RN to BSN Faculty & Staff
All RN to BSN courses are taught by Villanova University's noted College of Nursing faculty, many of whom aren't simply outstanding educators, but are also highly credentialed practicing nurses as well. As program instructors, these nursing professionals bring the benefits of their many years of real-world experience and expertise to you through the online classroom.
Many of Villanova's RN to BSN online instructors have conducted research in a variety of areas of nursing, and are extensively published by some of the top industry journals in the world, including American Journal of Nursing. Read more about their considerable accomplishments below.
Frances Amorim | Angelina Arcamone | Patricia K. Bradley | Marcia Costello | Louise Fitzpatrick | Marita Frain | Patricia Haynor | Tamara Kear | Elizabeth K. Keech | M. Frances Keen | Maryanne V. Lieb | Bette Mariani | Ruth McDermott-Levy | Joanna McGrath | Karen McKenna | Rose O'Driscoll | Barbara Ott | Lesley A. Perry | Elizabeth Petit de Mange | Mary Pickett | Sara J. Reeder | Ann A. Scheve | Nancy Sharts-Hopko | Suzanne Smeltzer | Carol Toussie Weingarten | Joyce S. Willens
Frances Amorim, MSN, RN, CCE
Frances Amorin serves dual roles as Coordinator for Clinical Education and Clinical Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing.
Ms. Amorin received her BSN from Thomas Jefferson University's School of Nursing and her MSN in Perinatal Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She also possesses childbirth educator, CITI and FEMA disaster certifications.
Angelina Arcamone, PhD, RN, CCE
Angelina Arcamone is Assistant Dean and Director of the Villanova University College of Nursing undergraduate program. As Clinical Assistant Professor and certified childbirth educator, she teaches nursing management of childbearing families, nursing research and nursing education.
Dr. Arcamone's educational background includes a BSN and MSN from Villanova University and a PhD from Widener University.
Patricia K. Bradley, PhD, RN, FAAN
Patricia K. Bradley holds expertise in psychiatric mental health nursing as well as the psycho-social aspects of breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship among African-American women. She served as a psychiatric consultation liaison nurse at the Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia and Clinical Lecturer and Teaching Assistant for the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
Dr. Bradley holds a BSN from Temple University and received her MS and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.
Marcia Costello, PhD, RD, LDN
Marcia Costello is a registered dietitian with expertise in weight management, health promotion and eating disorders. In addition to her faculty position at Villanova University she also serves as a consultant with the University Counseling Center providing counseling to students with eating disorders.
Dr. Costello holds a BS in nutrition from the University of Rhode Island, and received her MS in nutrition from Framingham State College and her PhD in health education from Temple University.
Louise Fitzpatrick, EdD, RN, FAAN
Louise Fitzpatrick is the Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor of Nursing at Villanova University's College of Nursing. Her areas of instruction include curriculum development and trends in nursing and nursing education.
Dr. Fitzpatrick holds an MA in Administration of Public Health Nursing Services and an EdD in Curriculum and Teaching in Nursing Education, both from Columbia University. She also earned a certification in Educational Management from Harvard University.
Marita Frain, EdM, RN
Marita Frain, Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing, teaches subjects including adult health and disability, community health promotion and healthcare informatics. Among her other health-related interests are professional nursing competencies, spiritual dimensions of healthcare and health promotion strategies.
Ms. Frain received her BSN from Villanova University and her EdM from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Patricia Haynor, PhD, RN, NHA
Patricia Haynor is an Associate Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing and serves as Coordinator for the BSN MSN Gateway Program for Registered Nurses. Courses she teaches include Health Care Financing, Leadership Strategies in Nursing and Workforce Management. She holds an Eden Alternative Associate certification, a program that involves long-term care of the aged.
Dr. Haynor earned her BSN from Fairleigh-Dickinson University, an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from Widener University.
