President
Resurrection University
Chicago, IL
Beth A. Brooks, Ph.D., RN, FACHE, is the president of Resurrection University. Prior to her appointment by the University's Board of Directors in August 2011, Dr. Brooks served as interim president over a period of ten months. Dr. Brooks has a unique blend of leadership experiences from three distinct sectors of the health care industry; nursing administration in a health care system, academic administration, and leadership positions in the for-profit arena; specifically in marketing communication agencies specializing in employment branding, communications and employment marketing. Dr. Brooks began her leadership career as a nurse manager and over time became a director of professional practice and nursing research. Her health system leadership positions focused on nurse recruitment and retention, the nursing work environment, strategic planning, staff development, clinical advancement and shared governance. As the senior partner for the Health Care Practice at JWT INSIDE, a national marketing communications agency specializing in employment marketing, Dr. Brooks led creative, research and account service teams in bringing award-winning, evidenced-based creative and consulting solutions to the firm's health care clients (providers, payers, pharmaceutical companies) across the United States. Dr. Brooks also served on the agency's executive committee.
Dr. Brooks began her academic administration career as a graduate nursing program director for a small, faith-based university where she developed a new graduate degree and certificate programs in case management, and led the migration to on-line teaching methods. Dr. Brooks held several key academic positions in the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC): associate dean for educational outreach, executive director for the Institute for Health Care Innovation, and co-director on a Nursing Reinvestment Act Grant (HRSA), Career Building for Nurse Retention and Care Excellence, (2003-2008, $1.6M.) In 2005, Dr. Brooks was awarded the Graduate Teaching Award of Excellence. She continues to mentor doctoral students participating on research committees.
Dr. Brooks earned a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Science in nursing administration from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Valparaiso University. Her doctoral studies resulted in the creation of Brooks' Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey. Her survey has been used in thirteen countries from Iran to Thailand and most recently was translated into Chinese for use in Taiwan. Dr. Brooks is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves on the Board of the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation as Secretary, is chair of the National Council for the College of Nursing at Valparaiso University, and is on the Advisory Board for the Forum for Shared Governance. Editorial Board appointments include the Journal of Nursing Administration, Nursing Forum, and Journal of Health Administration Education. Dr. Brooks has served on the Board of the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders and numerous committees and task forces for the American Organization of Nurse Executives. In 2009, Dr. Brooks was selected as one of the 150 Most Influential People in Valparaiso University’s history.