April 29, 2010
Patricia McMullen has been named dean of Catholic University's School of Nursing, effective May 17, Very Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M., university president, announced today.McMullen, associate professor, joined CUA in 2003 as associate dean for academic affairs in the nursing school. Since 2008, she also has served as associate provost for academic administration."As CUA's School of Nursing looks toward its 75th anniversary this fall, I am very pleased to announce my appointment of Dr. Patricia McMullen as academic dean," Father O'Connell said. "Dr. McMullen is an effective administrator and an impressive scholar, deeply committed to the university's mission."McMullen has a Ph.D. in nursing from CUA and a law degree from the University of Baltimore. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees and an OB/GYN nurse practitioner certificate from the University of Maryland School of Nursing.Previously, she was chair of the Department of Nurse Practitioner and acting associate dean at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Graduate School in Bethesda, Md. She also was a member of the nursing faculty at the University of Maryland.Her research interests include women's health, work-related injuries and the law. She has researched patient satisfaction with prenatal-care services in the United States, Spain and Germany. She also has served as an expert witness on personal-injury and medical and nursing malpractice cases. More recently, McMullen has been working with colleagues in the CUA schools of engineering and nursing and the R. Adams Cowley Shock-Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. They are using technology to help patients transition to home after being hospitalized."Dr. McMullen brings strong administrative experience, both at the school and university levels, an accomplished research record, and a commitment to student success," CUA Provost James Brennan said. "I'm so pleased that she has agreed to take on this responsibility."While at CUA, McMullen also has been a leader in the Women's Faculty Collaborative."She brings wonderful skills, great competence and a caring heart to her position and profession," Father O'Connell said. "I have every confidence that she will continue the excellence that has long been the School of Nursing's history and tradition. I wish her and the faculty every blessing and success."Nalini Jairath, current nursing school dean, will take a sabbatical before returning to CUA's full-time faculty. "I am deeply grateful to Nalini Jairath as she concludes her service as dean," Father O'Connell said. "She has introduced some very important innovations to the School of Nursing during her tenure and has been a diligent and generous leader of the school's faculty. We all look forward to her continued contributions to the high academic standards of the school."