Kelly Wolgast
DNP, RN, FACHE, FAAN; Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
Associate Teaching Professor; Assistant Dean for Outreach and Professional Development
University Park
Phone: 814-867-5998
Email: kaw466@psu.edu
Wolgast’s focus of work is on extending nursing and health care outreach, professional development, and wellness through program development for faculty, staff, students and wider community. Wolgast is 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 for combat experience as Deputy Commander and Chief Nurse in Afghanistan, a deployment in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations in New Orleans, serving as a Hospital Commander, 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, 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. Wolgast is an American Red Cross Disaster Services Service Associate and a blood donor.
Education
- DNP, Executive Nurse Leadership, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- MSN, Administration & Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA
- BS, Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Awards and Honors
- Application co-author for the NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education Award to the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. (2022).
- “University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Visionary Leader” in celebration of UAB School of Nursing’s 70th anniversary. (2021).
- Service Award. American College of Healthcare Executives and ACHE of Central PA. (2021).
- Janet Williamson Award for Excellence in Teaching, Penn State College of Nursing Faculty/Staff Award. (2021).
Teaching
Courses Taught
- NURS590: DNP Colloquium
- NURS831: DNP Evidence-Based Practice II: Translation of Research
- NURS833: DNP Leadership II
- NURS834: DNP Practicum
- NURS835: DNP Project
- NURS847: MSN Human Resource Management
- NURS848: MSN Administrator Practicum
- NURS848a: BSN to DNP Administrator Practicum
- NURS808: MSN and DNP Population Health
- NURS837: DNP Evidence-Based Practice III Project Development
Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization
- Leadership
- Veterans Health
- Quality Improvement
- Systems Thinking
- Wellness
- Nursing Continuing Professional Development
Mentorship
- 30+ MSN and DNP students advised at Penn State
- Lead Nurse Planner for College Nursing Continuing Professional Development Program that provides nursing contact hours to hundreds of Registered Nurses annually.
Research
Research Interests and Areas of Expertise
- Wellness
- Veterans Health
Presentations and Conference Involvement
- 2025: “Remembering Clara Barton: A Leader Who Demonstrated Creativity and Courage” Invited Podium Presentation for Ross and Carol Nese College of We Lead program, University Park, PA, March 21, 2025.
- 2024: “Remembering Clara Barton: A Leader Who Demonstrated Creativity and Courage” Invited Podium Presentation for American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)Transform 2024 Conference, New Orleans, LA. December 5-7, 2024.
- 2023: “Implementation of MINDSTRONG/MINDBODYSTRONG at Penn State University. Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing: Lessons Learned” Virtual Podium
- October 9, 2023: Presentation for Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) Webinar
- 2023: “Implementation of MINDSTRONG/MINDBODYSTRONG at Penn State University. Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing: Lessons Learned” Podium Presentation for Translating Research to Innovations in Practice Symposium, State College, PA, May 11, 2023.
- 2023: “Implementation of MINDSTRONG/MINDBODYSTRONG at Penn State University. Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing: Lessons Learned” Podium Presentation for BHAC Summit, Wilmington, NC, April 19-21, 2023.
- 2023: “Implementation of MINDSTRONG/MINDBODYSTRONG at Penn State University. Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing: Lessons Learned” Podium Presentation (virtual) for Beta Sigma Research Day, March 31, 2023.
- 2020: Geisinger Health System “Veterans Experience” Veterans Day Presentation. (Via Zoom), November 11, 2020
- May 8, 2020: “Military Nursing” American Legion Post #488 (Riverside), Riverside, IL, (Via Zoom)
Publications and Scholarly Work
- In Press: Wolgast KA et al., MINDSTRONG Cognitive Behavioral Skills Building Initiative to Enhance Wellness in Nursing Students at a Big 10 University: Lessons Learned, Journal of Radiology Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2024.11.004
- In Press: Lightner CM et al., Promoting Nursing Students’ Healthy Behaviors Through Cognitive Skills-Building, Journal of Radiology Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2024.11.010
- In Press: Peachey B et al., Building a Wellness Culture at the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing: A Case Study, Journal of Radiology Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jradnu.2024.11.006
- McGhee, S., Kenny, D., Rossiter, A., Ling, K., Sheehy, S., Yoder, L.H., Bester, B., Wolgast, K., and Finnegan, A. (2023) Working together for a common goal: The International Armed Forces Community Nursing Research Collaboration. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, 7(2), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v7i2.9617
- Wolgast, K. A. (Ed.). (March 2023). COVID-19 and Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons Learned and Next Steps., Nursing Clinics of North America, Volume 58, Issue 1, p. 1-120.
