Aug. 18, 2014
Contact Barb Gayle at bmgayle@viterbo.edu or 608-796-3081
MARY LU GERKE NAMED INTERIM DEAN OF COLLEGE OF NURSING, HEALTH, AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY
La Crosse, Wis.—Viterbo University announces the appointment of Mary Lu Gerke, RN, Ph.D. as interim dean of the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Behavior effective Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Gerke presently serves as Vice President of Nursing Systems and Chief Nursing Officer at Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse, a position she has held since 2008.
Gerke earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Viterbo in 1974. Additional degrees include a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Winona State University, and a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Systems and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara.
She has held a variety of clinical and administrative positions at Gundersen since 1980. Gerke has served as an adjunct faculty member, a member of the Viterbo Nursing Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Advisors, and past member of the Alumni Board.
Under terms of the appointment, Viterbo and Gundersen have partnered to allow Gerke to serve as interim dean for the 2014-15 academic year. She will be released from her responsibilities as chief nursing officer at Gundersen, while maintaining a leadership role on several ongoing initiatives at the medical center.
“We are very pleased that this partnership with Gundersen will provide Viterbo with the talents of an exceptional leader during an important time of transition for the School of Nursing and for the newly formed College of Nursing, Health, and Human Behavior,” said Barbara Gayle, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs at
Viterbo. “Mary Lu understands from various perspectives the rapid changes engulfing the health care industry and the implications for the preparation of nurses and nurse educators. Her experiences with integration of systems, technology, and personnel will be beneficial as the new college gets underway.”
Gerke succeeds Silvana Richardson, who after 17 years as dean, will return to teaching and will receive the title of Sister Grace Clare Beznouz Professor of Nursing. Under Richardson’s tenure, a new state–of-the-art nursing center was built and several new degrees and programs were established including the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Viterbo’s first doctorate program.
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