nursing. “Her record as a practitioner, educator and researcher is incredibly strong and I’m excited to see the Ph.D. program grow under her stewardship.”
Ohlendorf’s spent her early practice career at Ascension Columbia-St. Mary’s, where she served in many roles including charge nurse, childbirth educator and perinatal bereavement support. For the past nine years, Ohlendorf practiced part-time in the Translational Research Unit at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Ohlendorf is a member of both the Midwest Nurses Research Society and the Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care.
Marquette Nursing’s PhD program prepares nurse-researchers to make significant contributions to the profession’s body of knowledge. A curriculum that includes nursing science, research and statistics, education and dissertation work ensures graduates are well-prepared to lead in both scholarship and instruction after graduating. U.S. News and World Report ranked Marquette’s nursing Ph.D. program 80th in the country.
