L. Kathleen Sekula

Dr. L. Kathleen Sekula is a Professor at Duquesne University School of Nursing, where she has served since 1998 as a Psychiatric Mental Health expert and pioneer in forensic nursing. She holds the Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Academic Leadership (2020-2025) and currently serves as President of the Faculty Senate. Her leadership established Duquesne as a national leader in forensic nursing education through innovative program development and substantial federal funding.

Education:

• Certificate in Forensic Science and Law, The Cyril H. Wecht Institute for Forensic Science and Law, Duquesne University School of Law (2002)
• MSN, Post-Master's in Psychiatric Nursing, Duquesne University (1999)
• PhD in Nursing, University of Pittsburgh (1998)
• MSN in Nursing, University of Pittsburgh (1986)
• BSN in Nursing, Duquesne University (1967)
• RN, St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing (1964)

Dr. Sekula's research centers on forensic nursing with emphases on sexual assault response, trauma-informed care, and psychiatric implications for victims of violence. She developed one of the first MSN forensic nursing programs in 2001 and created Duquesne's online SANE-A training that has educated over 900 nurses nationwide, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Her work addresses vulnerable populations including sexual assault survivors, domestic violence victims, and individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions, integrating legal and psychiatric frameworks to advance evidence-based practice in forensic settings.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2017-2023) reveals dominant themes in sexual assault response systems (SANE training, evidence collection protocols), trauma-informed care implementation across diverse settings (STI clinics, emergency departments, veteran services), and mental health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ youth, combat veterans, and homebound elderly. She has significantly contributed to forensic nursing theory development, notably the Constructed Theory of Forensic Nursing Care, while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations in child abuse radiology, opioid use disorder interventions, and forensic workforce expansion.

Awards and Honors:

• Fellow, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (2023)
• Ann Burgess Research Award, International Association of Forensic Nurses (2021)
• The Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Academic Leadership (2020-2025)
• Polished Apple Award, Zeta Tau Alpha (2020)
• Pittsburgh Magazine Excellence in Nursing - Academic Award (2019)
• Article of the Year Award for 'Understanding the importance of radiology screening when suspecting child abuse' (2018)
• American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award (1st Place, Critical Care-Emergency Nursing) (2016)
• American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award (3rd Place, Medical-Surgical Nursing) (2016)
• Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2011)
• Ellen Rudy Clore Excellence in Research Writing Award (2010)
• Selected to the Office of Research Hall of Fame, Duquesne University (2009)

Dr. Sekula has secured over $3 million in federal funding as Principal Investigator, including two foundational HRSA grants ($820,428 in 2003; $912,421 in 2006) that established Duquesne's forensic nursing programs, and current HRSA ANE-SANE grants ($1.47M 2018-2021; $1.5M 2021-2025) expanding the national SANE workforce. She mentors emerging scholars through the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Scholars Program and serves as Faculty Mentor for Alison M. Colbert. Her grant-funded initiatives have transformed forensic nursing education from MSN to DNP/PhD levels while developing evidence-based protocols for sexual assault response.

She co-founded and leads Duquesne's Forensic Nursing program through the Cyril H. Wecht Institute for Forensic Science and Law, where she serves on the Board of Directors. Her pro bono psychiatric practice provides care for anxiety and depression, while her campus leadership includes the Title IX Task Force addressing sexual assault and the University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Internationally, she partners with RTI International to transfer SANE knowledge to rural communities and serves on the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.