Tenure-track faculty
Elise Arsenault Knudsen, PhD, RN, is joining the School of Nursing faculty as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Arsenault Knudsen received her PhD in Nursing from UW-Madison where she also earned a graduate certificate in clinical and community outcomes research. She received her nursing education at The Catholic University of America and her master’s education was attained at UW-Madison. Elise has substantial professional practice experience in general surgery and trauma care and as a clinical nurse specialist. Her research focuses on practice change for hospital nurses. She will be teaching across programs as she also launches her research program.
Katelyn Desorcy-Scherer, PhD, RN, transitions to an Assistant Professor position with the School of Nursing this fall. Dr. Desorcy-Scherer has been with the school as a postdoctoral trainee for the past year. Katelyn received her undergraduate nursing education at UW-Madison and her PhD at the University of Florida-Gainesville. She has professional practice experience in acute medical-surgical and labor and delivery care. Her research focuses on the impact of perinatal exposures to SSRI on maternal and infant health. Katelyn will be teaching across programs as she continues to develop her research program this fall.
Rachel Odes, PhD, RN, joins the faculty as an Assistant Professor this fall. Dr. Odes is a graduate of the MS in nursing program from San Francisco State University. She continued her education at University of California San Francisco where she received her PhD in Nursing and completed a National Clinician Scholars postdoctoral fellowship. Rachel has substantial clinical experience in psychiatric nursing as well as teaching experience in staff development and implementation science. Her research program focuses on workplace violence. She will teach across programs starting this fall as she continues to develop her research program.
Susan Passmore, PhD, joins the faculty as an Assistant Professor this fall. An anthropologist, Dr. Passmore received her BA from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and her MA and PhD in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University. Susan has been with the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health since 2018 in Senior Scientist and Affiliate faculty roles directing the Building Trust and Just Research programs at the Collaborative Center for Health Equity. Susan will be teaching primarily in the graduate programs while building her research program in health disparities and health equity.
Professor of Practice
Teri Pipe, PhD, RN, joined the faculty as our first Professor of Practice in May 2023. Dr. Pipe was educated in nursing at the University of Iowa, received an MSN from the University of Arizona, and her PhD from Pennsylvania State University. Teri has extensive clinical, managerial, teaching, and academic leadership experience. Her focus in her professor of practice role is whole person health and well-being, leadership, mindfulness, and resilience. She holds an affiliate appointment with the Center for Healthy Minds. Teri will be teaching across programs as she continues her research and program development work.
Clinical faculty
Cynthia Georgeson, MSN, RN, NE, joins the faculty as a Clinical Instructor in a 9-month position. Cynthia received her undergraduate nursing education from UW-Oshkosh and an MS in Nursing Education from UW-Oshkosh. Cynthia has substantial clinical experience in pediatrics, triage nursing, ambulatory, and surgical care. She also has teaching experience gained through her instructor role at Blackhawk Technical College. Cynthia will be teaching in the undergraduate program this fall.
Jennifer Klicka, MS, RN, DNP Student, joined the faculty in June as a Clinical Instructor in a 12-month position working with the Accelerated BSN program. Jen received her bachelors in nursing from UW-Oshkosh and her MS in nursing education from Purdue Global University. She is currently a DNP student in ethical leadership at Viterbo University. Jen’s clinical experience is in neurosurgery, trauma, outpatient surgery, and emergency care. She brings experience with teaching in a medical assistant program at Mid-State Technical College. Jen will continue her teaching with undergraduate students this fall.
Jennifer Lange, MS, APNP, FNP-BS, CNE, DNP Student, joins the faculty in a permanent part-time 9-month Clinical Instructor position this fall after teaching in a temporary role in Spring 2023 semester. Jen received her undergraduate degree from Carroll University and her MS in nursing and family nurse practitioner training at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently, she is enrolled as a DNP student at UW-Milwaukee. Jen brings to her role considerable clinical experience in family and occupational health care, urgent care, and acute nursing care in cardiac, oncology, renal, surgical, neurological, and orthopedic units. Jen will teach across programs this fall.
Jessica Leiberg, DNP, ACNP, PhD Student, joined the faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor in a part-time position in January 2023. She will join us in a full-time role this fall, teaching in the DNP program. Dr. Leiberg received her nursing education at Vanderbilt University and has received a nurse educator certificate from Marquette University. She is also currently a PhD student at Marquette. Jessica brings substantial experience in neurosurgical and abdominal transplant care and has teaching experience through Marquette University and Saint Xavier University.
Leanne Lutz, MSN, RN, is a new Clinical Instructor in a 9-month position. Leanne received her associate degree in nursing from Madison College and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Capella University. Leanne comes with experience in teaching at Madison College and Herzing University. She has clinical expertise in diabetes education, emergency care, and stroke care. Leanne will be teaching in the undergraduate program this fall.
Ashley Meudt, MS, RN, joins the faculty as a Clinical Instructor in a 9-month position. Ashley is a graduate of the UW-Madison School of Nursing undergraduate nursing program and has a master’s in nursing education from Edgewood College. She has substantial clinical practice experience as an RN at UW Health and Unity Point Meriter with expertise in women’s health and medical/surgical nursing. Ashley will be teaching in the undergraduate program this fall.
Larissa Reinen, DNP, RN, AGNP-BC, joins the faculty in a part-time, 9-month position as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Her nursing education was completed at UW-Eau Claire and she received her DNP from UW-Madison. Certified as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, Dr. Reinen comes to us with substantial professional nursing experience in acute and chronic care for older adults. Larissa will be teaching in the DNP program this fall.
Holly Senz, MSN, RN, CNE, joins the school in a full-time 9-month position as a Clinical Instructor. Holly received her baccalaureate degree in nursing from UW-Green Bay after completing her associate degree in nursing at Fox Valley Technical College. She received her master’s in nursing education from Edgewood College. Holly comes to the School of Nursing with teaching experience at Herzing University and Madison College. She has a wealth of clinical practice experience in oncology, ambulatory care, and patient and staff education. Holly will start her work with the School of Nursing this fall with undergraduate students.
Ann Wieben, PhD, RN, will be teaching this fall as a Clinical Assistant Professor while also continuing her research as a Postdoctoral Trainee in the Pathway to Faculty program. She received her undergraduate nursing degree at UW-Madison and has recently completed her PhD in Nursing at UW-Madison. Dr. Wieben has experience as a research education program manager and a clinical research specialist, and she is a nursing informatics specialist. Her expertise in informatics will be tapped as she teaches part-time in the graduate program this fall.
Caitlin Weitzel, MS, ACNP, APNP comes on board in a permanent, 80% 9-month position as a Clinical Instructor after prior teaching for the School of Nursing in temporary, part-time roles. Caitlin received her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Iowa and her masters in acute care nurse practitioner at the UW-Madison. Caitlin brings her substantial experience and expertise in the care of people undergoing abdominal transplants and with other acute, emergent, and intensive care needs. Caitlin will teach across the DNP and undergraduate programs.