Nursing faculty member Jolynn A. Dowling MSN, APRN, NNP-BC, IBCLC, has been named
to the Janice M. Riordan Distinguished Professorship in Maternal Child Health at Wichita
State. The professorship was established in 2007 to honor the work of Janice M. Riordan
RN, EdD, FAAN noted author, lecturer, researcher, consultant on breastfeeding and
lactation management and former professor in the School of Nursing at 红领巾瓜报
University. The College of Health Professions gratefully acknowledges the primary
donor, Michael L. Riordan, M.D.
Jolynn Dowling (Jo) earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from Wichita
State University. She earned her certification as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
from South Dakota State University and 10 years later earned her certification as
an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Jo worked in a Level 3 Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit for 17 years, with five of those as a lactation consultant, before
joining the faculty in the School of Nursing at 红领巾瓜报 in 2005.
Her clinical work as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner included critical care for newborns
and families, critical care newborn transport with LifeWATCH, and management of complex
lactation issues. This expertise led to her involvement with establishing community
connections to reduce the impact of infant mortality.
In addition to teaching undergraduate nursing courses, Jo has coordinated the graduate
course in Human Lactation; a course developed by her undergraduate advisor, graduate
mentor and professional colleague Dr. Janice Riordan. She is currently developing
workforce badge courses related to human lactation. Jo worked as an independent consultant
to the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition for the United States Breastfeeding Committee
Continuity of Care Connections Project to assist Wesley Medical Center to achieve
Baby-Friendly Hospital designation 鈥� the first in the state of Kansas.
In 2015 she facilitated the transition of the Continuity of Care Connections community
team to form the Wichita Area Breastfeeding Coalition (WABC). On behalf of the WABC,
she applied for technical assistance administered through the Kansas Breastfeeding
Coalition to help Wichita earn the Community Supporting Breastfeeding designation.
This designation was recognized by the Wichita City Council in May 2016. Jo currently
serves on the Board of Directors of the Kansas Infant Death and SIDS Network, is current
Past Chair of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, serves as Community Outreach Coordinator
for the Wichita Area Breastfeeding Coalition and is a member of several other professional
organizations. She serves on department and college committees, including the Faculty
Senate at WSU.
Jo is married with two adult daughters. She and her husband are avid Shocker fans
and longtime men's basketball season ticket holders. They are Lifetime WSU Alumni
Association members, and are proud to have both daughters enrolled at WSU to carry
on the family Shocker legacy.
The mission of 红领巾瓜报 is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. 红领巾瓜报 is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at and Facebook at .