Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing Faculty
Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing Administrators
Rieneke Holman, PhD, RN
Chair, Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing,
Professor
rienekeholman@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Rieneke Holman, PhD, RN
Professional ProfileRieneke Holman has been a nurse since 1997, and has been an educator since 2009. She received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and her Master's degree in Nursing (education emphasis) from the University of Utah. She completed her PhD in Nursing (education emphasis) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rieneke's main area of clinical expertise is women's health nursing, and her main area of teaching expertise is pharmacology. She teaches in the ADN program, the Master's program, educator track, and in the DNP program. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she also serves as the Associate Degree Program Director.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Rieneke has taught various lab, clinical, and didactic courses, including fundamentals clinicals and labs, and the Maternal/Child course in the ADN program. Her current expertise is pharmacology for nurses and pharmacology education. She currently teaches the advanced Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Physical Assessment course in the Master’s Program, as well as the DNP Projects course. Her research focus is on pharmacology education in pre-licensure nursing programs and the alignment of QSEN competencies to pharmacology education. Rieneke serves on several committees, and is currently the chair of the GEIAC committee at the University level. She is a strong student advocate, and has served as the faculty advisor for the National Student Nurses Association chapter, and is currently serving as a faculty advisor to the state board of the Utah Student Nurses Association. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National League for Nursing.Personal Activities
Rieneke loves to spend time with her husband and three sons at her cabin in Bear Lake. She is also a jigsaw puzzle fanatic and can only open a puzzle in between semesters. Lastly, she loves to travel, and enjoys trips both close to home and internationally.
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Tressa Quayle, PhD, RN
ADN Program Director,
Assistant Professor
tressaquayle@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Tressa Quayle, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileTressa has been a registered nurse since 2007. Tressa received her Associate Degree in Nursing in 2007, Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009, Master of Science in Nursing Administration in 2013, and MSN Nurse Educator certificate in 2019; all from Weber State University. Tressa is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and looks forward to graduating in fall 2022. Tressa began teaching as a full-time nurse educator in 2014 at Weber State University. Prior to teaching full-time, Tressa worked as a nurse in Labor & Delivery, Post-Partum, and Medical/Oncology at McKay Dee Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Tressa is currently teaching in the ADN and MSN programs. She is the clinical coordinator for the Associate Degree Program. In the ADN program, she teaches in the clinical, lab, simulation, and online didactic settings. In the MSN program, Tressa co-teaches N6150 Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Assessment for the Nurse Educator. Tressa loves everything related to pharmacology. She is passionate about helping students understand and gain a good pharmacology foundation. Tressa serves on many committees throughout the school of nursing, college of health professions, and the university. She is currently chairing the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing testing committee and a member of the university testing committee.Personal Activities
Tressa is married and has four children; three crazy boys and a precious little girl. Her interests include baking anything and everything, kayaking, fishing, and spending lots of time outdoors raising her family.
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Tamara Berghout, EdD, RN
RN-BSN Program Director,
Associate Professor tamaraberghout@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Tamara Berghout, EdD, RN
Professional ProfileDr. Tamara Berghout graduated from Weber State College as a registered nurse in 1986. She has practiced in a variety of clinical areas including women’s and children’s care, behavioral health, emergency nursing, and care management. She has also served as a camp nurse for the Boy Scouts of America. She has worked as a nurse in Utah, Idaho, and Wisconsin. Dr. Berghout earned her BSN and MSN (education emphasis) from Weber State University and her Doctoral degree (EdD- education emphasis) from Walden University.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Dr. Berghout has been a nurse educator since 2011 and is currently an Associate Professor of Nursing at Weber State University. Her current areas of expertise are healthcare policy, ethics, care management and curriculum design. Dr. Berghout has conducted research focused on simulation and on interprofessional education in nursing. She has served on a variety of Weber State University committees and she is currently the chair of the School of Nursing Curriculum Committee. Dr. Berghout is a member of the National League for Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Nurses Association, and the Utah Nurses Association. She is passionate about helping nurses to understand the impact they can have on the healthcare system through activism and advocacy.Personal Activities
Dr. Berghout’s loves to spend time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. In addition, she likes to spend her free time traveling, reading, sewing, and quilting.
