Santa Barbara Graduate Institute Welcomes Dr. Kathleen Schrader as Dean of Academic Affairs

Santa Barbara, Calif., Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An experienced educator and nursing leader, Dr. Kathleen Schrader has joined Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, a unique graduate institution offering graduate degrees in prenatal and perinatal psychology and in somatic psychology. Dr. Schrader will serve as the institution's dean of academic affairs.

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"We are extremely pleased to have such a distinguished and committed leader join our outstanding faculty and staff," said Dr. Allan Hoffman, president of SBGI. "Kathy brings a wealth of expertise as a dean, educator, researcher and nurse. Her insight and experience will be invaluable as we expand our offerings to a full complement of health and human service degrees and programs focusing on integrative health care."

Dr. Schrader was previously dean at Irvine Valley College in Irvine, California. She has served as dean of Math, Science and Health Sciences at Hartnell College, in Salinas, California and also served as the director of the Regional Health Occupations Resource Center (RHORC). At RHORC she was responsible for development of grant-funded allied health and nursing education and training programs in seven counties across Central California, resulting in grant awards of over three million dollars.

Both an educator and practitioner, Dr. Schrader has taught graduate and undergraduate nursing and allied health education programs at colleges and universities including California State and University of California. She has also worked as a critical care nurse clinician, emergency and trauma nurse, and as a clinical researcher. Dr. Schrader holds a bachelor's in nursing from California State University, Los Angeles; a master's in nursing from the University of Washington; and a doctorate in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco.

"SBGI has some of the foremost thinkers, educators and researchers in the world in the areas of somatic and pre- and perinatal psychology," said Dr. Schrader. "As these fields become increasingly relevant and integrative health care becomes the new standard of excellence in developing healthier individuals and communities, SBGI will be at the forefront of a new paradigm in the practice and delivery of health care. I cannot think of a more exciting place to be."

About Santa Barbara Graduate Institute

Founded in 2000, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute offers the world's first graduate degrees in prenatal and perinatal psychology and the only doctoral degrees in somatic psychology. The institution offers flexible programming, including low residence and distance learning formats, allowing adult learners to study an integrative approach to lasting change and healing. SBGI's unique pedagogy addresses the individual student's personal and professional transformation within a curriculum that incorporates the best of traditional treatment methodologies and established clinical practice with the best integrative approaches to health and healing. www.sbgi.edu

SOURCE Santa Barbara Graduate Institute