- Shi, Y., Sterner, G., Wolgast, K.A., McInerney, L., Duggal, V., Earley, H., Rater, I., Gonnella, K., and Arsenault, E. (December, 2022) A multistakeholder effort in Pennsylvania to improve the accuracy of reporting fatal drug overdoses. The American Journal of Accountable Care, (12), 10(4):16-22. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajac.2022.89284
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2022, December 27. Health Minute Closure. [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2022, November 29. Food and Traditions (re-aired). [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2022, January 11. COVID-19 and Handwashing. [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2022, January 4. How to Correctly Put On and Remove a Mask. [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, December 21. Food and Traditions. [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, August 31. Health Minute-Well-being and Gardening [Audio Presentation] Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, July 20. Health Minute-Poison Ivy and Sumac [Audio Presentation] Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, June 29. Health Minute-The Transition from Masks and Distancing [Audio Presentation] Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, February 9. Health Minute-Pandemic Fatigue [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, January 26. Health Minute-Radon Action Month [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (Ed.). (March 2020). Building Innovative Nurse Leaders at the Point of Care, Nursing Clinics of North America, 55 (1), 1-132.
- Clark, A., Wolgast, K. A. Mazur, N., Mekis, A. (2020). Leading change in nurse bedside shift report. Nursing Clinics of North America, 55 (1), 21-28.
- Matter, S. & Wolgast, K.A. (2020) Making good use of your limited time: Supporting novice nurses. Nursing Clinics of North America, 55 (1), 39-49.
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2020, January 14. Health Minute-Glaucoma Health [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
- Wolgast, K. A. (WPSU Penn State). 2020, January 21. Health Minute-Winter Sports [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
Editorial and Peer Review Roles
- Wolgast, K. A. (Ed.). (March 2023). COVID-19 and Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons Learned and Next Steps., Nursing Clinics of North America, Volume 58, Issue 1, p. 1-120.
- Wolgast, K. A. (Ed.). (March 2020). Building Innovative Nurse Leaders at the Point of Care, Nursing Clinics of North America, 55 (1), 1-132.
- Chair, Veterans and Military Expert Panel, American Academy of Nursing, 2020.
Service
Community and Policy Engagement
- Military and Veterans Expert Panel Member, American Academy of Nursing; supporting mission of AAN in advancing healthcare policy.
Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships
- American Academy of Nursing (AAN) (Fellow)
- American College of Heathcare Executives (ACHE) (Fellow)
- American Nurses Association (ANA);
- Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA)
- Sigma, Beta Sigma Chapter
- Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives
Policy and Advocacy Work
Policy advocate for Military and Veterans healthcare issues via the AAN. Example of work includes:
- McGhee, S., Kenny, D., Rossiter, A., Ling, K., Sheehy, S., Yoder, L.H., Bester, B., Wolgast, K., and Finnegan, A. (2023) Working together for a common goal: The International Armed Forces Community Nursing Research Collaboration. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, 7(2), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v7i2.9617
- Marie Ann Marino EdD, RN, FAAN; Kelly A. Wolgast, DNP, RN, FACHE, FAAN; Patricia M. Speck, DNSc, APRN, FNP-BC, DF-IAFN, FAAFS, DF-AFN, FAAN; Deborah J. Kenny PhD, RN, FAAN; Helene Moriarty, PhD, RN, FAAN. American Academy of Nursing Policy Brief: Military sexual trauma. Nursing Outlook, Volume 67, Issue 4, July-August 2019, Pages 486-491.
Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health
- 2020: Election Observer/Clerk Centre County, PA since
- 2025: Judge of Elections, Harris West, Centre County, PA
- 2024: American Red Cross Disaster Health Services Service Associate since
- Ongoing: American Red Cross Blood Donor
Social Media Account
www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ambrosi-wolgast-dnp-0a065b2b
Download Wolgast’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/5/2025
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