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Anne Kendrick, DNP, RN, CNE
MSN Program Director,
Assistant Professor
annekendrick@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Anne Kendrick, DNP, RN, CNE
Professional ProfileAnne Kendrick has been a nurse since 2002. She received her Associate of Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees from Weber State University (WSU) and her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. Anne also completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership at WSU. Anne’s clinical expertise is in acute care, where she worked for many years at McKay-Dee Hospital in Medical/Oncology and Intermediate Care, including being a unit educator. She teaches in the MSN and DNP programs and serves as the MSN program director.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Anne has taught various lab, simulation, didactic, and online courses with expertise in simulation. In the MSN program, she teaches graduate writing, nursing informatics, and scholarly projects in the MSN and DNP programs. Her research interest includes the use of simulation to enhance nursing education. Anne serves on various committees throughout the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing, Dumke College of Health Professions, and WSU. Anne belongs to Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and the National League of Nursing. She is also a member of the Utah Nurses Association and American Nurses Association.Personal Activities
Anne enjoys running, the outdoors, and traveling with her husband and three children. Their favorite place is the Oregon Coast.
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Carrie Jeffrey, PhD, RN
DNP Program Director,
Assistant Professor
carriejeffrey@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Carrie Jeffrey, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileCarrie Jeffrey has been a registered nurse since 2013. Nursing is her second career after spending 10 years in the health, wellness, and fitness education field. She earned her AAS in Physical Education from Ricks College (BYU-Idaho) in 1998, her BSN-RN at Minnesota State University in 2013, and her MSN in Nursing Education at Weber State University in 2017. She is currently finishing her PhD in Nursing Education at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She started teaching full time at Weber State University in 2017. Carrie worked as a Cardiac/Pulmonary, Medical/Surgical, and Float RN for the Mayo Clinic in Mankato, MN before moving to Utah. She then worked in Labor & Delivery at McKay Dee Hospital and subsequently took a position as a clinic OBGYN RN at Wasatch OBGYN.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Carrie currently teaches in the ADN and MSN programs, and is the Clinical Coordinator for prelicensure students. In the ADN program she has taught clinical, skills lab, simulation, and didactic courses. In the MSN program she teaches in the MSN Educator Residency course and the MSN Projects courses. Her research interests include curriculum design and implementation, leadership in nursing, anxiety/self-care/mental health of nurses, and various women's health issues. She is a member of the National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau, and serves on various committees at in the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing and as Vice-Chair of the Weber State University Curriculum Committee.Personal Activities
Carrie has been married since 1998 to Dr. Aaron Jeffrey, a Marriage and Family Therapist. They have four amazing children, two awesome sons-in-law, and four of the cutest grandchildren in the world. Carrie enjoys reading, running, hiking, golfing, eating, and spending most of her free time with her family.
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Jodi Waddoups, MSN-Ed, RN
OHN Director,
Instructor
jodiwaddoups2@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Jodi Waddoups, MSN-Ed, RN
Professional ProfileJodi Waddoups, MSN-Ed, RN, graduated with her ADN in 1994. Jodi received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from Western Governor’s University. She plans to pursue her DNP starting Fall 2023. Before joining the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing in December of 2022, Jodi worked as a Nurse Professional Development Specialist for HCA Mountain Division. Jodi has experience in Intermediate Care, Trauma, Pediatrics, Ambulatory Surgical Care, Case Management, Safety & Risk, and Nursing Leadership.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Jodi is the Director of the Post-Baccalaureate Occupational Health Nursing Program and teaches in the ADN program. Jodi is passionate about supporting nurses and nursing students to become empowered, develop a professional voice, and acquire resiliency tools. She also has a passion for Type-1 diabetes education and community support. Jodi is a Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing member. She also holds memberships in the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), American Nurses Association (ANA), Utah Nurses Association (UNA), The Intermountain Nursing Professional Development (INPD), the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD), and the American Medical Surgical Nursing Association (AMSN). Jodi is currently the Utah Nurses Foundation (UNF) President, whose mission is supporting Utah nurses and nursing students.Personal Activities
Jodi enjoys spending time with her husband, their six children, their spouses/partners, and four grandchildren. Her hobbies include Cricut crafting, kayaking, flower gardening, listening to music, and reading/listening to books and podcasts. Her favorite quotes are from The Man in the Arena, Theodore Roosevelt, and Our Deepest Fear, by Marianne Williamson.
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Ann Rocha, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Post BSN to DNP-FNP Curriculum Coordinator
Associate Professor
annrocha@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Ann Rocha, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
Professional ProfileAnn Rocha comes to Weber State University with many years of nursing experience including 20 years on active duty with the US Navy Nurse Corps (1972-1993). Graduating from a diploma program in 1972, Ann has gone on to earn various degrees including her terminal degree of PhD Nursing from the University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, in 2014. Obtaining 2 of the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Ann joined the faculty at Weber State University, Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing, in 2016.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
While having taught in a variety of programs and courses, Ann's first love is maternal/child, and obstetrics. Ann is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, American Nurses Association, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Ann teaches in the BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs.
