Faculty Research

Research Experience

Robin Arends, DNP, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, FAANP, has experience with quality Improvement and implementation science. She has been a part of interprofessional teams that implement and evaluate best practices and explore new healthcare approaches to improve the health of patient populations and the delivery of healthcare. 

Interests

• Mental health
• Telehealth
• Chronic disease management/prevention/health promotion
• Military health
• Complementary medicine
• Advocacy/legislation, advanced practice issues, leadership

Research Experience

Brittany Brennan, Ph.D., RN, CHSE, CNE has experience with multiple methods of research including quantitative methods, instrument testing, systematic review protocol development and implementation, descriptive qualitative research and quality improvement conducted in the areas of simulation, nursing education and rural health nursing. 

Interests

• Nursing education
• Simulation
• Rural nursing/health

Research Experience

Robin Brown, Ph.D., RN, CNE is a quantitative researcher with experience in multiple regression analysis.

Interests

• Organizational change
• Stress and coping
• Rural health
• Health promotion
• Nursing education

Research Experience

Dannica Callies, DNP, CNP, FNP-C, CNE has experience in quality improvement projects, including serving as a chair or co-chair for Doctor of Nursing Practice projects and has worked on research teams focused on nursing and healthcare. 

Interests

• Preventative healthcare
• Nurse practitioner education and clinical practice
• Rural healthcare
• Scholarship of teaching and learning
• Quality improvement

Research Experience

Nicole Carlson, Ph.D., RN has experience advanced qualitative (Hermeneutic phenomenology) research, specifically in the long-term care setting.

Interests

• Gerontology
• Nursing education
• Rural nursing and rural health

Research Experience

Karin Emery, Ph.D., RN has experience in quantitative research and healthcare quality improvement. She has served on Ph.D. and DNP student committees.

Interests

• Administration and leadership
• Biobehavioral research
• Quality of life, resilience, stress
• Diabetes and chronic disease management
• Student success

Research Experience

Theresa Garren-Grubbs, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNL has experience with qualitative and mixed methods. She has served as a co-chair for DNP committees and as a committee member for Ph.D. students. 

Interests

• Rural health
• Social determinants of health
• Palliative care
• Advance care planning

Research Experience

Lori Hendrickx, RN, Ed.D., CCRN, CNL focuses on quantitative and mixed methods for research projects.

Interests

• Rural health
• Nursing education
• Emergency and critical care

Research Experience

Mary Isaacson, Ph.D., RN, RHNC, CHPN®, FPCN conducts multi-methods research with expertise in community-based participatory (CBPR), advanced qualitative methods (e.g., Hermeneutic phenomenology, thematic analysis) and quantitative methods in instrument development and testing.

Interests

• Palliative and end-of-life care/communication
• American Indian health disparities
• Health equity and structural determinants of health
• Culturally responsive care, diversity
• Rural health inequities

Research Experience

Michelle Lichtenberg, Ph.D., RN focuses on quantitative methods for research projects. She has experience in curriculum development and evaluation.

Interests

• Clinical judgment development among nursing students
• Nursing student success
• Transition to practice/practice readiness 

Research Experience

Sarah Mollman, Ph.D., RN, CHPN®, CNE® has experience in multiple research methods. Thematic analysis and formative evaluation to develop a clinical intervention entails her qualitative experience. Quantitative methodology experience includes instrument development and evaluation, network/coalition evaluation and intervention testing.

Interests

• Educational research
• Palliative and end-of-life care
• Oncology
• Rural health and access

Research Experience

Lea Niederbaumer, DNP, FNP, CNP-BC has experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods with a focus on diabetes quality improvement and school and community-based health initiatives. 

Interests

• Women’s health
• School health
• Access to care
• Quality improvement

Research Experience

Christina Plemmons, Ph.D., RN, MEDSURGE-BC, CNE is a quantitative researcher who enjoys working with research teams and supporting Ph.D. and DNP students in service as a chair, co-chair or member of student committees.

Interests

• Nursing education
• Clinical academic partnerships
• Clinical self-efficacy
• Clinical teamwork

Research Experience

Brandi Pravecek, DNP, CNP, FNP-BC has experience in quality improvement projects, implementation science and program planning and evaluation. She has been a member of interprofessional teams performing quantitative studies related to palliative care.

Interests

• Palliative and end-of-life care
• Rural health
• Homeless populations
• Primary care

Research Experience

Danielle Schievelbein, Ph.D., RN has experience in quantitative research methods, qualitative (case study) and mixed methods. She also has experience with quality improvement projects. She has served on DNP and Ph.D. student committees. 

Interests

• Chronic Disease Management
• Rural Nursing/Health
• Nursing Education
• Simulation
• Preventative Healthcare

Research Experience

Alyssa Zweifel, Ph.D., RN, CHSE is an innovative researcher that focuses on quantitative and mixed methods research to further best practices through interprofessional and simulation-based learning approaches.  

Interests

• Healthcare simulation
• Interprofessional education
• Team-based learning
• Ortho/Neuro clinical research