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Faculty Bios

Deborah DunnInterim Dean

Ed.D., Eastern Michigan University

Post Master's Certificate, University of Michigan

MSN, Wayne State University

BSN, Eastern Michigan University

ddunn@mblayst.com 

734-432-5311

Deborah Dunn

Dr. Deborah Dunn currently serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Administration at Madonna University. She is also serving as Interim Dean of the College of Nursing and Health. Previously serving as dean of the Graduate School, director of the Center for Research, for 8 years prior to becoming provost. She has also served as interim dean of the School of Business. Prior to her appointment as dean of the graduate school in 2013, Dunn served in Madonna’s College of Nursing and Health as director of the Nurse Practitioner Program, and nursing faculty member for more than 20 years. She taught in the Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice and BSN programs. Dunn also led several curricular revisions including the revision of the nurse practitioner curriculum to adult-gerontology and developed a dual track in advanced hospice and palliative care. A certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), certified Gerontological Specialist, and Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Dunn has more than 20 years of clinical work experience as a GNP.

She holds an Ed.D. from Eastern Michigan University, Post-Masters Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Certificate from University of Michigan, MSN – Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist with a minor in nursing education from Wayne State University and BSN from Eastern Michigan University.

Currently, Dunn serves as the Director of the Leadership Institute for GAPNA. She is a Past President of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA). Prior national positions include board liaison to the Historical committee, and Communications committee, Director-at-Large, Chair of the GAPNA Writer’s Group for the Consensus Statement on the APRN Gerontological Specialist; GAPNA Newsletter editor; Chapter President’s committee; Research and Education committees. Dunn is a past recipient of GAPNA’s Excellence in Education Award.

Additionally, she has been active in the GAPNA Great Lakes Chapter since 1999, where she has served in several positions including past Chapter President. She has served on the chapter’s nurse practitioner mentorship night and Annual Conference planning committees. Dunn was honored with the GLC- GAPNA award for Excellence in Leadership in 2014.

Currently she serves as Chair of the Angela Hospice Board of Directors, and member of the Board of Directors Marywood Nursing Care Center, Livonia, Michigan and is a member of the Steering Committee for National Volunteer Community Care Corps.

In 2004 Dunn received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing graduate education End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) award in recognition for her curriculum work in end-of-life-graduate nursing education. She has authored several publications on care of the elderly, leadership, and nursing education. In 2019 Dunn received CRAIN’s honor as 100 Notable Women in Education Leadership in Michigan. In 2021, the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence recognized her as a Distinguished Educator of Gerontological Nursing (NHCGNE).

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Bess BertolisAssistant Professor

MSN & CPNP, Wayne State

BSN, University of Michigan

bbertolis@mblayst.com

Bess Bertolis

Beth Bertolis has been a Clinical Instructor at Madonna University, School of Nursing for 3 years.  She is a University of Michigan alumni frpm 2001.  She obtained her Master Degree from Wayne  State University in 2005, with her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner certification.

She has over 20 years experience working with the Pediatric population with pediatric surgery, pediatric anesthesia, and leadership roles teaching in the clinical setting.

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Faculty Headshot for Stephanie Bonora

Stephanie BonoraAssistant Professor

MSN

AGPCNP-BC

RN

smbonora@mblayst.com

734-432-5471, Room #1400K

Stephanie Bonora

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Faculty Headshot for Denise Brothers

Denise BrothersAssociate Professor, Chair, Population Health and Aging, Graduate Program Director, MPH and MSSLA

Ph.D., Miami University

MS, Miami University

dbrothers@mblayst.com

734-432-5531, Room #1311

Denise Brothers

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Diane M. BurgermeisterProfessor and DNP Program Director

Ph.D.  Wayne State University

MSN,  Wayne State University

BSN,   University of Michigan

dburgermeister@mblayst.com

734-432-5472, Room #1304

Diane M. Burgermeister

Dr. Diane Burgermeister has been a faculty member since 2005. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who specializes in psychiatric mental health nursing. She is also certified as an adult psychoanalyst. She received her doctoral degree in 2003 from Wayne State University and in 2005 completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Michigan in Health Promotion, Risk Reduction.

She was awarded a National Institute of Nursing Research grant to pursue these studies which resulted in a paper widely read worldwide titled, "Childhood Adversity: A Review of Measurement Instruments", and was published by the Journal of Nursing Measurement.

In 2009 she was a member of the task force that helped to develop the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) at Madonna University and helped write the grant that resulted in an award titled, "Impacting Health Disparities by Developing Consortium Model for D.N.P. Programs in Partnership with Health Systems", funded by the Health Resources Service Administration.

Dr. Burgermeister teaches courses in mental health and research methods on the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels in the College of Nursing and Health. She enjoys collaborating with students and faculty on research projects and has been active on many University and Department committees.

