Dr. Linda Copel Appointed as Interim PhD Program Director

Professor Linda Copel, PhD, RN, PMHCNS, BC, CNE, ANEF, NCC, CGP, FAPA, has been named Interim Director of the PhD Program for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Throughout her career, Dr. Copel has held multiple leadership roles in both education and practice, successfully holding an FCN faculty appointment since 1992 while simultaneously maintaining a private practice as a psychotherapist.

More than 20 years ago, Dr. Copel was part of the team led by then-Dean M. Louise Fitzpatrick, EdD, RN, FAAN, to develop and implement the PhD program. She has taught in the program since then in courses such as Conceptual and Theoretical Base of Nursing Science, Qualitative Research Designs and Methods, and Dissertation Seminar I, II, III and IV.

“I look forward to Dr. Copel’s stewardship in this critical role as Interim Director of our highly successful PhD program,” said Donna S. Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor. “Unquestionably, she has a history of demonstrating Veritas, Unitas, Caritas with our PhD students. I am grateful for her unselfish spirit and dedication.”

Dr. Copel is a steering committee member of the College’s groundbreaking COVID-19 Caring About Health for All Study (CHAMPS) study and involved in a number of ancillary CHAMPS studies focusing on family issues, experiences of nurses in the early phase of the pandemic and the concerns of new-to-practice nurses navigating their first health care position.

Her extensive academic credentials are listed below:

• PhD in Nurse Scientist Preparation in Research and Theory Development with a supporting area of emphasis in Psychology, (summa cum laude), Texas Woman's University
• MSMFT in Marriage and Family Therapy with a supporting area of emphasis in Psychology (summa cum laude), Texas Woman's University
• MSN with an emphasis in Nursing in Adult Health and a supporting area of emphasis in Nursing Education (magna cum laude), University of Texas at Arlington
• BSN (magna cum laude), University of Delaware

Dr. Copel’s certifications include ANA Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric Nursing, National Certified Family Life Educator, National Certified Counselor, National Certified Bereavement Counselor, NLN Certified Nurse Educator and National Certified Group Psychotherapist.