Jana Goodwin, PhD, RN, CNE, began her journey at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) in 2001 as a clinical instructor.

Over the years, she's taken on various roles, notably as the director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program from 2017 to 2022. Transitioning in 2022, she assumed the position of interim associate dean in the Office of Student and Academic Services before becoming chair of the UMSON Program at the Universities at Shady Grove.

In her current role, she oversees the operations of both the BSN and the Family Nurse Practitioner-Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, bringing her wealth of experience as a faculty member for more than two decades. Her dedication to teaching and learning is profound, evident in her collaborations with faculty and leadership in curriculum development, student progression, program evaluation, quality improvement, policy development, and faculty mentorship. In recognition of her contributions, she was the 2022 UMSON recipient of the Maryland Higher Education Commission Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition Award.

Interested in the group and interprofessional dynamic, she collaborated and published work alongside colleagues on interprofessional education and is a trained restorative justice facilitator and debriefer. Additionally, her scholarship interests span topics such as enhancing nursing student competence and confidence, understanding the lived experience of non-English-speaking patients, cultural awareness, bias, culture, and the social determinants of health.  

She has a PhD in Nursing Education from Villanova University, and a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Temple University. Goodwin has furthered her professional development through programs like the Nurse Leadership Academy at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and as a fellow in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Leadership in Academic Nursing Program. She currently serves as the chapter president of the Chesapeake Bay Black Nurses Association.