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At Carlow University, the next generation of ethical leaders is already in the making.
Here, our students gain more than just a degree – they build connections, find purpose, and thrive – working in ways big and small to reshape the future. With your support, we can continue to invest in these future leaders and expand their ability to transform our world.
How You Can Support
At Carlow University, the next generation of ethical leaders is already in the making.
Here, our students gain more than just a degree – they build connections, find purpose, and thrive – working in ways big and small to reshape the future. With your support, we can continue to invest in these future leaders and expand their ability to transform our world.
How You Can SupportCarlow University’s Master of Science in Nursing Executive Organizational Leadership program and its accompanying Post-Master’s Certificate prepare nurses to become the kind of healers the world needs; leaders who combine strategic expertise with compassion and a deep commitment to improving patient care. Designed in collaboration with healthcare executives, the curriculum equips graduates with high-level business and organizational skills, from fiscal management concepts drawn from Carlow’s MBA program to system-level project leadership, health policy, and ethics. Through 100% online coursework paired with a 150-hour mentored internship, you’ll learn from faculty with real-world executive nursing experience and graduate ready to lead at the highest levels, driving compassionate care, shaping ethical policy, and helping to create a more just and merciful world.
Credits required:
30 credits for MSN; 12 credits for Post Masters Certificate
Cost per credit:
$812
Time to degree:
16 months with 150 hr. internship for MSN;
8 months with 150 hr. internship for Certificate
Delivery:
100% online remote.
No campus requirements
Quick facts
Nursing executive preparedness with concentration in high-level business management
- System Level Project Management
- Fiscal Management concepts from the Carlow MBA program
- Human Resource strategic management
- Health Policy, Ethics & mentored leadership development at the VP level and above
Career opportunities for Masters
in Nursing Executive Organizational Leadership & Post-Masters Certificate
Chief Nursing Officer
Vice-President level positions within healthcare organizations
(example: VP Perioperative Services, VP Nursing Operations,
VP Patient Experience)
Admission requirements and application process
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Apply
anytime
Start term:
Fall, Spring and Summer
Full-time Faculty
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Devoted to Caring for the Mental and Emotional Needs of All Patients
Rooted in the mission of the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow University’s Hybrid Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program prepares bold, compassionate nurse leaders ready to transform mental health care.
Right now, millions of adults and children in the United States are living with mental health conditions but are not receiving the care they need. Nearly half of individuals with mental illness go untreated. The need for highly prepared, justice-centered providers has never been greater.1
Carlow prepares you to be more than a clinician — you become an advocate, a leader, and a force for change in communities that need you most.
Our PMHNP program equips working nurses with advanced skills in comprehensive psychiatric assessment, accurate diagnosis, psychotherapy, and medication management across the lifespan. Students are prepared to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive care grounded in current evidence-based practice that is holistic and patient-centered. Graduates learn to build strong therapeutic alliances, manage complex psychiatric conditions, monitor treatment safety, and support individuals and families through some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
Designed for working professionals, our flexible online format allows you to grow your impact without stepping away from your community. Graduates emerge ready to provide high-quality, compassionate care while strengthening systems and expanding access to mental health services.
At Carlow, you don’t just earn a degree — you answer a call to lead with mercy, act with courage, and change lives.
Be Part of the Solution. Apply Today.
Credits Required:
- 9 courses for the Post MSN NP
- 19 courses for the MSN
- 14 courses for the Post MSN
Cost Per Credit:
$918
Time to Degree:
As few as 28 months (Only applies to Post-Master’s NP Certificate)
Delivery Format
Hybrid learning designed to support working nurses while maintaining academic rigor and clinical excellence.
Coursework is delivered primarily online with required synchronous TEAMS sessions to foster engagement, case-based learning, and clinical integration.
Traditional MSN and MSN (without previous NP completion) students participate in a required two-day on-campus immersive experience — an opportunity for advanced skills development, collaborative learning, professional formation, and connection within the Carlow community.
