Carol Kottwitz

Carol Kottwitz, DNP, PMH-NP, ARNP, serves as Associate Professor and Program Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at Gonzaga University. With 40 years of nursing experience including 20 years at the advanced practice level, she teaches undergraduate, graduate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice courses while maintaining a private psychiatric practice. Her community engagement includes board service at a mental health center and collaboration with Washington State Department of Health on advanced practice license impacts.

Education

• DNP, University of Washington
• M.N., University of Washington
• BSN, Eastern Washington University

Her research spans psychiatric mental health nursing with emphasis on suicide prevention, ADHD across the lifespan, alcohol misuse, and rural mental health access. She has contributed to statewide suicide prevention initiatives and examines advanced practice compact license implications through Washington State Department of Health partnerships, bridging clinical practice with policy development.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on integrating social justice into nursing curricula, enhancing mental health assessment in underserved populations (including rural firefighters), and addressing faculty work-life balance. Her scholarship reveals progressive attention to evidence-based suicide assessment tools and transitions in community mental health systems.

Scientific Awards

• Distinguished Fellow, National Academies of Practice

As Program Director, Dr. Kottwitz mentors psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students and leads curriculum development. Her grant activities include Principal Investigator for an evidence-based online suicide assessment competency evaluation and research team membership in national faculty satisfaction studies, alongside previous collaboration on the unfunded HSSA Access to Care Grant for neighborhood healthcare expansion.

Dr. Kottwitz actively contributes to professional communities through American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau. She volunteers as ANCC PMHNP exam content expert and partners with Washington State Department of Health, demonstrating leadership in shaping mental health policy and practice standards.