2015 CASE Professor of the Year
Dr. Catherine P. Lovecchio
Since 1990, Dr. Lovecchio has been educating nursing students in various programs including diploma, associate, baccalaureate and master’s degree. Her vast teaching experiences have allowed her to fully understand the multitude of learning styles of students in order to adapt her pedagogical teaching strategies in the classroom and clinical setting. Dr. Lovecchio arrived at the University of Scranton in 2004 after serving as Director of the Center for Health and Wellness Education at Villanova University. In her former position, she continued to refine her use of multivariate teaching strategies to instruct college students who participated in risky behaviors such as high risk drinking, illicit drug use and unsafe intimacy practices. As a professional nurse, Dr. Lovecchio attempted to educate students about serious health risks while providing engaging learning activities to increase their level of understanding regarding the issues.
Dr. Lovecchio takes a scholarly approach to teaching. Through the use of evidence-based research, she incorporates new scientific findings and clinical approaches in the classroom and clinical setting. She currently teaches orthopedics, renal, neurology, critical care, leadership and management didactic and clinical courses to the senior class. She has continued to develop these courses to include an interdisciplinary high-fidelity cardiac arrest simulation with the nurse anesthetist students, a professional development conference for resume and interview skills, a comprehensive professional portfolio, adaptive quizzing to enhance mastery of content and online quizzing to simulate the NCLEX licensure exam.
Dr. Lovecchio continues to teach in the clinical setting where she has co-developed an innovative academic-clinical partnership with two community hospitals. The Clinical Liaison Nurse (CLN) model of instruction has paired expert staff nurses with academic faculty to provide a comprehensive supportive clinical learning environment for students. Two research publications and a National League for Nursing grant have allowed Dr. Lovecchio and her colleagues to continue with the research, development and management of this unique teaching modality. Dissemination of the NLN study findings have been shared with the larger community through the development of a professional YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NICuvN-RDt0&feature=youtu.be
Dr. Lovecchio’s passion for transforming students through service-learning travel experiences has led her to the development of three new courses. Health Issues in Africa, Gangs and Urban Health in Los Angeles, and Urban Health, Cultural Immersion and Service in Miami are courses that have provided students the opportunity to travel and immerse themselves into diverse cultures while learning about social justice and poverty. These experiences allow students to feel personal unrest, which can lead to attitude adjustment and a deeper acceptance of others’ differences.
Dr. Lovecchio’s leadership roles include the newly appointed Director of the Undergraduate Program, Founding Director of the Center for Health and Wellness Education at Villanova University, Director of the Center for Health and Wellness Education at the University of Scranton, Co-coordinator of the Clinical Liaison Nurse Program, Board of Trustees member at St. Mary’s Villa and Founding Director of the University of Scranton’s Student Service Committee.
Dr. Lovecchio’s career has been marked by a variety of grants and awards. In 2012, she received the Excellence in Integrating Mission and Justice Into the Curriculum Award. In 2009, she received the Sheldon I. Rosenburg Award to attend the AAUP Summer Institute. She received the Best Scholarly Poster Award at an International Technology Conference. She was awarded four CTLE Teaching Enhancement Grants, The University of Scranton/Marywood Cooperative Grant, an Internal Research Grant and the NLN Grant for Project TRIumph. She maintains professional membership in Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, National League for Nursing, American Nurses Association and Pennsylvania Nurses Association.
Dr. Lovecchio earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Villanova University, a master’s degree in adult health and education from Misericordia University, and a Ph.D. in nursing education from Villanova University. She resides in South Abington Township with her husband Toby and their two children Matthew and Lydia.
List of Past CASE Teacher of the Year Award Recipients