Tamara Kear, PhD, RN, CNN
Tamara Kear is an Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing and teaches Adult Health, Global Health Nursing Experiences and Practicum in Nursing Management and Leadership. Prior to her current position, she served as coordinator for Gwyneed-Mercy College's Clinical Nursing Facility, Clinical Editor for Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins and Renal Clinical Nurse Specialist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Dr. Kear holds an ADN and a BSN from Gwynedd-Mercy College, an MSN from Thomas Jefferson University and a PhD from Villanova University.
Elizabeth K. Keech, PhD, RN
Elizabeth K. Keech is an Assistant Professor for the College of Nursing at Villanova University, instructing in areas including gerontology, home health care and health promotion. Many of her interest areas involve gerontology, including a current study on the effect of live music concerts on independent living in the elderly.
Dr. Keech received her BNS from Villanova University and an MA in Social Gerontology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her MSN and PhD were both also completed at the University of Pennsylvania.
M. Frances Keen, DNSc, RN
M. Frances Keen is an Associate Professor at Villanova University and Interim Director for the Center for Public and Global Health. Her professional interests include adult medical-surgical nursing, legal issues in nursing and international nursing and healthcare.
Dr. Keen received both her BS in Nursing and MSN from the University of Maryland and her DNSc from the Catholic University of America.
Maryanne V. Lieb, MSN, RN
Maryann V. Lieb is Coordinator of the BSNExpress Program and Clinical Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing. Her areas of instruction include adult medical-surgical nursing and fundamentals in nursing. She takes an active interest in caring for the homeless, poor and working poor.
Ms. Lieb received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Neumann College and her Master of Science in Nursing from Villanova University.
Bette Mariani, PhD, RN
Bette Mariani is an Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing. She teaches subjects including adult health, leadership and health promotion. She has been awarded a PHENSA Grant for her proposal, The Effect of Structured Debriefing on Students' Clinical Judgment Abilities in Simulation.
Dr. Mariani received her BSN from Villanova University, holds an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her PhD from Widener University.
Ruth McDermott-Levy, PhD, RN
Ruth McDermott-Levy serves as Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing. She currently teaches several subjects including community and public health nursing, adult health nursing, physical assessment, as well as health promotion, home care and adult health clinics.
Dr. McDermott holds a BSN from Wilkes University and an MSN and PhD from Villanova University. She is now pursuing an MPH from the University of Massachusetts.
Joanna McGrath, MSN, RN
Joanna McGrath is Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor for the College of Nursing at Villanova University. She currently teaches Obstetrical Nursing, Nursing Fundamentals and a health assessment lab. Her professional areas of interest include maternal-child health, teaching nursing to second degree adults and simulation in teaching obstetrical nursing to undergraduate students.
Ms. McGrath earned her BSN from Thomas Jefferson University and an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania.
Karen McKenna, MSN, RN
Karen McKenna is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing. The courses she teaches include Nursing Care of Adults, Practicum in Nursing Care of Adults, Nursing and Health Promotion and Practicum in Nursing and Health Promotion. In addition to teaching, Ms. McKenna studies issues involving public health, international experience and underserved populations.
Ms. McKenna holds a BSN and an MSN, both of which she earned at Villanova University.
Rose O'Driscoll, MSN, RN
Rose O'Driscoll is the Assistant Dean for Administration and Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing. She teaches leadership and management and has professional interest in mentoring, international nursing and student nursing organizations.
Ms. O'Driscoll holds a BSN from Villanova University and an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania.
Barbara Ott, PhD, RN
Barbara Ott is an Associate Professor at Villanova's College of Nursing and teaches Clinical Ethics: Theory and Practice and Critical Care Nursing. When not teaching, she pursues interests in ethical decision-making in healthcare, healthcare issues in death and dying and cultural and religious diversity in healthcare.
Dr. Ott earned a BSN from California State College, her MSN from the Catholic University of America and a PhD from Texas Woman's University.
Lesley A. Perry, PhD, RN
Lesley A. Perry is Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing at Villanova University. Her areas of teaching include professional issues in nursing and nursing education. She has professional interest in related areas including parental coping in parents of children with chronic illness and higher education in nursing.
