PhD Faculty Advisors

A list of current PhD advisors is maintained on the program intranet.

All Elaine Marieb College of Nursing faculty who hold a PhD or equivalent terminal research degree, maintain active programs of scholarship including recent (within the past 3 years) peer-reviewed data-based publications and/or research grants, who have graduate faculty status and who have completed the Graduate School’s required research mentor training for new graduate faculty advisors are potentially eligible to serve as Dissertation Chairs and primary advisors for PhD students. If a faculty member has not previously served in a PhD Dissertation Chair role at UMass or equivalent research-intensive institution, PhD advisor status is granted upon review of qualifications and approval by the PhD Academic Matters (PhDAM) committee.  

Students will be assigned an advisor whose program of research, CV, and strengths or background are congruent with the student’s area of interest, strengths, and career goals. Students are also encouraged to consider other persons within the University community and beyond who may be in a position to support their scholarly growth, physical social spiritual and/or mental well-being, and/or serve as accountability partners for emancipatory and anti-racist nursing praxis. In some cases, PhD students may be assigned co-advisors, with one advisor serving in a primary role and another acting as an additional support person for the student. 

The program recognizes that a PhD and/or other criteria listed above for Dissertation Committee Chairs is not the end all, be all of what constitutes “expertise” to mentor and guide scholarly development – in fact, far from it.  Expertise also resides in lived experience, which may have no relationship whatsoever to a particular degree. As such, we recognize that many different types of individuals and communities may serve as vital guides and supports on the path to one’s PhD (and beyond). Further, we encourage students to look outside their particular nursing program track, to engage with persons involved in the community and scholarship of other disciplines as well as other types of nursing practice preparation (DNP, MSN, AD, RN, LPN, and CNA), teaching, community organizing and activism, policy, communications, and leadership. 

PhD students are encouraged to meet regularly with their advisors to outline their plan of study, discuss academic coursework, prepare for the comprehensive exam and dissertation, and co-create a plan for professional development. If a student wants to change advisors, they are encouraged to meet with the director of the PhD program to facilitate the change. 

PhD Program Office

Dorian Pariseau, Program Specialist
University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304