Ann wrote her doctoral dissertation on incivility in nursing and the implications for patient safety. As a guest speaker on nursing incivility, Ann is passionate about protecting and educating vulnerable nursing populations, such as students and those returning to the profession, on incivility and preventing errors in patient care that occur when nurses do not collaborate effectively.Personal Activities
Ann has been married to Joseph Rocha since 1975; they met while both on active duty with the military. Ann and Joe have 3 children who have traveled the world thanks to Uncle Sam! The Rochas continue to pursue traveling and look forward to more trips around the world!
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Tyandra Perez, MSN, RN
ADN Clinical Coordinator,
Instructor
tyandraperez@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Tyandra Perez, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileTyandra Perez received her Associate of Science Degree in Nursing in 2005 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2006 from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing Education from Weber State University in 2017. Ty began teaching for Weber State in 2020. Prior to teaching full time at Weber State, she worked as a registered nurse in Rehabilitation, Long-term Care, Pediatrics, and Medical/Surgical units at various facilities. She worked 10 years at Primary Children’s Hospital in her main area of clinical expertise, a level IV NICU.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Ty teaches simulation, lab, clinical, and Pharmacology in the ADN program and occasionally teaches in the RN-BSN program. She has served on the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing curriculum committee and is the testing committee co-chair. Ty’s research interests include transitioning from student nurse to practicing RN, preceptor training, and maternal/newborn health.Personal Activities
Ty is married and has four children; one son and three daughters. She enjoys traveling, attending her son’s soccer games, watching her girls dance, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite time of year is the Fall when the colors change and the air has a nice crisp to it. She loves visiting her family in Idaho and taking her kids to new places.
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Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing Faculty
Charlotte Andrus MSN, RN
Instuctor
charlotteandrus@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Charlotte Andrus MSN, RN
Professional ProfileCharlotte has been a registered nurse since 2020. She is a proud Wildcat, and received her ADN (2020), BSN (2021), and MSN (2023), all through Weber State University. Charlotte has worked in various areas of nursing including long-term care, postpartum, and labor and delivery. Charlotte joined Weber State in 2023. She is excited to be able to educate nursing students, and introduce them to the world of nursing.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Charlotte teaches in the ADN program, primarily 3rd and 4th semester students. Her research project for her MSN focused on providing a free or reduced cost prenatal educational class for the community. Charlotte’s research interests include prenatal care, birth trauma, breastfeeding, and mental health.Personal Activities
Charlotte is married and has two wonderful children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, camping, traveling, and spending time with her family.
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Rachel Ardern, HlthScD, RN
Assistant Professor
rachelardern@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Rachel Ardern, HlthScD, RN
Professional ProfileRachel Ardern has been a RN since 1997, practicing both in her native Australia and in the United States. She earned her BN from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), her MN from the University of Southern Queensland and her Doctorate of Health Science (QUT). Rachel has worked in a variety of clinical areas but her passion has been the intensive care environment. She has also worked in a variety of educational positions from clinical to the academic environment and worked in universities in Queensland, Idaho and Utah.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Rachel teaches in the undergraduate programs at WSU with a focus on labs, research and population health. Rachel’s doctoral research has been around the use of the competency framework within the clinical environment with a particular focus on how the framework has the potential to blur the lines between the different roles of nursing. Rachel has published on the simulation environment and student engagement. Research focus continues around these areas. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International.Personal Activities
Rachel has 10 nieces and nephews back in Australia that she misses dearly. Having grown up on the beach, Rachel is learning that there is plenty of fun that can be had in the mountains. Her happy will always been in or near water.
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Kristi Bailey, MSN, RN, OCN
Instructor
kristileebailey@weber.eduSuzanne Ballingham-Tebbs, MSN, APRN–FNP
Assistant Professor
sballingham@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Suzanne Ballingham-Tebbs, MSN, APRN–FNP
Professional ProfileSuzanne Ballingham-Tebbs was a RN for 20 years, graduating from Weber State University and working in the NICU and O.R. She then went back to school at Westminster College for her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and has practiced as a FNP for the past 20 years, in a pediatric clinic, and has been teaching in the WSU nursing program.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Suzanne has been teaching in the nursing program for the past 16 years. She currently teaches in the ADN, BSN and FNP program. Her specialty is pediatrics and she’s been lucky as a FNP to works in pediatrics. She loves teaching pediatrics but also enjoys teaching throughout the lifespan and visiting students in their clinical rotations.Personal Activities
In her spare time she loves to spend time with her 7 kids and 9 grandkids. She also loves to golf and plays on the Weber State league with other nursing staff. She also loves to travel and cruise! She and her husband enjoy long trips on their Goldwing motorcycle, and have been to some fun places like the Calgary Stampede and Sturgis in South Dakota. The more time they travel the better!
