Melanie Dreher, RN, PhD, FAAN
Founding DirectorDistinguished research examining the health and development of women and children in Jamaica
About
Dr. Dreher is Dean Emeritus of the College of Nursing of Rush University in Chicago, Illinois. From 1997 until 2006 she served as Dean of the University of Iowa College of Nursing where she established a professional Masters in Nursing which became a national model for professional nursing education. She was Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts from 1988 to 1997 and Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Miami from 1984 to 1988.
Professional Education
Professional educational carreer since 1997
Distinguished Researcher
Principal investigator of several community-based studies examining the health and development of women and children in Jamaica.
Published Author
She has published numerous books, reports and articles.
In addition to her role in education administration, she has had a distinguished research career as the principal investigator of several community-based studies examining the health and development of women and children in Jamaica. Her research interests also include cross-cultural studies of the health care systems, the organization and financing of community health care and the effects of substance use on the health, development and task performance in adults and children. Dr. Dreher has served on several boards including hospitals and health systems, boards of health, nursing schools and colleges, federal government agencies and professional organizations.
Dr. Dreher is a graduate, magna cum laude, of Long Island University School of Nursing in Brookville, New York, and holds a doctorate in anthropology from Teachers College and Columbia University in New York City where she completed her dissertation with distinction. She has published numerous books, reports and articles and is a leadership development consultant in health care and education.
