Dr. Mary Jo Kreitzer to Retire After Three Decades of Visionary Leadership at the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing
July 28, 2026
The University of Minnesota announced today that Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN, founder and director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, will retire effective January 4, 2027, concluding more than 30 years of transformative leadership that has shaped the Center into an internationally-recognized leader in whole-person health, wellbeing, and integrative health education.
Since founding the Center in 1995, Kreitzer has led the development of innovative academic programs, groundbreaking research initiatives, community partnerships, and clinical and educational programs that have advanced the integration of evidence-informed approaches to health and healing throughout the University and beyond. Under her leadership, the Center has become a model for interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing thousands of students and professionals to improve health and wellbeing while advancing research that has influenced practice nationally and internationally.
“Mary Jo Kreitzer’s vision fundamentally changed how our University approaches health, healing, and wellbeing,” said Connie Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. “Her unwavering commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and whole-person care has created an extraordinary legacy that will continue to benefit our students, faculty, health professionals, and communities for generations. We are deeply grateful for her remarkable leadership and lasting contributions.”
Throughout her tenure, Kreitzer championed programs that brought together faculty, students, clinicians, and community members across disciplines to address complex health challenges through innovative education, research, and engagement. Her work has helped position the University of Minnesota as a national leader in integrative health, mindfulness, nature-based health, Tibetan healing, and whole-person wellbeing.
The Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing has become internationally-recognized for its pioneering academic programs, including graduate education in integrative health and wellbeing coaching, interprofessional education, research, and community outreach. The Center has also played a vital role in advancing student wellbeing and fostering collaborations across the University and with partners in Minnesota and around the world.
“Mary Jo’s leadership reflects the very best of the University of Minnesota,” said President Rebecca Cunningham. “Her ability to envision new possibilities, bring people together across disciplines, and improve the lives of countless individuals through education, research, and community engagement has left an indelible mark on our University. We thank her for three decades of extraordinary service and wish her every happiness in retirement.”
“It has been the honor of my professional life to lead the Bakken Center and to work alongside such talented faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and partners,” said Kreitzer. “Everything we have accomplished has been possible because of the commitment, creativity, and generosity of so many people who believed in our shared mission. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve the University of Minnesota and look forward to seeing the Center continue to thrive in the years ahead.”
A search for the next director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing will be launched soon to ensure a thoughtful leadership transition and continued momentum for the Center’s mission and strategic priorities.
As Kreitzer prepares to retire, the University celebrates a legacy of visionary leadership that has transformed lives, expanded the understanding of whole-person health, and established an enduring foundation for innovation and excellence in health and wellbeing.
