Traci M. Krause, DNP, MPH, RN, RYT

Chancellor, Professor

Traci has spent the last decade of her career within Minnesota State Agencies, most recently as the dean of the School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Wellness for Minneapolis College, part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Prior to her work with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Traci served at the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs as an assistant director of nursing.

Traci began her nursing career as a nurse at North Iowa Mercy Health Center in the mid-90s and shortly after joined the United States Peace Corps in Estonia to assist as a nursing instructor, medical training assistant and teaching the English language. She has also served as a college instructor, educator and director or manager of nursing many times throughout her career.

Traci received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019 from Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minn. and her Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Public Health, both with honors, in 1999 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Her Associate Degree of Nursing, also with honors, was obtained at North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City, Iowa in 1993. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1988 from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Elaine Hardy, PhD, RN

Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor

Elaine Hardy, PhD, RN received her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2011 with a concentration in women’s health. Her dissertation was titled Racial Identity as a Predictor of Physical Activity in Midlife African American Women. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from Purdue University Calumet Campus and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University Northwest.

Dr. Hardy joins us from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. where she serves as an assistant professor of nursing. Dr. Hardy served at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing in Peoria as the director of the Peoria campus from 2015-2019 and then as a clinical assistant professor of nursing until 2021. Dr. Hardy has lengthy experience as an assistant professor, instructor and faculty member at many nursing colleges and universities across the country, as well as vast clinical experience in nursing and other clinical roles. She is a seasoned academic presenter and published researcher. 

“I am looking forward to serving the faculty, staff and students of St. John’s College of Nursing,” said Dr. Hardy. “I am invested in advancing the mission and the diversity, equality and inclusion efforts of the college and its sister hospitals.”