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Joyce Barra, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
joycebarra@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Joyce Barra, PhD, RN
Professional ProfileDr. Joyce Barra has been a nurse for over 50 years and an educator for 24 years. She started as a diploma graduate in New York, graduating in 1970 from the Albany Medical Center School of Nursing, Albany New York. She went on to earn a BSN at Northern Illinois University, completed a MS in Nursing Education at the University of Utah, and finished with a PhD in Teaching and Learning from the University of Utah. Dr. Barra has worked in all variations of medical-surgical nursing including ICU and has taught every aspect of nursing curriculum except OB. Along the way she was the Director of the Salt Lake Community College Nursing Program for four years, interim Dean for one year, and taught there for 17 years. She has been an adjunct instructor at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and for over 20 years had her own educational consulting business.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Dr. Barra currently teaches in the Weber State University graduate program. She teaches the educator and executive residency as well as the DNP Project courses. Her research is in care management. Additionally, she has volunteed for the Accrediting Commission for Nursing Education for 17 years.Personal Activities
Dr. Barra’s interests include traveling—especially in Italy, quilting, yoga, cooking, (she is a great fan of The Great British Baking Show), and entertaining her grandchildren. Her three children keep her active and supremely happy. Husband too!
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Tricia Borges, MSN-Ed, RN
Instructor
triciaborges@weber.eduEric Bottelberghe MSN, RN, CARN
Instructor
ericbottelberghe@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Eric Bottelberghe MSN, RN, CARN
Professional ProfileEric Bottelberghe received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (2015) and Masters of Science in Nursing Education (2018) from Weber State University. Eric also holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees (2011) in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Utah State University. He has experience in Long-term Care, Home Health Care, Hospice, Addiction, and Mental Health. He holds Addictions Nursing Certification (2021).
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Eric currently teaches across the ADN and BSN program. Eric has an interest in the emerging field of psychedelic assisted therapy. He is currently receiving training from California's Institute of Integral Studies in psychedelic research and therapy and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic studies (MAPS) in their MDMA assisted psychotherapy training program.Personal Activities
Eric is married and has four children. He enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with his beautiful wife.
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Monica Bottelberghe, MSN, RN
Instructor
monicabottelberghe@weber.eduAmy Buckway, EdD, RN
Associate Professor
amybuckway1@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Amy Stegen Buckway, EdD, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileAmy has been a Registered Nurse since 1994 and has worked in long-term care, hospice/home health, and acute care, and served with the Air Force Reserves. Amy started in nursing education in the early 2000s and came to Weber State in 2014. She received her doctorate in education in 2020.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Amy enjoys teaching leadership, oncology, end-of-life care, and policy. She is an active member of Sigma and belongs to the Utah Nurses Association.Personal Activities
Amy is married and they share five children. When she is not at work, you can find her caring for her animals or working in the garden. She enjoys traveling and playing with her grandbabies.
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Kathleen Paco Cadman, PhD, RN, CNE, CPH
Associate Professor
kathleencadman@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Kathleen Paco Cadman, (she/her), PhD, RN, CNE, CPH
Professional ProfileKathleen Paco Cadman has taught nursing at Weber State since 2013. Prior to earning her PhD from UNLV in 2018, she studied Global Health at Johns Hopkins University, nursing at Weber State, and studio art at Graceland University. She has lived and worked in Honduras, China, Guatemala, Nepal, India, and Belize; and has done research throughout Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to her degrees, she has Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) and Certified Public Health (CPH) credentials.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Kathleen primarily teaches undergraduate and graduate population health courses, as well as Antiracism in the Honors Program. She is involved with WSU's Women and Gender Studies and Queer Studies programs, the university's Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA), and the NAACP. She is heavily engaged in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) initiatives across campus and in the community. Her research examines global health infrastructures, addresses health disparities, explores social determinants of physical and mental health, and promotes EDI within institutions.Personal Activities
Kathleen and her family are avid travelers. She has been to all 50 states, all seven continents, and more than 135 countries so far. She rode her bicycle from Florida to California in 2010, from Canada to Mexico (Pacific Coast) in 2014, and the length of the Underground Railroad (Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border) in 2021. She is a certified yoga instructor (RYT200) who loves painting, concerts, home improvement projects, microbreweries, and exploring the great outdoors with her husband, son, and their two rescue-doodles.