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Faculty Headshot for Clarisse Carter

Clarisse Carter Assistant Professor

DNP

PMHNP-BC

FNP-BC

cmcarter@mblayst.com

734-432-5863 Room# 1400E

Clarisse Carter

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Janice CecilDepartment  Chair, Undergraduate  Nursing Program,
Associate Professor

D.N.P., Madonna University

MSN, Eastern Michigan University

BSN, Eastern Michigan University

jcecil@mblayst.com

(734) 432-5492, Room #1113E

Janice Cecil

Janice Cecil is a full-time faculty member in the College of Nursing and Health. She joined the faculty in 2014. Janice is the course facilitator for Health Assessment and Health Promotion. She also team teaches in Holistic Care of Women and Families. Janice maintains clinical practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Her clinical interests include quality and safety. Jan’s teaching interests include active teaching strategies such as simulation as well as mentoring students to ensure their progression through the undergraduate nursing program.

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angela Dobbie

Angela Dobbie Assistant Professor

MSN

AGPCNP-BC

CNE

aldobbie@mblayst.com

734-432-5683, Room #1400F

Angela Dobbie

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Jaclyn FontaineAssistant Professor

MSN, Oakland University

BSN,  Oakland University

jfontaine@mblayst.com

734-432-5864, Room #1113B

Jaclyn Fontaine

Jaclyn Fontaine is a full-time faculty member in the College of Nursing and Health. She joined the faculty in 2013. Jaclyn is the course facilitator for the Introduction to Professional Nursing course and Holistic Care of Women and Families nursing course. She also teaches clinical and facilitates Academic Service-Learning in the surrounding community. Jaclyn also serves as an undergraduate coordinator.  

Jaclyn's interests include striving for active and effective classroom and clinical strategies for nursing students. She is also passionate about Academic Service-Learning, where nursing students engage in service with community partners. Jaclyn earned a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certificate from the National League for Nursing, which exemplifies excellence in nursing education. 

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Rebecca Gibbs professional headshot

Rebecca GibbsAssociate Professor

Ph.D

RN

rgibbs@mblayst.com

734-432-5479 Room#1400H

Rebecca Gibbs

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Chelsea Girolamo

ABSN Program Director,

Assistant Professor

MSN, University of Arkansas, Grantham

MSA, Central Michigan University

BSN, Lake Superior State University

cirolamo@mblayst.com

734-432-5473, Room 1400G

Chelsea Girolamo

 Chelsea is a full time faculty member of the College of Nursing and Health. She currently works in the Emergency Department and has a wide range of clinical experience in pediatrics and emergency nursing. She is certified Pediatric Nurse and a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse.

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Angela GogolowskiAssistant Professor

DNP, Madonna University

MSN, University of Phoenix

MBA, University of Phoenix

abgogolowski@mblayst.com

734-432-5456, Room #1400B

Angela Gogolowski

Angela is a full time faculty member in the College of Nursing and Health. She joined the faculty in 2019. Prior to that she functioned as the Simulation Lab Coordinator and Facilitator. Angela works as a nurse in Labor and Delivery as well.

Teaching interests include incorporating active teaching strategies such as simulation, and the use of simulation to improve student learning/clinical practice. Research interests include the use of simulation in education, health disparities, and psychosocial determinates of health.

Angela is a member of The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses professional organization, and the American Nurses Association. She also serves as a board member of the Kappa Iota chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.

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Vickie GordonAssociate Professor and Campus Health Advisor

Ph.D., Wayne State University

MSN, University of Michigan

BSN, Northern Michigan

vgordon@mblayst.com

734-432-5452 Room# 1411D

Vickie Gordon

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Faculty Headshot for Adlah Hamlan

Adlah HamlanAssistant Professor

P.h.D. University of Jordon

MSN,  Jordan University of Sciences & Technology

ahamlan@mblayst.com

734-432-5481 Room#1400A

Adlah Hamlan

Dr. Hamlan worked with USAID/Jordan Health strengthening project.

She has had some publications on Maternal and child health.

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Jessica HensonAssistant Professor 

D.N.P., Madonna University

RN

jhenson@mblayst.com

734-432-5467, Room #1400I

Jessica Henson

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Aimee KantzlerAssistant -Program Chair

D.N.P., University of Michigan-Flint

MSN,  University of Michigan-Flint

BSN,  Eastern Michigan University

akantzler@mblayst.com

734-432-5476, Room #1411C

Aimee Kantzler

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Claude W. Lauderbach JrAssistant Professor

D.N.P., Wayne State University

MS, University of Michigan

BSN, Creighton University

BS, Albion College

clauderbach@mblayst.com

734-432-5482,  Room #1411E

Claude W. Lauderbach Jr

Claude (Bud) Lauderbach has been a nurse for over forty years and a healthcare executive for more than thirty years with experience in nursing, acute care, ambulatory, behavioral, home health and hospice care settings, physician hospital organizations, and population-based health management. He joined the Madonna University College of Nursing and Health faculty in 2017 where he serves as Assistant Professor and Program Director for MSN Administration, MSN/MBA, and MSN Leadership degree programs. 

In addition to his full-time faculty work, Dr. Lauderbach works on a part-time basis as a family nurse practitioner at Campus Health Center, Wayne State University. He is also active in international health care consulting with Global Health Services Network, Famington, Michigan. 

