Pennsylvania Native and Villanova Alumna Named Interim Dean of USM College of Nursing and Health Professions
July 24, 2009
Former resident of Upper Darby, Pa., Judith A. Spross, has been named interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Maine (USM), Portland.
Spross, a 1970 graduate of Archbishop Prendergast High School, is the daughter of Anne and Jerry Spross of Drexel Hill, Pa.
Spross has had a distinguished career as a clinical nurse specialist in oncology and pain management nursing, leading the nursing profession in defining advanced nursing practice and advocating for effective pain management by health professionals. In 1992, she was elected to the American Academy of Nursing, in recognition of her scholarly work and professional leadership.
Before joining USM in 2003, Spross was a senior scientist at Education Development Center, Inc., a non-profit R&D organization. She was co-investigator and project manager for interdisciplinary health services research and technical assistance projects aimed at improving clinical practice in pain management and palliative care.
A USM professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Spross also chaired USM’s Research Council, a group that promotes the research and scholarship of USM faculty.
Spross earned her Ph.D. in nursing at Boston College, a M.S. at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a B.S.N. at Villanova University.
The University of Southern Maine (USM) offers its 10,000 plus students more than 115 areas of undergraduate and graduate study. USM’s location in southern Maine, a region cited as one of the most liveable in the country, offers a range of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.