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Caitlin Campbell, PhD, RN
Instructor
caitlincampbell2@weber.eduHeather Clark, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Professor
heatherclark2@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Heather Clark, DNP, RN, CNE
Professional ProfileHeather has been an RN since 2006 and an educator since 2011. She earned her BSN, MSN, and DNP from Weber State University. Her nursing experience includes long-term care, medical-surgical, mom-baby, homecare, and hospice. In 2010, she was awarded the “Excellence in Nursing Award” from Intermountain Homecare. In 2021, her DNP project was recognized as an idea that made a difference for Intermountain Homecare & Hospice. Additionally, she received the “Scholastic Achiever” award from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in 2021. In 2023, she successfully passed the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Currently, Heather is an associate professor in the ADN, BSN, and MSN programs. In the ADN program, she has taught patient-centered care courses, clinical, skills lab, simulation, and capstone students. In the BSN program, she has taught evidence-based research, complex patient-centered care, forensic nursing, leadership, and management. Within the MSN program, she has taught scholarship into practice and residency courses. Heather has published articles and presented at conferences on the use of simulation for education, perfectionism in nursing, burnout, and coping in the healthcare professions.
Heather co-created an upper-division course on healthcare professional burnout offered to any student at WSU. She is a member of the NLN and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She is a member of the Utah Medical Reserve Corp and assisted with vaccination clinics of community members for Bear River Health Department.
She enjoys being a volunteer and participating in community events, including assisting with the first aid merit badge for Boy Scout groups, community flu shot clinics, community health and wellness events, disaster drills for local hospitals, Hospice holiday gift baskets, and volunteered for several years for the Northern Utah Trauma Conference.Personal Activities
Heather enjoys spending time with her husband and four children. She enjoys exercising, playing softball, coaching her kid's sports teams, being outdoors, and traveling.
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Nikki Fender, MSN, RN
Instructor
belindafender@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Nikki Fender, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileNikki has been a registered nurse since 2018. Nikki received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Salt Lake Community College. Later, she went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2019) and her Master of Science in Nursing Education (2023) from Weber State University. Nikki completed her MSN-Ed residency in the ADN program at Weber State University during the Spring semester of 2023, then started teaching adjunct at Weber State during the summer semester of 2023 before becoming a full-time faculty member in Fall semester 2023. Nikki’s clinical expertise is in pediatrics and community health nursing. She worked on the Children’s Medical Unit at Primary Children’s Hospital and served as the New Parent Support Program Nurse on Hill Air Force Base. Nikki has a true passion for continued growth through life-long learning as a nurse and an educator. She aims to share her passion of lifelong learning by creating a safe and engaging learning environment for all students.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Nikki teaches skills lab, simulation, clinical, capstone, and didactic courses in the ADN program. She has taught in 1st semester, but now primarily teaches 3rd and 4th semester courses. She currently serves on the curriculum committee for Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. The research she has conducted has been centered around type I diabetes and perinatal depression and anxiety. Nikki would like to continue her research efforts and has a particular interest in increasing nurse/faculty retention, process improvements, community health, and inclusivity in nursing education.Personal Activities
Nikki is married and has one fur baby. She loves spending time with her pup, family, and friends. In her free time, Nikki enjoys game nights, paddleboarding, camping, concerts, and riding ATVs.
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Amber Fowler, DNP, RN
Instructor
amberfowler2@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Amber Fowler, DNP, RN
Professional ProfileAmber Fowler received her RN from Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Troy, NY in 2006. She later received both her BSN and Master of Nursing Education from Western Governors University. Dr. Fowler completed her DNP at Grand Canyon University in 2021. Amber’s clinical expertise is in cardiac care and PACU. However, she has also worked in intermediate care, legal nursing, and as a traveling nurse. Her biggest passion is fostering a lifelong enthusiasm for learning and creating a culture that inspires a safe learning environment.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Amber’s teaching background is in simulation education and both online and face-to-face didactic learning. She teaches in both the ADN and BSN programs. Amber belongs to Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and Alpha Chi National Interdisciplinary Honor Society. She serves annual medical missions with HUGS Foundation fixing cleft palates and microtia. With HUGS she has traveled to Ecuador and Vietnam.Personal Activities
Amber enjoys sunrise kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, gardening, and traveling with her family. One of her family's favorite parts of traveling is experiencing the local food from all the hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
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Sandra Garcia MSN, RN
Instructor/HSI Liaison
sandragarcia@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Sandra Garcia MSN, RN
Professional ProfileSandra received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and her Master's in Nursing (education emphasis) from Weber State University. Sandra's main area of clinical expertise is home health and hospice, rehabilitation, and long-term care, and her primary area of teaching expertise is patient-centered care. She teaches in the ADN program and is the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing's HSI Liaison.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Sandra has taught lab, clinical, and didactic courses in the ADN program. Her research focuses on nursing interventions for patients with autism spectrum disorder and fall prevention in long-term facilities. Sandra is a strong proponent and promoter of cultural competence among nurses. She is currently working on education research emphasizing Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions. Sandra currently serves as the co-chair of the Annie Taylor Dee Nursing School EDI committee. She is a active student advocate and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National League for Nursing.Personal Activities
Sandra loves spending time with her family and friends and exploring the great outdoors. In addition, she has a passion for traveling, learning, and interacting with cultures around the world, writing, reading, gardening, cooking, and informally teaching Spanish.
