Alumna Settling into New Role as Nursing School Dean

Just after a month since stepping into her role as the new dean of the School of Nursing, Dr. Mary Ellen Glasgow is working with her colleagues to take the school to its next level of success. Glasgow, who was named dean in April, succeeds Dr. Eileen Zungolo, who retired after serving as nursing dean for 10 years.

Glasgow is no stranger to Duquesne. She earned her Ph.D. from the School of Nursing in 2002, after finding out about the program while recovering from shattering her ankle. “I came across Duquesne’s program—it was a Catholic school, it offered the program online and it had a good reputation,” she said. “So I called the dean and told her about my unique situation, and the rest is history.”

It was Glasgow’s experience with the School of Nursing that made her decision to apply for the dean’s position an easy one. “I wouldn’t have applied if I hadn’t had a good experience as a student here,” she explained. “When you get here, you really feel that the people care about you, and the students feel it too. I felt it as a student, and I thought, ‘that’s the kind of place I want to be a part of.’”

In her new role, Glasgow said she would like to focus on innovation, social justice and ethics. “One of the things that my job will be is to expand existing programs in the school and develop new programs that will help society in an even more meaningful way and also take a look at enhancing social justice and ethics in the curriculum,” Glasgow said.

Pointing out that the national nursing and nursing faculty shortages will continue, Glasgow stressed the importance of continuing to prepare, recruit and retain nursing faculty as well as the significance of preparing students for the future. Glasgow has noteworthy experience that will help her oversee these goals at Duquesne. Prior to becoming dean, she was professor and associate dean for nursing and undergraduate health professions and continuing nursing education at Drexel University. Among her achievements there, Glasgow developed the BSN Co-op Nursing, BSN Accelerated Career Entry and RN-BSN Online as well as the Health Sciences Pathways to Health Professions programs.

“The search committee was impressed not only by Dr. Glasgow’s commitment to excellence in nursing education, but also her stated commitment to faculty development, distance education, alternative delivery models, and her mentorship of students,” said Rangos School Dean Dr. Greg Frazer, who served on the search committee for the nursing dean. “We are very lucky to have a consummate nursing professional and educator as Dean Glasgow lead the evolution of our School of Nursing.”

An award-winning educator, Glasgow earned a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Gwynedd-Mercy College.

“Another part of my job will be to further distinguish the School of Nursing, advance its reputation and do some innovative things that complement our mission to really help say who we are.”