LEAD Team | UNMC

Karen Grigsby, RN, PhD
Project Director

Karen Grigsby, PhD, is Project Director on the LEAD grant. In this role she has overall responsibility for the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of the project. She a) oversees and works collaboratively with project personnel; b) is responsible for the budget and all project related reports; c) advises MSN students in the Nurse Leader Executive Advanced Degree (LEAD) program; and d) works directly with the consultants and advisory council to make project improvements. She has expertise in leadership, administration, and change. Her research interests include system change and impact on practice and development of leaders. She is actively involved in the Nebraska Organization of Nurse Leaders (NONL), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), Plexus Institute, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Kathleen Duncan, RN, PhD
Co-Project Director

Kathleen Duncan, PhD is a Co-Project director on the LEAD grant. In this role she assists with grant requirements including recruitment efforts. Dr. Duncan also monitors pre-requisite courses for students in the ADN to MSN path. Her research interests are performance management, behavior change, and quality improvement. Dr. Duncan's teaching responsibilities include leadership courses in the undergraduate and graduate program.

Teresa Hultquist, RN, PhD, APRN-CNS
LEAD Project Professor

Teresa Barry Hultquist teaches in the LEAD program, serves as a faculty advisor for students, and provides expertise for the grant related to cultural competency and economics/finance. She has expertise in leadership and management, quality improvement and program and performance evaluation. Dr. Hultquist developed a new LEAD course focused on legal, ethical and regulatory issues in Nursing Administration and Leadership. Her research interests include rural women, health status, resourcefulness, self-management of health and supporting health behavior change. She is the Project Director for a federally funded practice and curriculum grant focused on improving provider-patient collaboration for health behavior change.

Lauren Luger, BJ
LEAD Program Associate

Lauren Luger came from a background in Broadcasting and Marketing. These experiences have brought her to the College of Nursing to work with students and potential students on the LEAD program across the state of Nebraska. Lauren not only works with students and potential students, but also coordinates inside activities of the LEAD project, and markets to various organizations and leaders across the state of Nebraska and beyond. Lauren welcomes all inquiries about this program at lauren.luger@unmc.edu or 402-559-6618.

Susan Waters, MS
LEAD Instructional Designer

Susan Waters, MS, has worked more than 20 years in technology roles including development, management, and training. She has also spent over 15 years as a trainer, training manager, training evaluator, and instructional designer. She has provided these services in universities, community college, health care, and Fortune 200 companies. She holds an MS in instructional design, with an emphasis on e-learning solutions. She also holds a BS in computer science and a BFA in studio art.