Dara M. Whalen

Biography

Dara Whalen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing and the Graduate Programs Director. She completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing, a Master of Science degree in Public Health Nursing, a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education with a focus on population health, interpersonal violence, trauma and underserved and vulnerable populations. Dr. Whalen’s dissertation, “A Grounded Theory Study of Nurses Who Care for Patients Who Are Victims of Sexual Violence,” evolved from her work as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (S.A.N.E). Dr. Whalen spent much of her career working with community members of the Navaho and Cherokee nations, the Inupiat Eskimo people of the Northwest Arctic region of Alaska and the rural southeast region of North Carolina. Her work has helped to educate a variety of professionals on the impact of interpersonal/sexual violence on patients and providers. She is an active member of the International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau) and serves as the current president of the Delta Rho chapter. Dr. Whalen has served on multiple boards including the Alaska State Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) and is currently an elected member of the PSNA council on nursing education and practice. She has presented her work at local, regional, national and international conferences.

Research Interest

Dr. Dara Whalen's research interests include Interpersonal/Sexual Violence, Trauma Informed Care, Child Welfare, Community Based Treatment Interventions, Human Sexuality and Vulnerable Populations.