Dr. Glenna S. Brewster is an Assistant Professor and gerontological nurse scientist whose research focuses on improving sleep and psychological outcomes in persons living with cognitive changes and dementia and their caregivers, with a focus on tailoring and testing accessible behavioral interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.

Dr. Brewster completed her Ph.D. in Nursing Science, along with Master's degrees in Nursing and Gerontology, at the University of South Florida, and a postdoctoral fellowship in sleep and circadian neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Brewster also holds leadership roles on the Board of Directors for the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Association.

1. Brewster, G. S., Houser, M. C., Yang, I., Pelkmans, J., Higgins, M., Tower-Gilchrist, C., Wells, J., Quyyumi, A. A., Jones, D., Dunbar, S.B., & Carlson, N. (2025). Metabolic Pathways Associated With Obesity and Hypertension in Black Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia. Nursing research, 74(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000783

2. McPhillips, M. V., Petrovsky, D. V., Lorenz, R., Lee, J., George, T., Smyth, A., Bubu, O. M., & Brewster, G. S. (2024). Treatment Modalities for Insomnia in Adults Aged 55 and Older: A Systematic Review of Literature from 2018 to 2023. Current sleep medicine reports, 10(2), 232–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-024-00285-w

3. Brewster, G., Yang, I., Pelkmans, J., Higgins, M., Waldrop, D., Dunbar, S. B., & Yeager, K. A. (2024). Factors related to cognitive performance among black caregivers of persons living with a chronic illness: An exploratory study. Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 59, 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.06.035

4. Lyons, K. S., Russell, L. T., Bonds Johnson, K., Brewster, G. S., Carter, J. H., & Miller, L. M. (2024). Evaluating the Dyadic Benefits of Early-Phase Behavioral Interventions: An Exemplar Using Data From Couples Living With Parkinson's Disease. The Gerontologist, 64(7), gnad172. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad172

5. Brewster, G. S., Higgins, M., McPhillips, M. V., Bonds Johnson, K., Epps, F., Yeager, K. A., Bliwise, D. L., & Hepburn, K. (2023). The Effect of Tele-Savvy on Sleep Quality and Insomnia in Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia. Clinical interventions in Aging, 18, 2117–2127. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S425741

6. Brewster, G. S., Pierpaoli Parker, C., Epps, F., Bonds Johnson, K., & Yeager, K. A. (2023). Sleep Profiles of Caregivers for Persons Living with Dementia: A Qualitative Study. Western journal of nursing research, 45(8), 688–695. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459231175242

7. Brewster, G. S., Wang, D., McPhillips, M. V., Epps, F., & Yang, I. (2022). Correlates of Sleep Disturbance Experienced by Informal Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia: A Systematic Review. Clinical Gerontologist, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2022.2139655

8. Brewster, G.S., Molinari, V., McCrae, C. Beckstead, J., D’Aoust, R., & Rowe, M. (2021). Cognitive function and sleep in caregivers of persons living with dementia. Western Journal of Nursing Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459211041163

My teaching philosophy revolves around empowering students to think critically, engage in meaningful research, and prepare for leadership roles in the nursing field. As an educator, I facilitate students’ critical evaluation of information, foster their analytical skills, and help them become astute consumers of knowledge. Further, I am passionate about involving my students in research endeavors. I believe that by actively engaging in research, they can learn the art of asking thought-provoking questions and developing innovative approaches to answer these questions; thus, my objective is to empower them to not only acquire knowledge but also to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field. Lastly, I see myself as a mentor to the next generations of nurse leaders. I am committed to guiding and nurturing their growth, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and leadership qualities required to excel in their future careers.

Dr. Glenna Brewster’s research is driven by a deep commitment to improving the lives of persons living with cognitive changes and dementia, as well as their caregivers. As a gerontological nurse scientist, she is interested in understanding and addressing sleep disturbances in these populations. Her work is grounded in a belief that sleep is a vital component of health and well-being, and that poor sleep—particularly in the context of chronic caregiving stress—has significant and far-reaching implications for overall physical, psychological, and cognitive health.

Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, she examines the complex interactions between sleep, stress, mood, and caregiving experiences. Her program of research has two main foci: 1) characterizing sleep disturbances in caregivers and individuals living with dementia, and 2) developing, testing, and implementing behavioral and psychoeducational interventions to improve sleep and mental health outcomes in these populations.

Dr. Brewster is also deeply committed to advancing gerontological nursing through national and global leadership. She serves on the Board of Directors for the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Association, where she promotes capacity building and dementia awareness.

Dr. Brewster’s training in sleep science and her leadership in national and international organizations reflect her commitment to advancing research and education that improve care for aging populations across multiple settings.

• 2024 Fellow American Academy of Nursing
• 2024 Fellow Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program
• 2022 Rising Investigator Award Aging/Gerontology Research Interest Group Southern Nursing Research Society
• 2018 Fellow Butler Williams Scholar Program, Bethesda, MD
• 2018 Fellow National Institute of Nursing Research Summer Genetics Institute, Bethesda, MD