Laura Fero brings an extensive background in healthcare as both a practitioner and higher education administrator to St. Catherine University. In her role as the dean of nursing in the School of Nursing she is responsible for the growth and sustainability of Minnesota’s oldest nursing program. In addition to managing daily operations and the effectiveness of the nursing program, Fero leads innovation, curriculum design, and interprofessional education, ensuring all nursing graduates are prepared to provide cutting-edge, compassionate, and ethical care to patients.
Her research interests include critical thinking skills development for nursing students, nursing career pathways, and supportive health services. She also trademarked PREPARED for Practice, Research and Leadership in 2010, and co-authored the book Introduction to Care Coordination and Nursing Management. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International, and the National League of Nursing.
Prior to joining St. Kate’s, Fero served as the dean of the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina. She has worked at Chamberlain College of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the University of Pittsburgh, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, as well as several healthcare systems including Banner Health System in Colorado and Uni Health in California.
Fero holds a doctorate of philosophy in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing. She received her master’s in nursing/business administration from the University of Phoenix, and her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.