School of Nursing launches Center for Excellence in Education

The University of Rochester School of Nursing has announced the establishment of its new Center for Excellence in Nursing & Health Sciences Education, marking a significant advancement in the School’s ongoing commitment to teaching innovation, academic excellence, and continuous improvement.

Building on the legacy of the School’s Education Innovation Team (EdIT), the Center — under the leadership of Tara Serwetnyk, EdD, RN, FNAP, NPD-BC, as director of the Center — will serve as a collaborative hub for educational research, instructional design, accreditation and assessment, and faculty and staff development.

“The establishment of the Center for Excellence in Education strengthens our foundation for evidence-based teaching and learning,” said Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, dean of the School. “By investing in faculty development, program evaluation, and educational scholarship, we continue to innovate in ways that advance nursing education and improve student outcomes.”

The Center reflects the School’s long-standing national leadership in educational quality and innovation, recognized through distinctions such as its National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence designation and recognition as an Apple Distinguished School. These achievements highlight the School’s culture of continuous advancement in teaching, technology integration, and learner-centered design.
The Center’s areas of focus will include:

• Oversight of accreditation processes and institutional reporting
• Curriculum alignment and outcomes assessment
• Educational research and analytics
• Quality designations such as NLN Center of Excellence, Apple Distinguished School, and Quality Matters certification
• Faculty consultation, development, and instructional design
• Evaluation and implementation of educational technologies

Supporting Serwetnyk in leading the Center’s initiatives are Joe Gomulak-Cavicchio, EdD, MSEd, assistant director for graduate programs, and Kaitlyn Picard, MS, RN, CCRN, CNE-cl, assistant director for undergraduate programs. Nathaniel Flemming, PhD, senior institutional research analyst in the University’s Office for Data Insights and Reporting, also joins the team, bringing expertise in data-driven educational assessment and analytics. Lizzie Mournighan supports the team as administrative assistant to the Center for Excellence.

“Through the Center, we are bringing together the expertise of educators, researchers, and instructional designers to continually evaluate and elevate our programs,” said Serwetnyk. “It’s an exciting step that builds on our tradition of educational excellence.”