Accelerating a Culture of Wellness in Nursing: Perspectives from Academia

Speakers

Laurie Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN  
Dean and Professor 
The Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Laurie Badzek is a nurse, attorney, and educator, who specializes in genomics education and competency, health care ethics and law, nursing practice, and ethical decision making. Badzek assumed her current role as College of Nursing Dean in July 2018, where she oversees the undergraduate and graduate programs at 12 Commonwealth Campuses and online at the World Campus. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, American Association Colleges of Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She is a Fellow with the National Academies of Practice, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Program, and American Academy of Nursing.

She has been a tireless champion of using genomics in nursing to enhance patient care. Her research in genomics has been funded by the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing, National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Cancer Institute, and published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Journal of Nursing Law, Nursing Outlook, Precision Medicine, and American Nurse Today. As the PI, Badzek conducted one of the largest US studies examining the translation of genomics to bedside care.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the International Society of Nurses in Genetics International Genomics Research Award and the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities Cornerstone Award for her work with the ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights. Currently, she is involved in the development of the Genetic and Genomics Nursing Alliance and serves on the G2NA.org steering committee. Additionally, Badzek is a steering member on the Chinese University of Hong Kong Asian Pacific Genomic and Genetic Nursing Centre.

Christina Lightner, PhD, CRNP, WHNP-BC, CNE 
Assistant Teaching Professor and Coordinator of Academic Wellness 
The Pennsylvania State University  

Dr. Christina Lightner is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Coordinator of Academic Wellness at the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, where she leads college-wide initiatives to integrate evidence-based wellness across 14 campuses, supporting students, faculty, and staff. Her clinical and teaching expertise includes labor and delivery, women’s health, maternal child nursing, and simulation. Her work focuses on advancing workforce well-being through curricular innovation, faculty engagement, and community partnerships. Dr. Lightner earned her Associate and Bachelor's nursing degrees from The Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science in Nursing in Women’s Health from the University of Cincinnati, and a PhD from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing and a trained facilitator for Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE). She serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee and a member of the Board for the Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) and participates in the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Change Maker Accelerator Program. She received the 2025 BHAC Impact Award for her leadership in advancing well-being in academic settings.

Kelly A. Wolgast, DNP, RN, FACHE, FAAN 
Associate Teaching Professor, Assistant Dean for Outreach and Professional Development 
The Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Kelly Wolgast is an Associate Teaching Professor and Assistant Dean for Outreach and Professional Development for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. The role includes oversight to the College wellness initiatives. Prior to arriving at Penn State in?August 2016, Dr. Wolgast was Assistant Professor and Specialty Director for the Healthcare Leadership program at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Dr. Wolgast is also an Army Veteran. She served over 26 years on Active Duty in the United States Army as an Army Nurse and retired as a Colonel. Her experiences include earning the Bronze Star in combat operations as Deputy Commander and Chief Nurse in Afghanistan, a deployment in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations in New Orleans, serving as a Military Hospital Commander (CEO) at Fort Carson, Colorado, and serving as the Senior Nurse Executive of the U.S. Army Medical Command. Dr. Wolgast has many years of executive nursing and healthcare leadership experience and has a strong background in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

From June 2020-June 2023, Dr. Wolgast served as the Penn State University Director of the COVID-19 Operations Control Center leading efforts on all University COVID-19 plans and operations. Dr. Wolgast’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, two awards of the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Ribbon (with Star Device), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Medal (with 2 Device), NATO Medal, and the Expert Field Medical Badge. COL Wolgast has also been inducted into the prestigious Order of Military Medical Merit.

Dr. Wolgast’s professional honors include being named a University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Visionary Leader, the Janet Williamson Award for Excellence in Teaching from Penn State College of Nursing, the President’s Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives Middle Tennessee Chapter, and named one of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s Distinguished 100 Graduates.

Pricing and CE Credit

This webinar is free to deans, faculty, staff and students from AACN member schools of nursing. All non-member audiences will be required to pay a $59 webinar fee.

Continuing Nursing Education

One nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) credit is associated with this webinar; attendees must be present for the entire webinar and complete the evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.