With a calling-driven mindset, outside-the-box thinking, and a research-active approach, Leiberg embraces this new role.
Excited to learn more about CUW, and establish a firm footing, Jessica Leiberg, DNP and Ph.D., officially entered her new position on Sept. 2, 2025. Leiberg, who comes from a higher education background—most recently serving as the DNP Program Director at the University of Wisconsin–Madison—has been an adjunct professor at Marquette University and St. Xavier University since 2018. She also brings about seven years of clinical experience as a neurosurgical nurse practitioner at UW Health in Madison, with 20 years of nursing practice total.
Although new to CUW, Leiberg’s down-to-earth demeanor and go-getter attitude shine through, fueled by her faith and unwavering conviction to champion the future of nursing. Her compassion towards nurses pursuing their calling ensures that CUW’s School of Nursing will continue its legacy of excellence in education.
From the inside out
“I’m excited to do more within the nursing profession, and to work with a team who has those similar interests,” says Leiberg. Ready to face any challenges in the nursing profession, she aims to build a strong foundation that will secure a promising future remaining true to Concordia’s values.
With challenging technological landscapes on the horizon, the future of nursing involves the rapid adoption of AI-powered systems, telehealth platforms, and electronic health records (EHRs). Nurses today are not only people-focused, they must be tech-savvy. Leiberg wants to really focus and hone in on navigating these challenges. “Research, a team-approach, and, of course, faith inform my practice, pedagogy, and leadership. We are called to not hide our light under a basket, so I’m hoping we can emphasize our good works to the nursing community through scholarship and dissemination.”
She also wants to honor the long history of nursing as a calling, which she has found is the very foundation of the nursing field. ”Being called to serve as a nurse is a primary interest of mine that I think nursing needs to protect.”
The heart of nursing
Through community collaboration, Leiberg would like to expand certain aspects of the nursing program, and with outside-the-box thinking, begin to welcome additional people who have been called to nursing to fulfill the communities need.
“We need nurses now more than ever,” says Leiberg. “This is a time when healthcare is looking more at the bottom line than at people. Nursing, on the other hand, focuses on caring for and serving the people of our community, allowing them to better care for themselves and each other. That is more in alignment with what nursing should be—and has historically been.”
A Bible verse she relates to is Matthew 23:26, which reads: “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.” Leiberg says, “Let’s first make sure that our program is well cared for on the inside.”
A strong foundation in God’s Word, alongside their vocational training, gives CUW students the strength to weather life’s storms and “be not afraid.” Nursing is just one of many professions through which God’s work is carried out.
Further reading
To learn more about nursing, check out the following:
- “Nurse Practitioner Career Guide: Is an MSN Degree Right for You?”
- “The Future of Nursing: Why More RNs Are Earning Their BSN”
- “Addressing the 2025 Nursing Shortage: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention
Want in?
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Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking to advance your nursing career, Concordia University Wisconsin is here to support you every step of the way. With flexible programs, faith-integrated learning, and a community that truly cares, you can become the kind of nurse the world needs. Explore our nursing programs today and discover how CUW can help you lead with compassion and purpose.