DNP Faculty

Program Director

Dean Gross, PhD, RN, FNP-BC 
Assistant Professor of Practice
Aldevron Tower 148K 
(701) 231-8355

Dean.Gross@ndsu.edu

Research Interests

  • Health literacy
  • Clinical practice guidelines
  • Problem-based learning
  • Health promotion
  • Community health
Graduate Faculty Members

Mykell Barnacle, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor of Practice

Aldevron Tower 148F 
(701) 231-7730

Mykell.Barnacle@ndsu.edu 

Research Interests

  • Rural Healthcare Education
  • NP Competencies
  • Rural NP Residency
  • Tobacco Cessation
  • Health Promotion

Kerri Benning, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Assistant Professor of Practice
Bismarck, Library 3 
(701) 224-3831 

Kerri.Benning@ndsu.edu

Research Interests 

  • Pediatrics
  • Rural Health
  • Preventative Screening

Kelly Buettner-Schmidt, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor
Aldevron Tower 148C 
(701) 231-8232

Kelly.BuettnerSchmi@ndsu.edu

Research Interests

  • Health policy
  • Public health
  • Public health nursing
  • Health promotion
  • Disease prevention
  • Tobacco cessation, prevention, and control

Carrie Nelson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Assistant Professor of Practice

Aldevron Tower 148J
(701) 231-7747

Carrie.Nelson@ndsu.edu

Research Interests

  • Healthcare Burnout & Mental Health
  • Rural Mental Health
  • Post-secondary Student Health & Wellness
  • Obesity & Bariatric Surgery

Allison Peltier, DNP, RN, FNP-C
Assistant Professor of Practice
Bismarck Site, Library 4 
(701) 224-3820

Allison.Peltier@ndsu.edu

Research Interests 

  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Women’s Health
  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Heidi Saarinen, DNP, RN, FNP-C 
Assistant Professor of Practice

Aldevron Tower 148G 
(701) 231-7821

Heidi.Saarinen@ndsu.edu 

Research Interests

  • Health promotion/disease prevention
  • Obesity/diet/ exercise; sleep medicine
  • Mental health
  • Breastfeeding
  • Patient/ provider education/teaching.

Kolby Schaeffer Fraase, DNP, MSN, RN-BC
Assistant Professor of Practice
Aldevron Tower 540P
(701) 231-8002

Kolby.Schaeffer.1@ndsu.edu 

Research Interests

  • Tobacco Prevention and Control / Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
  • Innovative Educational Methods
  • Mentorship
  • End-of-Life Education / Palliative Care
  • Burnout/Empowerment

 

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