Briefly

School earns top ranking on Planetary Health Report Card

The University of Minnesota School of Nursing received an A on the 2025 Planetary Health Report Card, ranking No. 1 of nursing schools that were graded. The Planetary Health Report Card is a metric-based tool for evaluating and improving planetary health content in health professional schools. Student-led, faculty-mentored teams complete the report card, identifying opportunities for improvement.  The Planetary Health Report Card noted the School of Nursing’s excellence in curriculum.

8 faculty receive promotions

The Board of Regents approved the promotion of eight School of Nursing faculty at a meeting in May.

Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, RN, NI-BC, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN, Cynthia Bradley, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, ANEF, Carrie Neerland, PhD, APRN, CNM, FACNM, and Dereck Salisbury, PhD, FAACVPR, were promoted to associate professor with tenure. Carol Flaten, DNP, RN, PHN, and Misty Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN, were promoted to clinical professor. Stephanie Gingerich, DNP, RN, CPN, and Mary DeGrote Goering, PhD, RN-BC, were promoted to clinical associate professor.

School well represented on Planetary Health Alliance North American Hub

The Planetary Health Alliance launched a North American Hub for Canada and the United States. Of the 10 director roles, four of them are represented by School of Nursing alumni, students and faculty. Clinical Assistant Professor Angelica Walton, DNP, RN, was named research and scholarship director. BSN student Yvonne Mongare was named youth director. Alum Kent Boyd, DNP, RN, was named co-strategic director, and alum Johannah Bjorgaard, DNP, RN, PHN, CSSBB, was named operations director.

School names 3 faculty to leadership positions

Clinical Assistant Professor Lauren Peterson, DNP, MPH, APRN, PNP-PC, was appointed as the director of the DNP program. Clinical Assistant Professor Monica Streater, DNP, APRN, CNM, was appointed as the director of the prelicensure program. Clinical Associate Professor Jenna Herman, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, was appointed as the specialty coordinator of the family nurse practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

Conlon joins school as clinical associate professor

Patricia Conlon, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC, PNP-BC, joined the school as a clinical associate professor, primarily located in Rochester. She served as an assistant professor of nursing at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and a pediatric clinical nurse specialist at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Dublin City University, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from St. Catherine University.

Grasswick joins school as grants, contracts professional

Jennifer Grasswick joined the Office of Nursing Research & Scholarship as a grants and contracts professional. She previously served as an administrative associate at the University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry. She earned a master’s degree in strategic communications from the University of Minnesota, a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from St. Cloud State, and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and business economics from the University of Minnesota - Morris.