Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Commencement Address

Bridgette M. Rice

PhD, MDiv, APRN, FAAN • Associate Dean for Research and Innovation; Richard and Marianne Kreider Endowed Professor in Nursing for Vulnerable Populations, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University

Bridgette M. (Brawner) Rice, PhD, MDiv, APRN, FAAN, is a nurse scientist, behavioral health expert, and seasoned researcher with a focus on interventions to promote community health, health equity and reducing health disparities among vulnerable populations.

Rice has earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University, a Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Divinity from the Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern Kentucky.

Rice currently serves as Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and the Richard and Marianne Kreider Endowed Professor in Nursing for Vulnerable Populations at the Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. She previously held a variety of academic positions at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, including the position of tenured associate professor of nursing. She also served as a visiting research fellow at Yale University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) Research Education Institute for Diverse Scholars (REIDS) from 2011-2013. In addition, Rice is the Founder and CEO of two companies: Dr. Bridgette Executive Consulting, LLC, and Healing Inspired Ministries, LLC.

Rice is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including her recognition in 2022 as one of just 250 nurses inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, a society that recognizes nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration, and academia. She has also received the Diversity and Equity Award from the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses for outstanding leadership in driving the development of culturally sensitive mental health services for diverse individuals, families, and groups.