Kara Fenne

Kara Fenne DNP, RN, PEL-CSN, CNE earned her BSN from University of Iowa in 1992, her MSN in nursing education from Clarke University in 2013 and her DNP in Health Executive Leadership from Indiana University in 2022. Her DNP project focused on breaking down barriers between academia and practice settings to foster effective clinical experiences for prelicensure nursing students and staff nurses. In May of 2023, Dr. Fenne joined the North Central College MSN Program as the Coordinator of the MSN Executive Leadership Track. Dr. Fenne has over three decades of clinical experience including oncology nursing, community health, school nursing, home care and hospice. She earned her Professional Educator License and Certification in School Nursing from University of Illinois Chicago in 2017. In addition, Dr. Fenne is an experienced educator who has served in several leadership positions at her former university. She is a Certified Nurse Educator with 7 years of teaching experience in the areas of leadership, ethics, policy and population health.  Dr. Fenne earned the Aurora University Meritorious Faculty Award in 2020 and the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2022 from the BSN graduating seniors in spring of 2022.   

Dr. Fenne lives in Saint Charles with her husband and 3 dogs. She has three grown sons and enjoys traveling, reading, music, and hiking. She is excited to be a part of developing nurses who will be innovators and transformational leaders in the healthcare setting.  

Selected Scholarship

Kara Fenne DNP, RN, PEL-CSN, CNE earned her BSN from University of Iowa in 1992, her MSN in nursing education from Clarke University in 2013 and her DNP in Health Executive Leadership from Indiana University in 2022. Her DNP project focused on breaking down barriers between academia and practice settings to foster effective clinical experiences for prelicensure nursing students and staff nurses. In May of 2023, Dr. Fenne joined the North Central College MSN Program as the Coordinator of the MSN Executive Leadership Track. Dr. Fenne has over three decades of clinical experience including oncology nursing, community health, school nursing, home care and hospice. She earned her Professional Educator License and Certification in School Nursing from University of Illinois Chicago in 2017. In addition, Dr. Fenne is an experienced educator who has served in several leadership positions at her former university. She is a Certified Nurse Educator with 7 years of teaching experience in the areas of leadership, ethics, policy and population health.  Dr. Fenne earned the Aurora University Meritorious Faculty Award in 2020 and the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2022 from the BSN graduating seniors in spring of 2022.   

Dr. Fenne lives in Saint Charles with her husband and 3 dogs. She has three grown sons and enjoys traveling, reading, music, and hiking. She is excited to be a part of developing nurses who will be innovators and transformational leaders in the healthcare setting.