July 1, 2019

MMU announces dean, leadership team.

New Dean for Health College

Mount Mercy University is pleased to announce the newest member of the Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health leadership team, Chandice Covington, PhD, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAAN

Dr. Covington joins as dean of the college and will lead the nursing and health team.

Dr. Covington is a board-certified primary care pediatric nurse practitioner. Her research interests include improving the health of women, children and families in domestic and global settings.

With 45 years of professional experience, Dr. Covington most recently was a professor of nursing at Linfield College School of Nursing in Portland, Oregon. Previously, she was a pediatric nurse practitioner at Fort Peck Reservation Tribal School Clinics in northeast Montana. 

Experience in education

 Dr. Covington has two prior dean appointments, serving as dean and vice president of Kaplan University School of Nursing, and dean and professor at the University of North Dakota College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines.

A fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in clinical nursing research from the University of Michigan, and her Master of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees from the University of Texas.

Dr. Covington has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications funded by organizations such as the F. Marie Hall Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute. Most recently, she was an investigator on a project to develop an at-breast feeding device to prevent breast milk transmission of HIV to infants.

“I am honored to be joining the dedicated and experienced nursing and health faculty and staff at the Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health," said Dr. Covington. "My goals are to build upon the illustrious reputation of the College, started and nurtured by the leadership of founding dean Dr. Mary Tarbox and her predecessor Sister James Marie Donahue. The Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health is destined to continue to grow and lead the state and region in providing a well-trained and educated health professional workforce to serve our nation’s health care needs.”

I am honored to be joining the dedicated and experienced nursing and health faculty and staff at the Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health.

Dr. Chandice Covington
Dean, Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health

Following in Tarbox's footsteps

Dr. Covington began July 1 and replaces Dr. Tarbox, who retired and was awarded professor emeritus status after 42 years with Mount Mercy’s nursing faculty.

The full nursing and health leadership team is:

  • Dr. Chandice Covington | Dean, Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health
  • Dr. Kim Bro | Chair, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Dr. Candace Chihak | Director, RNؘ–BSN
  • Dr. Sharon Guthrie | Director, Graduate Nursing Programs
  • Mary Ann Hindman Grobstich | Chair, Health Programs

“Our leadership team will continue Mount Mercy’s legacy of educating nurses and health care professionals.”

“Our leadership team will continue Mount Mercy’s legacy of educating nurses and health care professionals,” said Dr. Tim Laurent, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We look forward to the exceptional work of this skilled group.”