Faculty Profiles

Faculty & Staff, Div. I

Faculty & Staff, Div. II

Faculty & Staff, Div. III

School of Nursing Faculty

Kathleen Potempa , DNSc, RN, FAAN
Dean and Professor

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Suite 1320
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482
Telephone: (734)764-7185
FAX: (734)764-7186
potempa@umich.edu

Education
DNSc, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, 1986
MS, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, 1978
BA, University of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, 1974

Biography
Dr. Kathleen Potempa, a nationally recognized contributor to nursing education, was appointed Dean and Professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing on October 1, 2006.

Before coming to the University of Michigan, Dr. Potempa had been Dean of the School of Nursing at Oregon Health and Science University [OHSU] since 1996 and was appointed Vice President and Dean in September, 2002.  The latter title is in recognition of her expanding responsibilities for the research, practice, and educational mission on all four campuses in the state, for leadership in the OHSU health system including oversight of the professional development of nursing in the OHSU health system, and the responsibility for all nursing educational outreach programs in the state.  Dr. Potempa has had 25 years of experience in nursing education and administration. Prior to joining OHSU, Dr. Potempa was Executive Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the University of Illinois College of Nursing. 

Dr. Potempa is a nursing leader who has served on numerous local, regional and national organizational committees, advisory councils and boards. She has served on AACN Task Forces and Committees consistently since 1997 including:  Chair of the Task Force on Distance Education and Nursing [1997-1999]; Member of the Doctoral Conference Planning Committee [1997-1998; 2000-2002]; Member, Task Force on Hallmarks of Professional Practice [2000-2002]; and member of the Nominating Committee [1999-2000].  She has served as a member of the American Academy of Nursing Finance Committee, the Board of Directors of the Oregon Heart Association, and the Oregon Congressional Task Force on Health Personnel.  As a member of the Oregon Nursing Leadership Council, Dr. Potempa has participated in the redesign of nursing education and the practice environment in Oregon.  The US Secretary of Health and Human Services appointed Dr. Potempa to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice in 2001 for a 5-year term.

In addition, she has served on local and national expert panels and committees on research, including NIH review panels. Dean Potempa's research program has focused on fatigue, exercise and cardiovascular fitness.  She has had continuously funded research since 1984.  She is currently the principal investigator on a Health and Humans Services funded project, Transforming Primary Care: The Healthy Aging Project. Dean Potempa has presented papers locally, nationally and internationally that include a visiting professorship lecture in Beijing, China, Japan, and Taiwan as well as several lectures at international conferences.