Alison Ridge joined Benedictine University in June 2012. She serves as the Graduate Program Director in the Department of Nursing and Health. She received her BSN, MSN in psychiatric nursing, and DNP in systems leadership from Rush College of Nursing. Her clinical practice includes the care of adult and geriatric populations, and she has research and community outreach experience related to promoting the social emotional health of young children. Her scholarship interests include graduate distance education including integration of mission and the role of caring in nursing practice and education. She earned and has maintained the Certified Nurse Educator credential from the National League for Nursing since 2011.

Mental health nursing, distance nursing education, caring.