Mary Leas
Assistant Professor
Background
Dr. Mary Leas PhD, RN, CCRN is a tenure-track faculty member in the nursing program. Dr. Leas joined the nursing program in 2024. Prior to coming to JCU, Dr. Leas served in a variety of nursing and leadership roles at Mount Sinai Hospitals and NYU Langone Health in New York City. She has also lived and practiced in Pennsylvania and Arizona. Most previously, Dr. Leas practiced as a Registered Nurse Case Manager at NYU Langone Hospital in Manhattan, NYC. Mary has been a Registered Nurse for over 28 years. She has extensive experience in critical care nursing, procedural/infusion nursing, emergency nursing, neuro-psychiatry, nursing leadership, case management, and nursing education. She has maintained certification as an adult critical care nurse since 2010. Additionally, Mary has wide ranging experience in pre-licensure nursing education both as a lecturer and clinical nurse faculty.
Dr. Leas received her BSN from Kent State University in 1997 and her MSN-Leadership in Health Care Systems degree from Grand Canyon University in 2013. She received her PhD in Nursing Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2025. The phenomenon of interest for her dissertation study was the experience of moral distress in hospital-based registered nurse case managers.
Dr. Leas is dedicated to preparing nurses to thrive both personally and professionally. She is passionate about diversity in nursing, resiliency, belonging, leadership, professionalism, and supporting and elevating the art and science of nursing. As a native of Northeast Ohio, she is dedicated to supporting nursing’s leadership role in combating the negative effects of the social determinants of health for individuals and communities. Her research interests include nurse case management, nursing leadership, healthy work environments, faculty approachability, nursing ethics, holistic nursing, end-of-life issues, geriatrics, spirituality, creative nursing education pedagogies, and culturally competent nursing care.
Areas of Expertise
- Mental Health Nursing
- Acute and Critical Care Nursing
- Emergency and Trauma Nursing
- Nursing Leadership
Education & Awards
Education
- Ph.D., Nursing Education, University of Northern Colorado
- M.S., Nursing-Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Institution Name
- B.S., Nursing, Kent State University
Education
- Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, Kent State University
- Master'sof Science in Nursing-Leadership in Healthcare Systems
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing-Nursing Education, University of Northern Colorado
Courses Taught
- NURS 2200
- NURS 2450
- NURS 3200
