DNP, RN, CPHQ
“It is incredible to think of how much the IU School of Nursing faculty have influenced multiple generations of nurses by sharing their expertise around the world.”
Meet Assistant Dean & Associate Professor Angela Opsahl
IU School of Nursing Bloomington (IUSON BL) Associate Professor and Assistant Dean Angela Opsahl was born in rural Boone County, Indiana. “My family has had a large generational farm in Thorntown (the home was built in 1838) for many years,” says Angela. “My mother moved back to the family homestead after the death of my father to take care of my grandmother, who lived to be 100 years old! I spent much of my youth growing up on our family farm.”
A decision made early in life
“I had several experiences involving my family that had a profound impact on my decision to enter the nursing profession,” says Angela. “My great aunt, Lillie Margaret Lewis, was a nurse for 45 years and night supervisor at Wishard Memorial Hospital. She would often tell me stories about her patients and her work with tuberculosis patients in the 1930s.
“Moreover, my brother was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia when he was only 15 years old,” she continues, “and, for a few years, my family spent many hours at Riley Hospital for Children. I was able to observe the interactions of the healthcare team, including nursing and medical students, and how well they cared for my brother. As a result, I knew I wanted to be a nurse very early in life.”
Partial to IU
Angela’s father was an electrician and evening shift supervisor for the power plant at IUPUI. It was Angela’s father “who encouraged me to continue my goals in higher education.” Angela earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1990, her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 1995, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2015, all from Indiana University. “My father was partial to IU,” she smiles.
“I have had several influential instructors and mentors since my admission to IUSON: Judith Halstead, Angela Barron McBride, Pat Ebright, Diane Billings, Margaret Applegate, Mary Fisher, Sara Horton-Deutsch, and Barbara Manz Friesth, to name a few. These faculty have been incredibly supportive and inspired me along my journey, and I still reach out to some of them to this day. It is incredible to think of how much the IUSON nursing faculty have influenced multiple generations of nurses by sharing their expertise around the world.”
While at IUSON, Angela has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses and serves as an Honors Program faculty mentor and coordinator for undergraduate nursing honors research on the Bloomington campus (see Honored elsewhere in this newsletter). “I find mentoring students at all levels of education to be one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching,” she says, “and I have had the pleasure to be published and to present with my students at conferences at both local and international venues.”
Her new role as assistant dean, says Angela, “gives me the opportunity to support Assoc. Dean Wendy Trueblood Miller, our students, and our faculty. I know leadership is a privilege that can influence the lives of all those involved, and I am excited for this next step on my professional journey.”
A stellar resume
In addition to her role as an Honors Program faculty mentor, Angela has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments during her 32-year nursing career. For example, Angela:
- Has published over 20 articles for peer-reviewed journals and provided 44 peer-reviewed conference presentations, including presentations in Edinburgh, Scotland; Calgary, Canada; Melbourne, Australia; and Rome, Italy. Angela’s scholarship focuses on ways to utilize active learning in both academic and clinical settings to engage the patient, student, faculty, and staff in promoting quality outcomes.
- Helped guide the activities and marketing of IUSON's RN to BSN Degree Completion Option by serving as Director of IUSON’s nine-campus RN to BSN Consortium.
- Is currently the President of Alpha Chapter for the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honors Society and on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Association for Healthcare Quality.
- Was appointed in 2021 to the National League for Nursing Commission as a Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) On-Site Program Evaluator, supporting continuous quality improvement and promoting excellence in national and international nursing education.
- Was promoted earlier this year to associate professor with tenure at IU.
- Was selected in June of this year to be the Assistant Dean for IUSON BL. “This leadership role gives me the opportunity to support Associate Dean Wendy Trueblood Miller, our students, and our faculty directly and personally,” says Angela. “I know that leadership is a privilege that can influence the lives and careers of all those involved, and I am excited for this next step on my professional journey.”
"As faculty members, we contribute—every day—to the future of health care in how we prepare our students, which impacts the overall quality of patient outcomes."
The challenges ahead
Of the many challenges facing our students, faculty, school, and Angela in her role as assistant dean, Angela prioritizes “reaching out to our clinical partners to provide a pulse on current trends and developments that will enhance our educational approach. Strong academic-practice partnerships are necessary to meet the needs of a constantly evolving and challenging healthcare landscape.
“It is also imperative,” she continues, “that we answer the needs of our profession to increase diversity and address the social determinants of health through our educational programs, as nurses are the vital link to reducing health inequities and improving health outcomes. As faculty members, we contribute—every day—to the future of health care in how we prepare our students, which impacts the overall quality of patient outcomes.”
Family adventures away from work
Angela and her husband Scott have been married for 32 years and live in Greenwood, Indiana. The couple has three sons “and two new daughters as of 2020!” says Angela. Scott recently retired from his career as a special education instructor and school administrator in Indianapolis and now enjoys teaching part-time for the University of Indianapolis in the School of Education.
Angela’s eldest son, Sam, is a historian and Program Associate for Indiana Humanities and teaches World History at the University of Indianapolis. Middle son, Gabe, is working on his PA degree in Ann Arbor. Youngest son, Jake, is a senior at IUB in the School of Public Health and plans to apply to DPT schools soon.
The Opsahls love travel, live music, movies, new restaurants, and what Angela calls “adventure experiences.” “Our family has traveled together to most of the national parks in the U.S. and to several of the larger cities in Canada,” she says. Angela's dedication and hard work have taken her all the way from Boone County, Indiana, to Edinburgh, Rome, Melbourne, and beyond, as she continues her personal and professional journey to becoming one of IUSON BL's most respected teachers and mentors.