Dr. Perry earned her BS in Nursing at Roberts Wesleyan College, an MS in Nursing from Boston University and her PhD from the University of Maryland.
Elizabeth Petit de Mange, PhD, MSN, NP-C, RN
Elizabeth Petit de Mange, Assistant Professor at Villanova University's College of Nursing, teaches community health, physical assessment, nursing process and pediatrics. Among her professional interests are American Indian and Alaska Native health, cultural competency, maternal-child health and the healthcare needs of the homeless.
Dr. Petit de Mange holds a BSN from Thomas Jefferson University, an MSN from Widener University and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Colorado. She has also earned a Post Masters Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Wilmington University.
Mary Pickett, PhD, RN
Mary Pickett, Associate Professor at the Villanova University College of Nursing, has active, ongoing interests in symptom management, palliative care, grief and loss, physical activity after cancer diagnosis and related areas. Her teaching curriculum includes community health nursing, medical surgical nursing, oncology nursing and care of adults.
Dr. Pickett holds a BSN from Salve Regina University, an MSN from Saint Louis University and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.
Sara J. Reeder, PhD, RN
Associate Professor Sara J. Reeder teaches Critique and Design of Nursing Research as well as Advanced Pathophysiology for the College of Nursing at Villanova University. In addition to her courses, she pursues studies in cardiovascular disease in women and barriers to exercise in African-American women.
Dr. Reeder earned her BSN at Howard University, and her MSN and PhD from the University of Maryland.
Ann A. Scheve, MS, RN
Ms. Scheve is adjunct clinical faculty at Villanova College of Nursing. She has also taught online courses at Drexel University School of Nursing and University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has worked with older adults across the healthcare continuum for over 30 years. Her areas of interest include health promotion for older adults, reducing the barriers that prevent older adults from attaining their health goals and the concept of resiliency in aging. She has numerous published articles to her credit.
Ms. Scheve earned her undergraduate degree from Villanova University College of Nursing and her Master's Degree in Gerontological Nursing from Georgetown University.
Nancy Sharts-Hopko, PhD, RN, FAAN
Nancy Sharts-Hopko is a Professor and Director of the Doctoral Program of Nursing at Villanova University. She has taught undergraduate and graduate nursing students since 1978 and served on two U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committees. In 1990, Dr. Sharts-Hopko was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing. She has published research in various medical book and periodicals covering various women's health issues.
Dr. Sharts-Hopko holds a BSN from Indiana University, an MA from New York University and a PhD from New York University.
Suzanne Smeltzer, EdD, RN, FAAN
Suzanne Smeltzer is an internationally known scholar, researcher and author. As the College of Nursing's Director of the Center for Nursing Research, Dr. Smeltzer dedicates her time to making health promotion practices and services acceptable and accessible to the physically challenged. As a member of several task forces, she helps to educate healthcare providers about the healthcare of people with disabilities.
Prior to her time at Villanova University, Dr. Smeltzer served as Associate Professor and Nurse Researcher at Thomas Jefferson University and Assistant Professor at Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey.
Dr. Smeltzer received her BSN from St. Louis University, her MS from Texas Woman's University and an EdD from the University of Pennsylvania.
Carol Toussie Weingarten, PhD, RN, ANEF
Carol Toussie Weingarten teaches professional nursing, parent-child nursing, independent studies in nursing and more as an Associate Professor at Villanova University. She also serves as an advisor for the Villanova University Chapter of the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Weingarten's educational credentials include an MSN from the New York Medical College Graduate School of Nursing, an MA from New York University's Division of Nursing and a PhD from New York University.
Joyce S. Willens, PhD, RN, BC
Joyce S. Willens is an Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing and teaches Foundations in Nursing and Health, Pain Management and Essentials of Nursing Practice. In addition to her class instruction, Dr. Willens contributes to various medical journals and coauthored several textbooks on subjects covering pain management, CPR and medical text reviews.
Dr. Willens holds a BSN from Villanova University, an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from the University of Maryland. In addition, she has certifications in life support and end of life nursing.
