Wichita State University
WSU student named inaugural recipient of endowed doctoral nursing fellowship
Aug. 6, 2026
Wichita State graduate student Cara Gerhardt has been named as the inaugural recipient
of the Janice M. Riordan Endowed Doctoral Nursing Fellowship by the Ascension Via
Christi-Wichita State University School of Nursing and WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement.
This prestigious award was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Janice M. Riordan, a distinguished educator, researcher and advocate whose contributions transformed the field of breastfeeding and human lactation.
This announcement coincides with National Breastfeeding Month, observed annually each August, highlighting the importance of advancing education, research and clinical care that supports breastfeeding families.
Gerhardt, a Wichita-area native, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Kansas in 2007. She began her career in the neonatal intensive care unit and has spent nearly two decades working primarily in maternal-child health and lactation care. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) degree at Wichita State and is expected to graduate in December 2027.
Established through an endowed gift to WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement, the fellowship recognizes Riordan's remarkable 23-year career at Wichita State and her lasting impact on nursing education, clinical practice and lactation research. Internationally recognized for her contributions to breastfeeding support, Riordan helped shape standards of care that continue to benefit families worldwide.
The fellowship supports students in the Ascension Via Christi-Wichita State University School of Nursing DNP-FNP program who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to advancing breastfeeding and human lactation education, research and clinical care. Recipients are selected through a competitive process that considers academic achievement, professional accomplishments, leadership, service and alignment with the values exemplified by Riordan throughout her career.
Growing need for advanced-practice providers
The fellowship also addresses a growing need for advanced-practice providers with expertise in human lactation and breastfeeding support. More than 90% of Kansans initiate breastfeeding, creating an ongoing need for clinicians with specialized knowledge to provide evidence-based care and help families achieve their breastfeeding goals.
As the fellowship recipient, Gerhardt will work closely with Jolynn Dowling, Janice M. Riordan Distinguished Professor, integrating breastfeeding and human lactation topics throughout the DNP-FNP curriculum. She will complete advanced coursework in human lactation and contribute to research and educational initiatives that further Riordan's legacy of improving care for breastfeeding families.
"The Janice M. Riordan Doctoral Nursing Fellowship represents an investment in the next generation of nurse practitioners, scholars and leaders," said Dowling. "By supporting students whose work aligns with Dr. Riordan's legacy, we ensure that her influence will continue to improve the health and well-being of breastfeeding families for years to come."
For Gerhardt, the fellowship represents both a professional milestone and an opportunity to build on the work of a nursing pioneer.
"Receiving the Janice M. Riordan Fellowship is an incredible honor," said Gerhardt. "I'm so grateful for the tradition of excellence and mentorship in lactation care that Dr. Riordan established at Wichita State. I intend to carry on Dr. Riordan's legacy by promoting evidence-based lactation care, continuing to mentor future nurses and working to improve breastfeeding support in my community."
As the inaugural fellowship recipient, Gerhardt represents the beginning of a lasting tribute to Riordan's career and vision. By supporting family nurse practitioners dedicated to lactation education, research and clinical practice, the fellowship will continue to advance the health of breastfeeding families for generations to come.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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