Dr. Susan McMullen O'Brien

Dr. Susan McMullen O’Brien has more than 34 years of experience in the healthcare field including nursing, consulting, private practice, teaching, and research. Throughout her career, she has developed many mental health clinical programs and has received grants to support mental health projects and programs. As dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing, Dr. O’Brien has successfully transformed the nursing program from an examination-based RN to BSN curriculum, started in 1983, into a successful growing online format in 2001, and to an RN-BSN/MSN degree program in 2006 to better serve the needs of experienced RNs. During these years, the School has maintained full accreditation status with the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), and in the fall of 2008, received initial accreditation for the RN to MSN program through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

In 2005, the School established the Honor Society of Nursing which was chartered as Upsilon Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International in 2008, of which Dr. O’Brien is a member.

In 2005, Dr. O’Brien was awarded a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to educate minority nurses in online education and also developed a database of minority educators who can be shared in schools of nursing across the United States. Due to the success of this innovative program, the grant was re-funded in 2008 for another three years.

Dr. O’Brien received the 2008 C.A.R.E.S. Award for Excellence in Education, which was given by the New Jersey State Nurses Association. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the development and implementation of sound and creative educational programming for nurses.

In 2010, Dr. O'Brien was the recipient of the 2010 Diva and Don's Award, presented by the Institute for Nursing, the foundation of the New Jersey State Nurses Association.  The award honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to the nursing profession in New Jersey.

Dr. O'Brien holds a doctorate in health education from Temple University in Philadelphia; a Master of Science in psychiatric nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; a RN Diploma from Roger Williams General Hospital School of Nursing in Providence, R.I.; and a Certificate in Distance Education from Thomas Edison State College.