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Trish Gibbs, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
trishasmall@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Trish Gibbs, MSN, RN, CNE
Professional ProfileTrish Gibbs has been a nurse since 2008, primarily in Med/Surg and Critical Care. She has been a nursing instructor at Weber State since 2018. Trish is a proud Wildcat who completed her undergrad and graduate studies at Weber State University. She will graduate from Weber State Universities' doctoral program in April 2023. In addition to her degrees, she obtained her Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credentials through the National League for Nursing. Trish’s favorite thing about teaching is sharing her passion for the nursing profession, helping students develop coping strategies they can carry with them throughout their careers, and seeing their progress as they grow as clinicians.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Trish currently teaches in the ADN program. Trish’s current field of research focuses on health promotion, mental health, and trauma. She is a certified yoga instructor (RYT500) and volunteers to provide trauma-informed yoga workshops for survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Trish also enjoys volunteer opportunities offered through her membership in Sigma Theta Tau International.Personal Activities
Trish loves new adventures and making memories! If you have recommendations, she welcomes them! She enjoys working out, skydiving, paddleboarding, hiking, tennis, spa days, and cheering on the WSU Wildcats at football games.
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Jaylynn Gold, MSN, RN, CNE, C-EFM
Assistant Professor
jaylynngold@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Jaylynn Gold, MSN, RN, CNE, C-EFM
Professional ProfileJaylynn Gold has been a registered nurse since 1995. She earned her MSN in 2006 and began teaching for WSU at that time. She is a certified nurse educator, credentialed through the National League of Nursing. She also is certified in electronic fetal heart monitoring. Since 1995, she has worked in medical/surgical, rehab, home care and hospice, labor and delivery, NICU, and medical detox. She was awarded the "Excellence in Nursing" award from Intermountain Healthcare in 2020.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Jaylynn is an assistant professor on tenure track in the ADN and BSN programs. Her research interests are in simulation development and mental health nursing. She belongs to Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing and serves on the board. She is also a member of the National League of Nursing, Utah Nurses Association, and American Nurses Association.Personal Activities
Jaylynn is married to Nephi Gold, and together they have 6 children. She loves spending time with her husband, children, and grandson. She also loves reading historical fiction novels.
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Valerie Gooder, PhD, RN, NHDP-BC
Professor
valeriegooder@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Valerie Gooder, PhD, RN, NHDP-BC
Professional ProfileValerie Gooder has been a nurse since 1981. She started her nursing career as a staff nurse in adult medical/surgical units and quickly transitioned to adult critical care. Valerie worked in Intensive Care Units in Wyoming, Washington State, and Utah. In 1992 she enrolled in graduate school and earned a Master's in Nursing Informatics from the University of Utah. Valerie completed her Ph.D. in Nursing at the University of Utah in 2001. During her doctoral studies, she served as a teaching assistant for a doctoral-level statistics course. Before coming to Weber State, Valerie was the Clinical Information Systems Manager for Intermountain Healthcare at McKay-Dee Hospital. She was heavily involved with quality improvement and transitioning to the new facility.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Valerie is a Professor of Nursing at Weber State University and teaches in the BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. She previously served as the first director of the MSN program. Her areas of interest include informatics, disaster nursing, critical care, patient safety, quality improvement, and statistics. She is a certified National Disaster Healthcare Professional (NDHP) through the American Nursing Association. Disaster nursing is a key interest of hers, and she participates in the Weber County Medical Reserve Corps and sits on the Advisory Board.Personal Activities
She grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and has two daughters with whom she spends much of her time. She enjoys hiking, gardening, sewing, reading, and playing with her German shepherd. She is passionate about nursing and loves teaching.
