New Appointments

Wendy Dahl joined the school as an executive office and administrative specialist in the Dean’s Office. She was previously employed at Affinity Plus, Federal Credit Union and Carlson Companies in corporate interior design. She earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
 

Megan Kakela, DNP, APRN, CRNA, APRN, joined the school as the assistant program administrator of the Doctor of Nursing Practice nurse anesthesia specialty. She has served as a CRNA at University of Minnesota hospitals since 2016. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in nurse anesthesia in 2013 from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the College of St. Scholastica.

Jennie Robinson Kloos joined the school as the inaugural Chief of Staff to the Dean. She brings more than 16 years of experience from her most recent position as assistant dean for Institutional Research, Planning, and Accreditation at St. Catherine University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Grinnell College, a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in educational policy and administration for higher education from the University of Minnesota.

Matt Opitz joined the school as a program and project specialist in the Office of the Dean, with specific responsibilities within the Development/Alumni Relations and the Strategic Communications teams.  Opitz comes with experience in the private sector as well as non-profit through the Minnesota Opera. He earned bachelor’s degrees in speech communication and voice from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in voice from Indiana University. 

Lauren Petersen, DNP, MPH, APRN, CPNP-PC, joined the school as a clinical assistant professor. She is a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner and has previously worked with the school as a teaching specialist. Her scholarship interests include improving provider-based strategies for increasing outpatient immunization rates in pediatric practice. She earned Master of Nursing, Master in Public Health and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees at the University of Minnesota. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.