School of Nursing & Health Sciences strengthens leadership team to advance strategic growth

Three associate deans will help lead research, educational innovation, assessment, and strategic initiatives as the School expands its impact across nursing and health sciences.

Building on its newly expanded identity as the University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences, the School is strengthening its leadership structure with three associate dean appointments that will help advance its strategic growth in research, education, innovation, and operations.

The appointments include:

• Kathi Heffner, PhD, as associate dean of research;
• Tara Serwetnyk, EdD, RN, FNAP, NPD-BC, as associate dean of assessment and educational innovation; and
• Jen Taranto, MBA, as associate dean of strategic initiatives.

“As the School of Nursing & Health Sciences enters this next chapter, these talented leaders will help translate our vision into meaningful progress,” said Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN. “Their deep institutional knowledge, collaborative leadership, and expertise across research, education, and strategy position us to grow thoughtfully and increase our impact for learners, patients, families, and communities.”

Kathi Heffner, PhD, brings extensive experience in interdisciplinary research, aging, behavioral health, and clinical translation to her new role as associate dean of research. A professor of nursing, medicine, and psychiatry, Kathi also serves as associate chief of research for the URochester Medicine Division of Geriatrics and Aging and director of the Elaine C. Hubbard Center for Nursing Research on Aging. In partnership with Sally Norton, PhD, RN, FNAP, FPCN, FAAN, senior associate dean for research, Heffner will help advance the School’s research mission by strengthening interdisciplinary science across the School’s areas of research focus, expanding collaboration across the University and Health Sciences Campus, and supporting the translation of discovery into practice to improve health and healthcare.

Heffner’s research examines how psychosocial and behavioral factors — including stress, social connection, and sleep — influence older adults’ resilience and aging. These interests have shaped her work in dementia care and prevention, including testing interventions to foster family caregiver health and well-being and to slow cognitive decline in those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Her studies span laboratory and clinical trial approaches and have been supported continuously over the past 25 years by NIH and other federal funding. She is a co-founder of the University of Rochester Resilience Research Center, which is advancing understanding of how stress and trauma shape health across the lifespan and identifying pathways to resilience and well-being.

Tara Serwetnyk, EdD, RN, FNAP, NPD-BC, has been appointed associate dean of assessment and education innovation at the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. As associate dean, Serwetnyk will provide executive leadership for assessment, academic innovation, experiential learning, and the educational resources that support high-quality, future-focused programs. She will lead school-wide assessment, institutional reporting, accreditation, and continuous quality-improvement efforts; continue to oversee the Center for Excellence in Nursing & Health Sciences Education; guide the integration of simulation-based education; and partner across the School to align resources, operations, and strategy with institutional priorities.

Serwetnyk brings more than two decades of experience in pediatric nursing, professional development, and nursing and health sciences education. Since joining the School in 2018, she has led work in instructional design, educational technology, learning-resource development, assessment, and quality assurance. She also co-led the School’s Redefining our Classroom (iROC) iPad initiative, which contributed to its designation as an Apple Distinguished School in 2021, and has held leadership roles in strategic planning and CCNE accreditation. Her leadership has been recognized nationally and institutionally, including with the National League for Nursing’s 2024 Scholarly Practitioner Award, the 2023 AACN Innovations in Professional Nursing Award in the Academic Health Center category, the School’s 2023 Klainer Entrepreneurship Award, and its 2026 Professional Advancement Award.

Jen Taranto, MBA, brings extensive institutional knowledge and operational leadership experience to her new role as associate dean of strategic initiatives. Most recently, she served as the School’s director of business administration. Throughout her work at the School, Taranto has demonstrated a thoughtful, collaborative approach to complex initiatives and organizational planning. She played an important role in guiding the School’s strategic planning process and is working closely with leaders and stakeholders to advance management plan priorities. As associate dean of strategic initiatives, Taranto will help lead efforts that translate the School’s strategic vision into coordinated, measurable action, partnering across the organization to advance priorities, strengthen operational alignment, and support continued growth and innovation.