The Evelyn L. Spiro School of Nursing’s
Full-Time Faculty, Administration & Staff

Dr. Paula Grace Dunn Tropello, Chairperson, Associate Professor 
B.S.N. University of Virginia; M.N. University of Florida; Ed.D. Rutgers University; Post Masters F.N.P. Certificate Wagner College
Specialties: Maternal-Child Nursing, certifications in Family Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Clinical Specialist. Research: History of Nurse Practitioner Movement, Role Theory, Health Access and Policy, Homelessness, International Public Health.

Organizations: Sigma Theta Tau/Epsilon Mu Chapter, Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), Environmental Club Founder and Advisor, National League of Nursing, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Nursing Historical Society, Medical Reserve Corps., Health Volunteers Overseas.
Courses taught: NR 366, 375, 611, 617, 641, 643.
Office Phone: (718) 390-3452, Campus Hall Room 309, Email: ptropell@wagner.edu

Dr. Kathleen Ahern, Professor, Director of Graduate Nursing Studies
F.N.P. BC, C.N.E; B.S., M.S., F.N.P., Wagner College, Ph.D. Adelphi University.

Specialties: Clinical research, Community Health evidence based research on health outcomes, gerontology.

Organizations: Sigma Theta Tau; National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties; American Cancer Society; Nurses Advisory Council.

Courses taught: NR 472, 615, 616, 631, 635, 624.
Office Phone: (718) 390-3444, Campus Hall Room 308, Email: kahern@wagner.edu

Dr. Nancy Cherofsky, Assistant Professor

B.S., M.S. FNP Wagner College; DNP Pace University.
Specialties: Mentoring, Leadership, Critial and Trama Care, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Community Education.
Organizations: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Nurse Practitioners, The Nurse Practitioner Association of New York, Plastic Surgery Nurse Association, Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Association, Transculteral Nurse Association, Epsilon Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau.
Courses taught: NR 368c, 469c, 472, 609, 616, 623, 643c.
Office Phone: (718) 390-3450, Campus Hall Room 308, Email: nancy.cherofsky@wagner.edu 

Prof. Jane DeFazio, Director of Undergraduate Nursing Studies, Assistant Professor
B.S.N. College of Staten Island; M.S. Wagner College; Ph.Dc Seton Hall
Specialties: Medical-Surgical Nursing, Critical Care, Psychiatric Nursing, Oncology and Geriatrics; Learning styles. Courses taught: NR 351, 355, 353, 224, 357, 469c, 368, and 368c.

Organizations: Epsilon Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau Faculty Advisor
Office Phone: (718) 390-3471, Campus Hall Room 308, Email: jane.defazio@wagner.edu

Prof. Annemarie Dowling-Castronovo, Assistant Professor

Ph.Dc, RN, MA-GNP
Specialties: Gerontological nursing, incontinence, gerontological curriculum development, nursing research.

Courses taught: NR 353, 368, 472, 490.
Office Phone: (718) 420-4364, Campus Hall Room 316, Email: dowling.castronovo@wagner.edu

Dr. Denise Gasalberti, Assistant Professor, B.S.N. Seton Hall University; M.S.N. Seton Hall University; Ph.D. New York University.
Specialties:  Maternal Child Nursing, Women’s Health, Human Sexuality, Health Promotion, Alternative Therapies
Organizations:  Sigma Theta Tau Interantional Gamma Nu and Epsilon Mu Chapters
Courses Taught:  NR 351, 050, 366, 212, 400.
Office Phone: (718) 420-4508 – Campus Hall Room 311, Email: denise.gasalberti@wagner.edu

Dr. Margaret Governo, Associate Professor
C.S./N.P.P. BC, FNP; B.S. Wagner College; M.Ed.D., Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University; F.N.P. Wagner College.
Specialties: Cultural diversity in healthcare, psychiatric-community mental health, professional role development, issues of family dynamics, complementary integrative healing models, project development for health promotion, conflict-resolution.

Organizations: member of VNA of Staten Island, Board of Directors Gubernatorial appointee to Board of Visitors for Mental Health, NYSNA Legislative District Coordinator for Staten Island and Brooklyn, member of Board of Advocates of Mental Health, South Richmond, past president of Epsilon Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.
Courses taught: NR 465, 476, 618, 621, 650, 652.
Office Phone: (718) 390-3446, Campus Hall Room 313, Email: mgoverno@wagner.edu

Dr. Lauren E. O’Hare, Associate Professor

B.S.N. Alfred University; M.S.N. Hunter College; Ed.D., St. John’s University
Specialties: Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing Research, Adult Health Nursing; Curriculum and Evaluation, Learning Styles and Adult Learning Theory and Practice.
Organizations/Affiliations:  Member of the National League for Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau-Epsilon Mu Chapter, Phi Delta Kappa, Golden Key Honor Society of ST. John’s University, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Corporate Nursing Research Council, Wagner College Forum for Undergraduate Reasearch Editorial Board.
Courses taught: NR 400, 469, 490, 624 and 635.
Office Phone: (718) 390-3445, Campus Hall Room 303, Email: lohare@wagner.edu

Prof. Patricia Tooker, Associate Professor
Part-time Nursing Faculty, Dean for Integrated Learning
B.S.N., M.S.N., F.N.P., Wagner College
Specialties: Community-based Nursing curriculum, Learning Communities in Higher Learning, Issues in the Healthcare Industry.  Courses taught: NR 375, 655, 622, 691.

Organizations: Sigma Theta Tau-Epsilon Mu Chapter, Executive Council; American Cancer Society Nurse Advisory Council; Staten Island Chapter, Association for New American Colleges (ANAC); Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Learning (POD); Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK); Eger HealthCare and Rehabilitation Center, Board of Trustees.

Office Phone: (718) 390-3443, Center for Academic & Career Development, Center for Experiential Learning, Center for Leadership and Service, Email: ptooker@wagner.edu

Prof. Lisa Woody, Associated Clinical Professor

B.S.Wagner College; M.S. Wagner College, National Certification In-patient Obstetrics.

Specialties: Obstetrical Nursing, Fundamentals, Clinical Coordinator.
Organizations: Sigma Theta Tau-Epsilon Mu Chapter; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; Girl Scouts of USA – Greater New York.
Email: lisa.woody@wagner.edu

Catherine Boccanfuso, M.S., R.N., Director of the Nursing Resource Center
B.S. Wagner College; M.S. Wagner College

Office Phone: (718) 390-3291, Campus Hall, Nursing Resource Center.
Email: catherine.boccanfuso@wagner.edu

Lorrie DeSena, M.S., R.N., Assistant Director of the Nursing Resource Center
B.S. Wagner College; M.S. Wagner College

Office Phone: (718) 390-3359, Campus Hall, Nursing Resource Center.
Email: lorrie.desena@wagner.edu

Maria Todisco, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager

Johns Hopkins Externship Coordinator
Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Coordinator

Office Phone: (718) 390-3436, Campus Hall Room 303, Email: maria.todisco@wagner.edu

(This faculty listing does not include part-time or adjunct professors).