PMHNP Curriculum
The greater demand for PMHNPs coincides with a dramatic increase in reported cases of depression and anxiety, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring that get the treatment they need remains a key concern. With such an unmet need for service providers in this specialty to care for existing patients and help new ones, the demand for more nurses to pursue this specialty will likely only grow.
Quick Facts
- Purpose-Driven Professionals: The ideal Carlow PMHNP student is a nurse called to advanced practice — compassionate, perceptive, and skilled in building meaningful therapeutic relationships. Our students understand that individuals are never defined by a diagnosis and approach care with dignity, respect, and clinical insight. Graduates are prepared to challenge stigma, promote understanding, and advocate for mental health as an essential component of whole-person wellness.
- Interdisciplinary Learning Advantage: Carlow’s collaborative academic environment provides opportunities to learn alongside psychology and social work peers — strengthening interprofessional communication and preparing graduates for integrated behavioral health practice.” Please convert this bullet to a paragraph.
- Prepared to Succeed: Our nurse practitioner graduates have achieved a 100% board certification pass rate over the past two years, reflecting the strength of our curriculum, faculty mentorship, and clinical preparation.” Please convert this bullet to a paragraph.
- Flexible Pathways for Advanced Practice: For nurses who already hold an MSN in another specialty, Carlow offers a post-master’s certification option designed to expand your scope of practice and deepen your impact in psychiatric mental health care.” Please redesign this program benefit as a paragraph rather than a bullet point.
Prepared for Certification and Licensure: Graduates are eligible to sit for national PMHNP board certification. In the final semester, students complete a comprehensive board review course designed to reinforce clinical reasoning, strengthen exam readiness, and support a confident transition into advanced practice. Graduates leave Carlow confident, prepared, and ready to expand their practice — grounded in a solid foundation of clinical excellence, holistic care, and Mercy-centered formation.
Over 70 Years of Nursing Excellence
or 76 years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has shaped nurses who lead with skill, serve with compassion, and strengthen the health of communities. Our graduates influence healthcare as clinicians, educators, researchers, innovators, and leaders — advancing practice while honoring the dignity of every person they serve.
As we look ahead, Carlow continues to prepare nurses not only for today’s healthcare challenges, but for the evolving future of care delivery. Grounded in the Mercy tradition, we form professionals who advance research, translate evidence into practice, challenge inequities, expand access, and build systems rooted in justice and human dignity.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 cumulative GPA required for admissions
- Application Timeline: Applications are accepted year-round. Program start term: Fall semester.
- Transfer Credits: Up to 18 post-master’s credits may be eligible for transfer, pending review
- International Applicants: This program welcomes qualified international students
- Required Application Materials:
>Current curriculum vitae (CV)
>Official graduate transcript(s)
>Personal statement/essay
>Three professional letters of recommendation - Scholarship Opportunity: Applicants accepted and enrolled in this program are eligible to be considered for the Anne Kisak Endowed Scholarship.
Apply:
Any time
Start Terms:
Fall
Applicants for this program are eligible for the Anne Kisak endowed scholarship, upon acceptance and enrollment.
Investing in the Future of Youth Mental Health
Carlow University is proud to support the next generation of mental health leaders through the CURE Grant, an award of up to $25,000 for students who demonstrate a commitment to serving pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients in underserved communities.
This grant reflects Carlow’s mission to expand access to care where it is needed most. Recipients are prepared not only to deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment, but to address disparities in mental health access and outcomes among vulnerable populations.
Through initiatives like the CURE Grant, Carlow advances its commitment to justice, advocacy, and the formation of clinicians who lead with both skill and mercy.
Contact Admissions
If you would like to learn more about the program, schedule an on-campus visit or attend an upcoming event.
Faculty & staff
Deborah Lynn Mitchum DNP, ANP-C, WHNP, Project Director, Clinical Coordinator Chair of Department of Graduate Nursing
Forge your path to a career in nursing leadership
The healthcare field is evolving. Advanced practice nurses must possess the business knowledge needed to lead in organizational and academic settings. Carlow’s MSN – MBA program offers the well-rounded knowledge needed to advance in today’s healthcare field.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family (Individual) Across the Life-Span Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program
Make a difference in the lives of individual patients, entire families and communities as a whole and advance your career with Carlow’s Master of Science in Nursing: Family (Individual) Across the Life Span Nurse Practitioner degree.