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Kasey Grubb, DNP, RN, CNE
Instructor
kaseygrubb@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Kasey Grubb, MSN, RN, CNE
Professional ProfileKasey has been a registered nurse since 2013. She has a lot of pride in Weber State University! She graduated from WSU’s RN, BSN, and MSN programs. She is a certified nurse educator credentialed through the National League for Nursing, and she is pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Nursing Practice Leadership through Weber State University. Kasey has had experience in many areas of nursing, including Medical, Surgical, Orthopedics, and BMT units. She also worked in the GI Lab, Postpartum, and Informatics Nursing. She currently practices as Nursing Instructor and in the Cardiac Cath Lab Recovery.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Kasey currently teaches in the ADN program for the Weber State Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. Her professional interests include NCLEX testing, leadership, health promotion and prevention, healthcare equity and diversity, and healthcare policy. Kasey is the faculty co-chair for the Weber State Chapter National Student Nurses Association (NSNA), and is a faculty board advisor in the Utah SNA Chapter. She is on the board of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Nu Nu Chapter and enjoys serving in the community.Personal Activities
Kasey loves to spend time with her husband, children, large extended family, friends, and two cats. In addition, she enjoys traveling, National Parks, Yellowstone, the beach, hiking, skiing, reading, and being outside in this beautiful world.
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Cathy Harmston DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor
catherineharmston@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Cathy Harmston DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Professional ProfileCathy Harmston is currently an Assistant Professor at Weber State University (WSU) Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. She has been an educator at WSU since 2017. She graduated with her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from Salt Lake Community College, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Weber State University, her Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Utah, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Weber State University. Cathy spent 10 years working as an emergency room nurse prior to pursuing her BSN and MSN. Since obtaining her MSN she has worked as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) in the family practice, internal medicine, and pain management settings. Currently, she provides primary care on a part-time basis in a rural family practice clinic.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Cathy teaches advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, and transition to practice for the family nurse practitioner. She has also taught BSN forensic nursing and population health. Cathy also advises both ADN capstone and BSN-DNP students at clinical rotations sites. She has served as the Utah Nurse Practitioner (UNP) Legislative Chair from 2016-2018. She has served on DOPL’s Division of Online Prescribing, Dispensing, and Facilitation Licensing Board since 2017. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Sigma Theta Tau’s Nu Nu Chapter. She is credentialed through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and licensed in both Utah and Idaho.Personal Activities
A native of Ogden, Cathy enjoys golf, reading, and traveling to tropical locations.
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Janelle Harvey, MSN, RN, C-EFM
Instructor
janelleharvey@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Janelle Harvey, MSN, RN, CNE, C-EFM
Professional ProfileJanelle Harvey has been a registered nurse since 2004. She is a certified nurse educator, credentialed through the National League of Nursing. She is also certified in electric fetal monitoring. Since 2004, she has worked in postpartum, labor and delivery, a clinical adjunct instructor for WSU, labor and delivery educator, and IV infusion. She began teaching full-time for WSU in 2020.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Janelle is currently teaching in the ADN program – primarily 3rd and 4rd semester students. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing and serves on the board. She is also a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is currently in WSU’s Doctorate of Nursing Practice- Family Nurse Practitioner Program.Personal Activities
Janelle is married to Jeremy Harvey who also works for Weber State in the IT department. Together they have 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys. She enjoys being with her family, reading, hiking, exercising, and traveling.
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Suzy Heugly, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor
susanheugly@weber.eduTiffany Hood, PhD, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
tiffanyhood@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Tiffany Hood, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileDr. Tiffany Hood has been a nurse since 2000 and an educator since 2013, starting adjunct, and becoming full-time in 2020. She has worked in multiple clinical environments, specializing in adult mental health, pediatric surgical, adult and pediatric cardiology, Level 1 and Level 2 operating room, Level 1 emergency/trauma nursing, and was also a cardiology educator at Primary Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hood started her education at Weber State University with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing, immediately followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She then completed a Master of Science in Nursing Education Degree at Weber State University, and a PhD in Nursing Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Dr. Hood currently teaches in the Weber State University ADN, RN-BSN, and DNP programs. Her research is in student nurse psychological distress and trauma in the clinical setting, student psychological safety, student nurse preparation and support, clinical judgment in simulation, disaster preparedness, second victim in nursing, and end of life issues. Additionally, she volunteers for the Utah Nurses Association Education Committee and Government Relations Committee, and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Nu Nu Chapter, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society, the American Nurses Association, the Utah Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and is a reviewer for the journal Nursing Forum and the Journal of Professional Nursing.Personal Activities
Dr. Hood’s interests include going to the gym, sewing, crafting, wakeboarding and waterskiing, snowboarding and snow skiing, camping, travelling, anything outdoors, and spending time with her husband and four children, and family and friends.
