Quinnipiac University names Guilford resident clinical assistant professor of nursing and director of the nurse anesthesia program

Judy Thompson has been named clinical assistant professor of nursing and director of the nurse anesthesia program at Quinnipiac University.

Thompson, of Guilford, Conn., is developing a doctoral-level nurse anesthesia program for the School of Nursing as well as a post master’s program for practicing certified registered nurse anesthetists. 

“I am very excited to have this wonderful opportunity to establish a doctoral program in my specialty here in such a state-of-the-art facility,” Thompson said. “When accredited, we will be one of 24 programs nationally to offer this degree in this specialty. We will be way ahead of many.”

The goal is to admit students starting in summer, 2014.

“Interest in obtaining this degree among the CRNA community is very high and I look forward to working with many of my former colleagues and students once again as they come here to study and receive their DNP,” Thompson said.

Thompson previously worked at the Hospital of St. Raphael School of Nurse Anesthesia, where she was director for 27 years.

“Judy Thompson has earned a national and local reputation for excellence as a leader in anesthesia education,” said Jean Lange, dean of the School of Nursing. “I have no doubt that under her direction, our soon-to-be launched nurse anesthesia program will quickly gain a reputation for excellence in the field.”

Thompson earned a doctorate degree in nurse anesthesia practice from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's degree in biology from Southern Connecticut State University. She received a bachelor's degree in biology from Adelphi University, an associate degree in nursing from the University of Bridgeport and a certificate of anesthesia from the Hospital of Saint Raphael.

Thompson has worked at a number of hospitals in Connecticut. She is presently on staff at Hartford Hospital and Yale-New Haven Hospital and was an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University for nearly three decades.

Thompson and her husband, Anthony Mucci, who is a chef at Yale University, have two children, Dr. Kaylan Mucci and Gregory Mucci.

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 6,400 full-time undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students in 58 undergraduate and more than 20 graduate programs of study in its School of Business and Engineering, School of Communications, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, School of Nursing and College of Arts and Sciences. Quinnipiac consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the North in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue. The 2013 issue of U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges named Quinnipiac as the top up-and-coming school with master’s programs in the Northern Region. Quinnipiac also is recognized in Princeton Review’s “The Best 377 Colleges.” The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Quinnipiac among the “Great Colleges to Work For.” For more information, please visit www.quinnipiac.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook at www.facebook.com/quinnipiacuniversity and follow Quinnipiac on Twitter @QuinnipiacU.