Christina Granato, Ed.D, FNP, MS, RN

Christina Granato, Ed.D, FNP, MS, RN is a distinguished nursing leader, educator, and clinician whose career spans over five decades of service in healthcare and higher education. She began her nursing journey in 1975 after earning her RN from Finger Lakes Community College, later completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing Science at Syracuse University. Her early career included 20 years in hospital-based clinical practice, where she spent a decade as a cardiac ICU staff nurse followed by 10 years as a nurse manager, developing deep expertise in patient care, leadership, and clinical operations.

In 1996, Dr. Granato transitioned into academia at Onondaga Community College, where she served for 24 years in progressively advanced roles, including Professor and Chair of Nursing and ultimately Academic Dean for Health and Community Services. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in shaping nursing education, mentoring future healthcare professionals, and strengthening academic programs. She also earned her Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher University and became a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Her contributions to nursing education were recognized nationally, particularly for her work advancing diversity and equity in curriculum development.

Even in retirement, Dr. Granato’s passion for nursing remains unwavering. After retiring in 2020, she returned to the field in a part-time RN supervisory role at a local nursing home, continuing to provide compassionate care and leadership. Her lifelong dedication to nursing reflects a deep commitment to service, education, and the belief that nursing is not just a profession, but a calling that endures throughout a lifetime.

• EdD in Executive Leadership and Education from St. John Fisher University
• MSN from Syracuse University (1982)
• BSN from Syracuse University (1976)
• Associate Degree in Nursing from Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, New York (1975)

• FNP
• RN
• MSN
• EdD

• National Award for Diversifying the Curriculum (circa 2010)

• Former Sigma Theta Tau

I was honored nationally for my work in diversifying the nursing curriculum. Around 2010, I revised the curriculum to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion at our college when I was chair of the nursing program. This was right at the start of the national movement toward diversifying curriculum in nursing education, and I was the first at our college to implement these changes. I received a national plaque recognizing this achievement at a national conference.