2023 Distinguished Nursing Alumnus Award

Kristen Abbott-Anderson ’83 has used her passion and expertise in the field of nursing to pave the way for future generations of exemplary nurses.

The arc of a great career

Kristen began her career as a registered nurse after graduating from the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing in 1983 and is still active in providing nursing care. After practicing as a registered nurse for 24 years, she returned to education. In 2007, Kristen directed her career towards nursing education after completing a bachelor’s degree in human development, by earning both a master’s in nursing in 2009 and a Ph.D. in nursing in 2015.

She spent nine years as a professor at Minnesota State University – Mankato working with nursing students in the art of research and engaging students in community-focused projects. Additionally, she has acted as an advisor to two cohorts of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students and served as co-chair of the dissertation committee for an international Ph.D. student.

Kristen has also served as director of the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society whose mission is to “focus on innovative nursing practice knowledge that influences the health and healing of families and society at local, state, national and international levels, and to provide leadership and expertise in family and society health related issues.”

In January 2023 Kristen accepted a position as dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She is excited to prepare students for a career in nursing in this role.

Advancing the nursing field through collaborative research

Kristen has participated in many research endeavors including several international projects collaborating with colleagues in Japan, Spain, Brazil, England, Switzerland and Hong Kong. During her doctoral studies, she developed and tested an instrument to use in the identification of sexual concerns of women with gynecological cancer, which was then translated and used by a student in Iceland.

Kristen has also presented research in collaboration with her students at national and international conferences, including the Midwest Nursing Research Society, the Nurse Education Today/Nurse Education in Practice conference, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) conference. Additionally, she has been a member of IFNA since 2017 and sits on its board of directors while also serving as a board liaison.

Impacting the future of nursing

What sets Kristen apart from her colleagues and peers in nursing is the impact she has had on her students and the future of nursing. This is highlighted by her work as a founding member of the Singing Hills Chorus, a program bringing together community members with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases with volunteers to sing together in a community setting, and the Garden Engagement Program, which brings together patients and volunteers to garden sites where they can enjoy the outdoors and discuss gardening.  

She continuously sets an example for her students and colleagues in her practice, her research, her initiatives and her teaching.