This program will help you develop the knowledge and skills needed for advanced practice nursing in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, private offices and practices, clinics, private homes and schools.
Upon graduation, you will be eligible for board certification and licensure, and prepared to assume a leadership position in nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing: Family (Individual) Across the Life Span Nurse Practitioner serves as the basis for doctoral studies and lifelong learning.
For your convenience, this program is offered at two of our campuses (Oakland and Online).
95% AANP & 97% ANCC certification exam first time pass rate
Credits required:
49 credits
Cost per credit:
$946/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 28 months
Delivery:
On-campus (hybrid/twice monthly classes) & online
Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum
Our high-tech, learner-centered curriculum focuses on your development towards advanced nursing practice. You will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to manage acute chronic conditions, promote health, prevent disease, educate, and provide counseling services to individuals and families across the lifespan.
At the core of the curriculum is teamwork and collaboration, providing you with the opportunity to develop a peer network – a valuable career resource.
Hybrid classes are offered one evening every other week. For all students, clinical practica require clinical hours (600 hours) over the course of the program in a mix of urban and rural healthcare agencies.
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for board certification as a family nurse practitioner through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
100% ANCC first time pass rate
95% AANP first time pass rate
The curriculum for the MSN Family (Individual) Across the Life Span Nurse Practitioner program meets the requirements for national board certification and APRN licensure in most U.S. states and territories
Quick facts
- Enroll part time or full time
- Available at 2 locations: Oakland & Online
- Build a professional, resourceful network for your future
Program delivery options
Hybrid format
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Certificate option
Post-master’s certificate
If you have already earned an MSN and are looking to add a credential, we offer post-master’s certificates in Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon certificate completion, you are eligible to sit for board certification.
HRSA IMPACT Grant
Carlow University was approved for a 2.6-million-dollar HRSA Grant with disbursement of funds over the next 4 years ending in 2027. This grant focuses on placing FNP students into medically underserved areas to complete their primary care rotations and a specialty rotation with a focus on women’s and behavioral health. The goal of the grant is to make a BIG IMPACT on students, preceptors, and the underserved population through “Impacting Diversity and Education of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for Healthy Communities” . Current full time FNP students are eligible to apply for up to $23,000 in tuition reimbursement.
HRSA Grant Faculty
Shannon Robertson, MSN, MBA, CRNP, FNP-C, CMC, Project Coordinator
Deborah Mitchum, DNP, ANP-C, WHNP, Project Director, Clinical Coordinator
Monte Stone, Administrative Assistant
Career opportunities for MSN: Family (Individual) Across the Life Span Nurse Practitioner
Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Growth will occur primarily because of an increased emphasis on preventive care and demand for health care services from an aging population.
76 Years of Nursing Excellence
For 76 Years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has been dedicated to educating and empowering nurses who make a significant impact on healthcare as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. As we look to the future, Carlow University remains devoted to creating ethical leaders who strive to build a more just and merciful world.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a supervisor) that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Also, you must have:
- A current, valid and unrestricted license as a registered nurse
- Completed an approved undergraduate statistics course
- One year of current direct-care clinical nursing experience prior to starting clinical rotation.
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall (hybrid and online) & Spring (online program only)
An undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No GRE or GMAT required.
The program director will schedule an interview with qualified applicants.
Tuition reimbursement or discounts may be available through your current employer, contact your employer to learn more.
Family Nurse Practitioner faculty
Our full-time faculty are doctorally prepared and board certified. Each practice as nurse practitioners in their specialty, within the community of Pittsburgh and conduct research in both clinical and academic settings.
