Dr. Mary Bemker is a recognized scholar and practitioner, a dynamic and forward – thinking nurse educator/administrator, and an individual with a deep commitment to nursing and mental health. She taught in various learning environments, and has over 16 years’ experience teaching online. Her areas of expertise are communication, ethics, multiculturalism, research, leadership, theory, psychology, counseling and nursing. As an administrator, Dr. Bemker oversaw the development and operation of RN to BSN, MSN and DNP programs, growing these programs from a startup of seven students to over 1000 within a three year period. She led the effort to get all three programs CCNE accredited within a two year span, which was accomplished. In addition, Dr. Bemker was a part of three additional, successful accreditation efforts. Over the last five years, Dr. Bemker concentrated on academic leadership in such roles as coordinator, chair and director where she oversaw 30+ faculty. She served as a nurse leader in a joint effort between her organization and a national nursing association/webinars, oversaw recruiting and addressed community in the online environment. In addition to publishing/editing articles and presenting in multiple platforms, Dr. Bemker is currently under contract to edit a nursing text and write chapters for DNP texts -scheduled release date of 2014. Dr Bemker received a PhD in Community Mental Health Nursing and a MSN in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She holds both a BSN and a PsyS in Counseling Psychology from Spalding University and she has a BS in education and a MS in Education and Counseling from Indiana University. In addition, Dr. Bemker has two honorary degrees from the University of Victoria in Australia and the London Institute of Social Research.
Dr. Bemker has a private practice where she specializes in addictions, eating disorders and family issues. She holds professional licenses in KY, IN, MN and NV. Certified through Level II EMDR (Rapid Eye Movement Therapy) and completed level I training through both the Gottman Institute and the Olson Institute for Marital Counseling, Dr. Bemker is a member of the American Counseling Association and the American Nurses Association among others. She is a Fellow in the American Association of Social Psychiatry. Development and implementation of a counseling and development program for a Fortune 500 company has expanded to consultation. She served on two Boards of Directors, is past president of two Rotary clubs/ Paul Harris Fellow.