Dr. Tricia Brown O'Hara Named Professor Emerita

Patricia Brown-O’Hara, PhD, RN '80 was named Professor Emerita at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. Dr. O'Hara earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Gwynedd Mercy University in 1980 and has had a truly extraordinary career and a lasting impact on the University and the nursing profession. With more than 22 years of dedicated service to the University — and more than 45 years in nursing — she has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching, leadership, scholarship, and service.

Dr. O’Hara is a passionate and deeply committed educator whose dedication to student success is evident in everything she does. She has taught a wide range of courses, mentored doctoral students, and co-developed innovative offerings such as the Signature Seminar Global Learning: Why Does It Matter. She is especially known for her leadership in developing the Undergraduate Nursing Program’s Dedicated Education Unit, which has transformed clinical education by providing students with immersive, mentored experiences that prepare them with confidence for professional practice.

Her excellence in teaching has been recognized with the 2025 Gwynedd Mercy University Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, and she was named a finalist for the prestigious Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania in Nursing Education in 2025 — an acknowledgment of her meaningful impact across the profession.

Dr. O’Hara’s influence also extends beyond campus through her development and leadership of the Nursing Study Abroad Program in Ireland. Through this work, she has created powerful learning experiences that broaden students’ perspectives and deepen their understanding of global healthcare. Reflecting her generosity and enduring commitment to students, she established the Dr. Patricia Brown-O’Hara ’80 Ireland Nursing Fellowship, an annual scholarship supporting BSN students participating in this program.

In addition to her teaching, Dr. O’Hara has served in several important leadership roles, including Assistant Dean, Student Support Specialist, and RN to BSN Program Director. She has contributed extensively to committees, strategic initiatives, and accreditation efforts, and is a respected scholar whose work on academic coaching and student success has influenced nursing education.

Dr. O’Hara’s legacy is both profound and enduring, seen in the many students, colleagues, and programs she has shaped over the years.