Maureen R. Keefe

Maureen R. Keefe, RN, PhD, FAAN, joined the University of Utah in August 2001 as the Dean of the College of Nursing. She is a tenured Professor and holds the Louis H. Peery Presidential Endowed Chair. She served as Dean and Professor of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing from 1995 to 2001. Prior to leaving for the west, she was Associate Dean for Practice at the University of Colorado School of Nursing and Vice President of Nursing Research and Education at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

Dr. Keefe is a nationally known researcher working in the area of maternal child health care. Her NIH funded work focuses on new models of care for families with colicky or irritable infants. She has authored several articles, books and lay publications for families on the topic of infant care and development. She has appeared on National Public Radio's Parent's Journal and has been an active member of the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute Advisory Board.

Through her work as a Dean of Nursing, here at the University of Utah and at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Keefe is a spokesperson for issues affecting the profession, the current nursing shortage and the status of women. Dr. Keefe received the 2007 Distinguished Researcher Award from the Western Institute of Nursing. She was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the HRSA National Advisory Council for Nursing Education and Practice where she serves as the chair of the executive committee.

Dean Keefe enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing and golfing, as well as spending time with her two grandsons.