Roles: Dean, Professor, & Linda C. Hodges Endowed Chair, College of Nursing; Graduate Faculty, Graduate School
Research Interests: Childhood obesity; adolescent health; cardiac and diabetic risk; minority health, lifestyle interventions (exercise, diet); kidney and pancreas transplantation; student recruitment & retention; disadvantaged students; nurse workforce diversity
Brief Bio: Dr. Cowan has served as dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) since November 2015. She holds a research doctorate in nursing (Ph.D.) from the University of Tennessee (Memphis), a master’s degree in adult health nursing from the University of Kansas, and a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Cowan completed leadership fellowships through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and Wharton School of Business. In 2016, she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Over the past 35 years, Dr. Cowan has merged science, teaching, and patient care to address health disparities in adults and children, and educational disadvantage in higher education. Her scientific work contributed to understanding the relationships among ethnic/racial group membership, lifestyle behaviors, and health disparities in adults and youth with and without renal impairment. Dr. Cowan developed an innovative recruitment and retention program that resulted in a highly educated, diverse nursing workforce qualified to lead practice and research initiatives to reduce health disparities and inequities. Her 5-year New Careers in Nursing Program (2008-2013) project resulted in 100% graduation, >95% first-time NCLEX pass rates, and 46% of these students advancing to graduate education. Dr. Cowan’s research teams have obtained over $5,000,000 in external funding, and her research-practice collaborations resulted in the rapid translation of research findings to provide evidence-based care to minority populations in the areas of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases prevention and management.
Current/Recent Research Projects Project Title: SUSTAIN – New Careers in Nursing Program Initiative
Project Goal: (1) increased enrollment and retention of underrepresented groups (minorities and males) in an accelerated, entry-level nursing program, and (2) development of nursing leaders through mentorship, academic support services, and leadership activities. The use of evidence-based strategies included scholarships for financial support, monthly leadership sessions, monthly service leadership activities, and twice-monthly social and academic support sessions with faculty mentors and doctoral students.
Project Title: Genetics, Environment, and Weight Gain Posttransplant
- Project Goal: To test if gene-environmental interactions predict whether individuals will become obese at one-year posttransplant.
Project Title: Cardiac Risk Profile of Obese African American Adolescents
- Project Goal: Examine five interrelated factors (overweight severity and distribution, insulin resistance, cardiorespiratory fitness, diet, and family history) to determine predictors of glucose intolerance and cardiovascular risk in overweight adolescents.