Susan Kun Leddy, PhD, RN - Professor Emerita, School of Nursing, Widener University

Professor EmeriSusan Kun Leddy earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Skidmore College, Saratoga, New York in 1960, a master of science in nursing (teaching medical-surgical nursing) from Boston University in 1965, a doctor of philosophy (nursing science) from New York University in 1973, and did post-doctoral work at Harvard University (1985) and the University of Pennsylvania (1996-98).

Dr. Leddy initially taught in diploma schools of nursing for 4 years and then in the baccalaureate program at Columbia University before completing doctoral work. She was then one of four founding faculty for the RN-BSN program at Pace University. In 1976, after a year as an NLN consultant, she was asked to do a feasibility study and then write the proposal to the State of New York for a new RN-BSN program at Mercy College. She became the first chairperson of the program (Mae Pepper was the first faculty member), which opened in 1977.

Dr. Leddy left Mercy College in 1981 to first become dean of the School of Nursing, and then dean of the reconstituted College of Health Sciences at the University of Wyoming. In 1988, she became dean of the School of Nursing at Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania, returning to teaching there in 1993. She is currently a professor in the School of Nursing, teaching primarily in the doctoral program.

In addition to authoring Integrative Health Promotion: Conceptual Bases for Nursing Practice, Dr. Leddy is the co-author with Lucy Hood of Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing, Fifth Edition and is working on a manuscript, Nursing Knowledge and Nursing Science, with Jacqueline Fawcett. She has authored numerous periodical publications.