NLNAC BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Beverly L. Welhan, DNSc, RN, ANEF
Biographical Sketch
Beverly L. Welhan possess progressive teaching and
administrative experience within varied types of professional nursing education
programs and has demonstrated expertise in curriculum design and innovative
curricular strategies. Dr. Welhan received her nursing education in
Pennsylvania. She holds a nursing diploma from Montgomery Hospital School of
Nursing, a BSN from Gwynedd-Mercy College, a M.Ed. from Lehigh University, a MSN
from Villanova University with a focus on nursing education and adult health,
and a DNSc from Widener University. Her particular areas of interest include
test item development, student persistence, program outcomes, and nursing
accreditation. Her dissertation explored factors influencing female
baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral students in their decisions to persistent
in a nursing education program.
Currently, Dr. Welhan serves as the Dean of Health Sciences at Montgomery County
Community College. She has been with this College for over eight years in the
position of Director and Professor of the Nursing Program. Previously she held
positions as Director, Associate Director, and Assistant Director of a diploma
School of Nursing and has served as faculty in both diploma and baccalaureate
nursing programs. Her clinical experience is in medical-surgical and
gerontologic nursing.
The 2007 recipient of Villanova University’s College of Nursing Medallion for
Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education and one of the inaugural
Fellows inducted into the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing
Education, Dr. Welhan has served in a leadership capacity in a number of local,
state, and national organizations. She currently holds leadership positions on
the Pennsylvania League for Nursing Board of Directors and serves as the
Vice-Chair for the Pennsylvania Colleges of Associate Degree Nursing. She serves
on a variety of advisory boards ranging doctoral to vocational level and on the
Nursing Excellence Award selection committee for the North Penn Foundation. She
is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Nu chapter, a life member of Phi Kappa
Phi, and is listed in a variety of Who’s Who biographical sources.
An active NLNAC accreditation site visitor for over sixteen years, Dr. Welhan
has participated in on-site accreditation visits, mentored colleagues to the
role of site visitor, served as Team Chair for a number of on-site accreditation
visits, and served on an education review panel. She served the NLN as a member
of Constituent Organization Advisory Council and on the Assessment and
Evaluation Advisory committee.
Dr. Welhan has been awarded grants totaling nearly one million dollars in
support of nursing faculty, nursing student scholarships, nursing curricular and
facilities enhancement, and community education. In addition, she has shared her
knowledge and expertise with nurse colleagues during presentations at various
local and national professional conventions. Within her local community, she is
a volunteer for Aids for Friends, Inc.