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Janelle Sokolowich

Former Academic Vice President/Dean for the Leavitt School of Health 

Dr. Sokolowich is an accomplished visionary academic leader.  She has been an academic leader for over a decade, having held various roles, including dean of academic operations, interim dean, and faculty. Dr. Sokolowich served as the Academic Vice President/Dean for the Leavitt School of Health at Western Governors University (WGU), providing leadership to undergraduate, graduate nursing, and health professions programs.  The School of Health has been a leader in competency –based health education since 2009 and has had over 118,000 gradutes  with 17% of BSN nurses nationwide being School of Health graduate.  Her passion for student success, specifically the underserved, is marked by her drive for innovation to reach all who desire a degree. Her research includes the successful orientation of nursing faculty and intentional, focused academic support of culturally and linguistically diverse students. She most recently was a co-author of the first Diversity and Inclusion toolkit by the American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) in ten years.  Dr. Sokolowich has presented nationally and internationally, highlighting the use of technology in the classroom, non-academic support strategies for high-risk students, and cultural inclusivity in the school.   She is a member of the inaugural AACN, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership Network, American Organization for Nursing Leadership, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, and numerous other academic societies. Dr. Sokolowich earned her bachelor's and master's in the science of nursing degrees from the University of Phoenix and Ph.D. in Education, with Distinction from Capella University.  

Areas of Expertise:

Healthcare Education

Higher Education

Nursing Education

Nursing Leadership

Education:

Capella University: Ph.D., Education

University of Phoenix: M.S., Nursing

University of Phoenix: B.S., Nursing

Affiliations:

American Nurse Association (ANA)

National League of Nursing (NLN)

American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership Network

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Areas of Expertise:

Healthcare Education

Higher Education

Nursing Education

Nursing Leadership

Education:

Capella University: Ph.D., Education

University of Phoenix: M.S., Nursing

University of Phoenix: B.S., Nursing

Affiliations:

American Nurse Association (ANA)

National League of Nursing (NLN)

American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership Network

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

WGU Articles