Viterbo names Stolder Dean of the College of Nursing and Health

Viterbo University’s College of Nursing and Health will have a new dean soon.

Come Monday, Dr. Mary Ellen Stolder, will take over that position, the university announced Thursday.

Stolder has been at Viterbo since 2012, starting off as a professor. She is currently the director of graduate nursing and the interim director of the School of Nursing at Viterbo.

“My colleagues and I will continue to be guided by the Viterbo University mission to deliver excellence in patient care, advance that care through innovative education, and improve the well-being of the diverse communities we serve,” Stolder said.

As dean, Stolder will oversee more than 800 students enrolled in the undergraduate and graduate nursing and nutrition and dietetics programs.

Stolder earned a PhD in nursing from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin, as well as her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from UW. She received a Master of Arts in History from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

She is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner and completed a post-graduate program for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification eligibility.

Her master’s thesis addressing the early 20th Century crusade to contain tuberculosis was featured in an episode of the PBS series History Detectives.

Prior to her time at Viterbo, Stolder served six years as the associate dean of nursing at Western Technical College.

A firm believer in community service and engagement, Stolder is the past president of the Bethany Saint Joseph Board of Directors and the current president of the Friends of the La Crosse Public Library.

She has served as co-chair of the annual Nursing Research on the Green event and is a member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association continuing education approval program (CEAP) committee.

While at Viterbo, Stolder led the development of nurse practitioner student foot care clinics for seniors and underserved community members.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Stolder has agreed to serve as Viterbo’s Dean of Nursing and Health,” Viterbo President Rick Trietley said in the statement. “Her proven success as a campus leader, administrator, faculty member, and researcher make her ideally suited for this critical position. Her calm presence, familiarity with Viterbo, positive attitude, and mission-focused mentality will provide the stable leadership required to lead the school of nursing and health into the future.”