New leader to guide nursing school’s undergraduate programs

August 14, 2013

Ruth R. Staten, PhD, PMH-CS-NP BC, is the new associate dean of undergraduate programs at the University of Louisville School of Nursing.

“Ruth brings great vision as we seek to expand our undergraduate programs,” said Marcia Hern, EdD, CNS, RN, dean and professor, UofL School of Nursing. “Her leadership and experience will be essential to guiding our faculty and students to prepare the best graduates for the nursing workforce.”

Staten began teaching at Eastern Kentucky University in 1982, where she served as an academic advisor for pre-associate and associate degree nursing students. She went on to join the ranks of faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing in 1985. During her time at UK, she held several administrative and advising roles, including acting coordinator of undergraduate programs; chair of the program, Partners for Success; undergraduate advisor and graduate advisor. In 2010, she began working for the United States Army’s Department of Behavorial Health in Fort Knox, Ky. where she served as an advanced practice registered psychiatric nurse until 2013.

She plans to continue her work with soldiers and their families at Fort Knox in collaboration with UofL’s Military Initiatives and Partnership. She also will participate in the nursing school’s Joining Forces efforts to assure graduates are prepared to meet the needs of veterans and their families in the communities in which they live.

Staten’s research efforts focus on young adult health with an emphasis on adverse childhood experiences; depression, anxiety, and stress; substance-abuse; tobacco use among college students and tobacco-free policies. She has authored numerous journal articles and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

She has served on the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Board, the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy-Fayette County Local Board, and the Fayette County Public Schools 20/20 Vision Mental Health Task Force and the Alcohol Committee of the Mayor’s Alliance.

While at UK she also sat on the President’s Campus-Community Coalition on Reduction of High Risk drinking among College Students steering committee; substance abuse assessment and treatment program in University Health Service; and the Medical Center Academic Council. Staten also served on the instructional technology committee, the President’s Task Force on Undergraduate Student Satisfaction and the work-life council and executive committee.

She has been honored with the United States Army Certificate of Achievement and the Achievement Medal, and was chosen as the Kentucky Psychiatric Nurse of the Year by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Kentucky chapter.

Staten received her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Kentucky.