UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Judith Hupcey, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing associate dean for Research and Innovation and professor, will retire at the end of June following 36 years of service to the college and University.
“The college has undoubtedly prospered in so many ways because of Judy’s wisdom and guidance over her tenure,” said Nese College Dean Laurie Badzek. “Her commitment to our students, our programs and to her research has been a critical piece in the growth and evolution of our college. While we will greatly miss Judy, I want to thank her for her unwavering support these past 36 years and wish her a happy and fulfilling retirement!”
A national search for Hupcey’s successor will begin shortly. An interim associate dean for Research and Innovation has not been yet identified.
Hupcey has served as the college’s associate dean for Research and Innovation since January of 2020 and interim associate dean for Graduate Education since August 2022.
“Throughout my time at Penn State, I have been incredibly fortunate. The college has provided me the opportunity to nurture and merge two of my greatest passions: graduate education and research," said Hupcey. "I've been able to pioneer new programs and secure funding for many of these initiatives. Moreover, mentoring students at all levels and witnessing their professional growth and success has been profoundly fulfilling.”
During her leadership term, Hupcey was instrumental in developing the college’s first Nurse Practitioner/Family Nurse Practitioner (NP/FNP) program in 1993, the first online Nurse Educator and Nurse Administrator graduate programs, adult-gerontology primary care and acute care NP programs, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program, Penn State’s second professional doctoral program and first online doctoral program. Nurse Practitioner program development, expansion and student funding were made possible by HRSA-funded Nursing Education Grants totaling $3,500,000, secured by Hupcey.
Hupcey has also accumulated an illustrious research background during her time at the University. Total funding of $4,135,000 from Penn State Seed Grants, American Heart Association, NIH/NINR and many more has supported her research endeavors, which include patients and caregivers at end-of-life stages, family (social) support of critically ill patients, and palliative care needs of heart failure patients and families.
Prior to her current roles, Hupcey has served in assistant and associate professor positions, professor-in-charge, and as associate dean for Graduate Education in the college. She also has served on faculty senate, University Research Council, and the Advisory Committee for Graduate Education. Prior to Penn State, Hupcey worked in New York City on a critical care unit as a nurse practitioner and a clinical instructor for Columbia University.
Hupcey is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and a Columbia University, Teachers College Hall of Fame Inductee, among many other accolades. She received her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), master of science in nursing (MSN), master of education (Ed.M.) and doctor of education (Ed.D.) in nursing education all from Columbia University.