Study Abroad Opportunities:
This Boyer Model Application-like project combined efforts of interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate students to improve awareness on common comorbidities that afflict native Jamaican individuals, specifically Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension. Student education and patient testing related to these comorbidities may improve quality of living as well as equip them to monitor their current health status via use of donated medical equipment. Subsequent follow-up is planned for Spring of 2025 when another interdisciplinary, international student experience is anticipated to commence.
A multidisciplinary team (consisting of faculty from the Colleges of Health and Wellness and Arts and Science, together with students enrolled in the Family and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner graduate programs provide education and medical evaluation/treatment to the children of Bright Kids Uganda Children’s home and the communities of Oukut, Opucet and Kanyanga in Uganda each summer. This work seeks to improve medical outcomes for all children by preventable disease screening, creating inclusive learning environments, reducing disability and disease through improving access to clean water has context menu.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Women’s Health Gender related Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Carlow’s Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a women’s health gender related nurse practitioner will allow you to promote women’s health issues while also advancing your nursing career.
National workforce data indicates that many women’s health gender related nurse practitioners are nearing retirement age. Carlow University is responding to this critical need by offering the only WHNP graduate program in Western Pennsylvania. This MSN program is leading the way with many regional providers of women’s health care by providing qualified, compassionate and dedicated women’s health gender related nurse practitioners specifically trained to provide obstetrical and gynecological care.
Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat patients as part of a health care team. They may order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests and prescribe medications. Women’s health gender related nurse practitioners provide preventive care for women in private practice settings. They may also provide adolescent health care, pregnancy testing, fertility evaluation, prenatal visits, after-pregnancy care and menopausal care.
Carlow’s MSN program is a foundation for doctoral studies and lifelong learning. Upon completion, you will be prepared to take leadership positions in nursing and will contribute to the discipline of nursing through evidence-based practice efforts.
Credits required:
49 credits
Cost per credit:
$946/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 28 months
Delivery:
On-campus (hybrid/twice monthly classes) & online
MSN: Women’s Health Gender related Nurse Practitioner curriculum
The program curriculum meets the requirements for national board certification and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure in all U.S. states and territories. Graduates are eligible to sit for board certification as a women’s health gender related nurse practitioner through the National Credentialing Center (NCC). The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Quick facts
- Enroll part time or full time
- Available at Oakland Campus
- Complete 600 clinical hours in a mix of urban and rural health care agencies
Alternate degree completion options
Online Degree
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Certificate option
Post-master’s certificate
If you have already earned an MSN and are looking to add an additional credential we offer post-master’s certificates in Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon certificate completion, you are eligible to sit for board certification.
Career opportunities for Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners
Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over 75 Years of Nursing Excellence
For over 75 years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has been dedicated to educating and empowering nurses who make a significant impact on healthcare as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. As we look to the future, Carlow University remains devoted to creating ethical leaders who strive to build a more just and merciful world.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a supervisor) that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Also, you must have:
- A current, valid and unrestricted license as a registered nurse
- Completed an approved undergraduate statistics course
Apply
anytime
Start term:
Fall
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No GRE or GMAT required.
Once your application is received, the program director will schedule an interview with you.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner faculty
Study Abroad Opportunities:
This Boyer Model Application-like project combined efforts of interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate students to improve awareness on common comorbidities that afflict native Jamaican individuals, specifically Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension. Student education and patient testing related to these comorbidities may improve quality of living as well as equip them to monitor their current health status via use of donated medical equipment. Subsequent follow-up is planned for Spring of 2025 when another interdisciplinary, international student experience is anticipated to commence.
A multidisciplinary team (consisting of faculty from the Colleges of Health and Wellness and Arts and Science, together with students enrolled in the Family and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner graduate programs provide education and medical evaluation/treatment to the children of Bright Kids Uganda Children’s home and the communities of Oukut, Opucet and Kanyanga in Uganda each summer. This work seeks to improve medical outcomes for all children by preventable disease screening, creating inclusive learning environments, reducing disability and disease through improving access to clean water has context menu.
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.