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Zachary McAllisterAssistant Professor

MSN, Xavier University

BS, Michigan State University

zmcallister@mblayst.com

734-432-2466 Room#1400D

Zachary McAllister

Zachary is serving as the faculty advisor for MUNSA

Member of APNA and NACN-USA

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Jennifer McConnell

Jennifer McConnellAssistant Professor

D.N.P., Michigan State University

FNP,  Michigan State University

jmconnell@mblayst.com

734-432-5468 Room#1400C

Jennifer McConnell

Jennifer really enjoy teaching and love sharing my knowledge and experience with the next generation of nurses!

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Linda J. NikpourAssistant Professor

D.N.P., Waynesburg University

MSN, University of Colorado

BSN, University of Iowa

ADN, North Iowa Area Comm College

AS, Macomb Community College

ljnikpour@mblayst.com

734-432-5453, Room #1313

Linda J. Nikpour

Linda Nikpour is an Assistant Professor in the Health Sciences Program and she has joined the faculty of Madonna University in 2016. She is the course facilitator for Professional Role Development, Internship in Health Sciences 1, Quality and Clinical Transformation, and Safety across Healthcare Settings.

Her research interests are healthcare data analytics working with Big Data for Population Health. She is board-certified in Nursing Informatics and certified as an Associate within The Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

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Faculty Headshot for Jennifer Reynolds

Jennifer ReynoldsNP Program Director, Associate Professor

D.N.P., Wayne State University

BSN, University of Phoenix

ADN, Henry Ford Community College

jlreynolds@mblayst.com

734-432-5484, Room #1411B

Jennifer Reynolds

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Kathleen Rittenhouse

Kathleen RittenhouseAssistant Professor

DNP Madonna University

MSN (Certificate in Teaching), Eastern Michigan University

BS, (Special Education-Hearing Impaired), Eastern Michigan University

ADN, North Harris College

krittenhouse@mblayst.com

734-432-5459, Room #1400J

Kathleen Rittenhouse

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Roxanne RothDepartment Chair, Graduate Nursing Program, 
Assistant Professor

D.N.P., Madonna University

MSN, Eastern Michigan University

BSN, Madonna University

ADN, Henry Ford Community College

rlroth@mblayst.com

734-432-5874, Room, #1113F

Roxanne Roth

Dr. Roxanne Roth is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Health. Dr. Roth joined Madonna’s full time faculty in 2016. She completed her DNP work at Madonna University in 2016 with a focus on communicating with comfort among advance practice nurses.

Prior to joining the Madonna University nursing faculty, she held leadership and clinical positions in the field of hospice and palliative care, outpatient services and oncology. Her recent experience includes system design and implementation of education, research and innovation strategies. Her research and practice interests include advanced illness management, communication skills at end of life, population health, global health, and nursing education.

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Adam SavineAssistant Professor

D.N.P., Madonna University

MBA, Madonna University

MSN, Madonna University

BSN, Oakland University

BS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

acsavine@mblayst.com  

Adam Savine

Dr. Savine is the Assistant Professor and Term 1 Lead for the ABSN program

He also as a leader of the National FirstChoice program with Trinity Health where he manages nurses and builds programming to best support the growing mobile nursing workforce.

Also active in the ANA and American of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) professional organizations.

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Susanna SirianniProfessor 

DNP, Madonna University

ANP-BC, Madonna University

ACNP-BC, Madonna University

CCRN

RN, University of  Windsor

ssirianni@mblayst.com

734-432-5528 Room# 1411A

Susanna Sirianni

Has worked 40 years in Nursing

Her doctoral research focused on improving sepsis care throughout 4 adult hospitals within DMC

Nurse practitioner with the surgical intensive care unit at Sinai Grace Hospital

Professor at Madonna University in the Acute Care NP program

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Kinjal K. TalatiABSN Interim Department Chair,
Assistant Professor

D.N.P., Wayne State University

BSN, Madonna University

AS, Schoolcraft College

kktalati@mblayst.com

Kinjal K. Talati

Dr. Kinjal Talati is the Department Chair for ABSN Program at Madonna University. She is a Madonna alumna and has been with Madonna for  over 5 years. Dr. Talati is a dual certified Nurse Practitioner in the area of Acute Care and Family Practice. She currently works in the Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Talati's teaching philosophy, and beliefs instills the mission and the vision of Madonna University. Her passion for teaching values engagement, respect, humility, and commitment to serving others. 

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Laura Van HornDirector, Nursing Simulation Lab

D.N.P., Madonna University

MSN, Walden University

BSN,  Western Michigan University

lvanhorn@mblayst.com

734-432-5595, Room #1410

Laura Van Horn

Professor Van Horn enjoys working with students to develop their hands-on nursing skills in the lab and in simulation to build confidence and critical thinking skills.

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Support Staff

Anne Merrill headshot photo

Anne MerrillOffice Manager

amerrill@mblayst.com  

734-432-5464, Room #1400

Anne Merrill

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Kristen KalmbachCoordinator for Health Data and Clinical Placement (Undergraduate)

kkalmbach@mblayst.com 

734-432-5779, Room #1400

Kristen Kalmbach

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