Susan J. Zahner, DrPH, RN, FNAP, FAAN

Biography

DrPH, University of California, Berkeley, Health Policy & Management, 2000
MPH, University of Minnesota; Public Health Nursing, 1983
BS, University of Iowa; Nursing, 1977

Dr. Zahner stepped into the Interim Dean role in December 2025. As Interim Dean, Dr. Zahner is providing leadership and administrative oversight for all matters affecting the School of Nursing. Dr. Zahner came to this interim role after 24 years on the faculty of the School of Nursing, including 10 years as an Associate Dean. She has more than 45 years of professional experience in public health, nursing, and academic leadership.

Dr. Zahner conducted research that aimed to improve public health practice by advancing new public health workforce development programs developed in collaboration with public health practitioners. This research led to the development of the New to Public Health Residency Program, now a national program, and to statewide projects including the Wisconsin Public Health Research Network and the Linking Education and Practice for Excellence in Public Health Nursing.  As a faculty member, Dr. Zahner taught community health nursing and program planning, evaluation, and quality improvement and has mentored PhD, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and master’s students in nursing and public health programs.  She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and a Distinguished Fellow in the National Academies of Practice (Nursing).  

As Interim Dean, Dr. Zahner provides leadership and administrative oversight for all matters affecting the School of Nursing. 

Research focus areas

Health Systems: Data Science, Design, & Implementation Science

• Develop and evaluate professional development programming to enhance public health practice.
• Assess public health practice research needs and foster collaborations for evidence-based practice innovations.
• Describe and disseminate data on Wisconsin registered nurse workforce.