Empower patients as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
The Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate allows students who already have a Master’s of Science in Nursing to be certified as nurse practitioners for individuals and families. The post-master’s certificate will prepare you for advanced practice nursing in home health agencies, physicians’ offices, health maintenance organizations, family health centers, and clinics in both urban and rural communities.
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to be certified as family/individual nurse practitioners across the life span.
As a certified nurse practitioner, you’ll diagnose and treat acute, episodic or chronic illness, working with a physician and as part of a health care team. Nurse practitioners may order, perform or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and X-rays and may prescribe medication.
Credits required:
36 credits
Cost per credit:
$946/credit
Time to degree:
As few as 27 months
Delivery:
On campus or online
Post-Master’s Certificate for Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum
You will complete 36 course credits as well as 600 clinical hours, which may take place in a variety of urban and rural health care agencies in the Pittsburgh region.
Quick facts
- Prepare for FNP certification
- Gain hands-on experience in our simulation lab, CSCIL
- Take classes in Oakland, Westmoreland or Cranberry
Alternate certificate completion option
Online Certificate
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online certificate option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Career opportunities for Family Nurse Practitioners
Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
75 Years of Nursing Excellence
For 75 Years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has been dedicated to educating and empowering nurses who make a significant impact on healthcare as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. As we look to the future, Carlow University remains devoted to creating ethical leaders who strive to build a more just and merciful world.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a supervisor) that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Also, you must have:
- A current, valid and unrestricted license as a registered nurse
- Completed an approved undergraduate statistics course
Apply
anytime
Start terms:
Fall & Spring
An undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No GRE or GMAT required.
Once your application is received, the program director will schedule an interview with you.
Family Nurse Practitioner faculty
Marcia S. Cook PhD, DNP, MPM, RN Associate Professor and Program Director, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this certificate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps.
Advance your career as a women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP)
The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate allows students who already have a Master’s of Science in Nursing to be certified as nurse practitioners for women’s health. The post-master’s nursing certificate will prepare you for advanced practice nursing in OB/GYN offices, hospital-based women’s clinics, inpatient prenatal and postpartum settings, and clinics in both urban and rural medically underserved communities.
Graduates are eligible to be certified as women’s health nurse practitioners across the life span.
Once certified, women’s health nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings where they provide preventive care such as well-woman exams, breast cancer screenings, Pap tests or contraceptive care. WHNPs may also provide adolescent health care, pregnancy testing, fertility evaluation, prenatal visits, after-pregnancy care and menopausal care.
Credits required:
35 credits
Cost per credit:
$918/credit
Time to completion:
As few as 27 months
Delivery:
On campus or online
Post-master’s nursing certificate curriculum
You will complete 35 course credits as well as 600 clinical hours, which may take place in a variety of urban and rural health care agencies in the Pittsburgh region.
Quick facts
- Position yourself for an in-demand career
- Gain hands-on experience in our simulation lab (CSCIL)
- Take classes in Oakland, Westmoreland or Cranberry
- Prepare for WHNP certification
Alternate certificate completion option
Online Certificate
Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online certificate option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.
Career Opportunity
Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 45% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
75 Years of Nursing Excellence
For 75 Years, Carlow University’s School of Nursing has been dedicated to educating and empowering nurses who make a significant impact on healthcare as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. As we look to the future, Carlow University remains devoted to creating ethical leaders who strive to build a more just and merciful world.
Admission requirements and application process
You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:
- Official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions you have attended
- Personal essay that describes your academic objectives
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a supervisor) that address your leadership potential and ability to succeed in graduate-level work
Also, you must have:
- A current, valid and unrestricted license as a registered nurse
- Completed an approved undergraduate statistics course
Apply
anytime
Start term:
Fall
An undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred; however, provisional admission is also possible if you do not meet all of the admission criteria but exhibit a strong possibility of academic success. No GRE or GMAT required.
Once your application is received, the program director will schedule an interview with you.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner faculty
Marcia S. Cook PhD, DNP, MPM, RN Associate Professor and Program Director, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Contact Admissions
If you are interested in this certificate program, our Admissions team is available to assist you with the next steps.
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Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.