Judi Theresa O'Hara, Ed.D., RN, CAGS, CNE

Background

After graduating from the University of Lowell with a B.S. in Nursing in 1982, Dr. Judi O’Hara worked as an oncology/hematology nurse at New England Medical Center in Boston, MA. In 1985, Dr. O’Hara completed an M.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in Primary Health Care Nursing, Adult Nurse Practitioner Track.

Upon relocation to the Midwest, she worked as a CCU nurse at Saint Louis University Hospital, a hospice home care nurse for the Visiting Nurse Association, and a clinical instructor for Jefferson Memorial Community College.

Dr. O’Hara has been a full-time faculty member at Rivier since 1991, and currently teaches courses both in-person and online. Her teaching responsibilities include Health Assessment, Nursing Leadership, Families and Health in a Multicultural Society, Policy and Politics in the Nursing and Professional Nursing Capstone.

In 2000, Judi obtained a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Leadership and Learning from Rivier. Judi serves as co-chair of the Rivier’s Task Force on Alcohol and Other Drugs and serves on New Hampshire Higher Education Alcohol and Other Drug Committee. She actively participates in regional initiatives related to health equity.

Degrees

• DNP, Rivier University
• CAGS, Rivier College
• M.S., University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• B.S., University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Academic Philosophy

“As a facilitator of learning, I foster a learning environment that is inclusive and welcoming, and where “kindness matters” is role-modeled and expected. Each individual brings a unique perspective formed by beliefs, values, and past experiences to the learning community. Within the community, an individual’s cognitive and emotional intelligence are appreciated and growth within the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of learning is facilitated. Learning is an active process that takes place both inside and outside the classroom.

Confucius sums up the importance of experiential learning through the quote, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Active learning through simulation, clinical nursing experiences, and immersion allow students to interact with others. Students are given the opportunity to see, to do, and to understand through connections within the greater communities in which we exist. A guided reflection of the experience promotes a deeper meaning of the learning for the student. My hope is to inspire students to be the best they can be, to make a difference in the world, and to respect and advocate the human dignity of each individual.”

Specialties

• Multicultural Health
• Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention in Higher Education
• Health Assessment