I have been teaching at SEMO since January 2012; primarily in the online RN-BSN program, but I have also taught courses in the traditional BSN program. In addition to nursing courses, I currently teach UI412 American Health Care System each semester. I previously taught at Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. For 9 1/2 years. My primary nursing experience is 21 years as an oncology nurse at Southeast Missouri Hospital, which also included a lot of medical-surgical nursing. I also have management experience as the Assistant Nurse Manager of the oncology floor until I started teaching. I have several years of ICU experience. I have worked mostly in Cape Girardeau, but I started my nursing career at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. I have also worked on a per-diem basis at both St. Louis Hospitals and private duty home care through a nursing agency in St. Louis.

My educational background includes a Masters of Science in Nursing Leadership, Nurse Educator Track and a Nursing Education Teaching Certificate from Regis University, Denver, Colorado in May 2009. I completed this program online except for the Practicum. I completed my Practicum at SEMO with Dr. Janet Weber, a former director of SEMO's RN-BSN program, as my preceptor. I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeast Missouri State University, graduating in December 2002. At that time the program was entirely face-to-face. I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from St. Louis Community College at Meramec, St. Louis, Missouri; May 1988.

The most enjoyable part of my life is spending time with my family. I am married and have a very supportive husband. We especially enjoy spending time with our grandchildren and their parents. We have two dogs that we call "our boys". Since we are empty-nesters, our pups are treated more like our children. I enjoy spending time in the mountains and at the beach; and the more family that are with me, the better!