- Professional Profile
Michael Johnson, MSN, RN
Instructor
michaeljohnson6@weber.eduLaura Jones, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE, NPD-BC
Instructor
laurajones4@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Laura Jones, MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Professional ProfileLaura Jones has been a nurse since 1992 and received her ADN, BSN, and MSN-Ed degrees from Weber State University. Laura spent 15 years working in several local emergency departments but also has clinical experience in pediatrics, rehab, gerontology, medical-surgical float pool, and newborn ICU. Laura held several leadership roles starting in 2009, but given the opportunity to teach, she found a passion for nursing education in 2016. Her most recent acute care healthcare experience was as a clinical educator for MountainStar Healthcare, where she coordinated the new graduate nurse residency program and provided educational opportunities for clinical staff and registered nurses.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Laura started teaching at Weber State in July of 2020. She teaches in the ADN & BSN programs and is a DNP student. She is an active member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, and the Association for Nursing Professional Development. She also teaches basic, advanced, and pediatric life support (BLS, ACLS, PALS) as an instructor for the American Heart Association.Personal Activities
Laura is married, and her husband is also a Registered Nurse. They have a blended family of 7 children. In her spare time, she likes to travel, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time at her cabin in Bear Lake.
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Maegan Jones, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Instructor
maeganjones@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Maegan Jones, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Professional ProfileMaegan has been a registered nurse since 2006 and a nurse practitioner since 2021. She received her ADN in 2006, BSN in 2009, MSN in 2018, and DNP-FNP in 2021. All of her nursing studies were completed at Weber State University. Maegan has worked in various settings as an RN including med/surg, intermediate care/step down ICU, postpartum, same day surgery/PACU, case management, and leadership on an inpatient nursing unit. She has worked in primary care as a nurse practitioner with a strong emphasis on obesity medicine.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Maegan teaches in the ADN program, primarily in 3rd and 4th semesters. She loves helping students understand the pathophysiology behind concepts to help with the learning process. Maegan is a member of the American Nurses Association, Utah Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Utah Nurse Practitioners Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing – Nu Nu chapter, and the Obesity Medicine Association. Her research interests include obesity care and reducing weight stigma.Personal Activities
Maegan was born and raised in Ogden, Utah and loves being involved in the Ogden community. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. She loves Disneyland and tries to visit a few times each year. Maegan considers herself a lifelong student and loves learning new skills and concepts. She also enjoys reading, hiking, jogging, and riding her ebike.
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Jon Kelly, MNA, MAP, RN
Associate Professor
jkelly@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Jon Kelly, MNA, MAP, RN
Professional ProfileJon Kelly has been a nurse since 1990 and joined the ATD SON in 2000. He began his nursing education at Weber State University with an Associate Degree in Nursing. He previously graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Jon completed a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia at the Mayo Clinic School of Health Related Sciences. Jon also completed a Masters of Arts in Psychology in Stress Management from North Central University. Jon has worked in multiple clinical environments, specializing in emergency medicine and critical care medicine. He worked as a Nurse Anesthetist at Sisters of Francis Hospital in Topeka, Kansas and was on their vascular / trauma team. Jon enjoys teaching in the ADN, BSN, and the Graduate Program. He enjoys teaching all areas of the curriculum but loves the science portions of nursing education (pharmacology, pathophysiology).
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Jon currently teaches in the ATD School of Nursing in the BSN and the Graduate Program. He teaches courses in Leadership, Health Care Policy, Coping in Your Profession, and Pathophysiology. His research is in student nurse perfectionism, creative simulation in the community, stress, and coping among healthcare workers. He is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Associational for Men in Nursing, and National League for Nursing.Personal Activities
Jon’s interests include mountain biking, reading, camping, hunting, dogs, and trading currencies.
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Bailey Larsen, MSN, RN
Instructor
baileylarsen1@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Bailey Larsen, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileBailey has been a registered nurse since 2019. Bailey received her associate degree in nursing in 2019, Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2020, and Masters of Science in Nursing Education in 2021; all from Weber State University. Bailey starting teaching adjunct at Weber State in 2020 and became full-time faculty in 2022. Bailey’s clinical expertise is in critical care and she is still currently practicing as a registered nurse in an Intensive Care Unit. In 2022, she received the “Preceptor of the Year” award from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. Bailey’s hope as an educator is to empower future nurses to become life-long learners so they can continue to improve an evolving healthcare field.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Bailey teaches in the ADN program – primarily 1st, 3rd, and 4th semester students. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. The research she conducted for her Master’s degree was related to Mentorship in critical care units for new graduate nurses. She hopes to continue to do more research related to critical care nursing as she furthers her education.Personal Activities
Bailey is married with one daughter. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, baking sourdough, and playing golf.
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London Draper Lowe, PhD, RN, NHDP-BC
Professor
ldraper2@weber.edu- Professional Profile
London Draper Lowe, PhD, RN, NHDP-BC
Professional ProfileDr. Lowe has taught in nursing education since 1995. She originally began teaching for the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, and in 1999 she commenced teaching for Weber State University.
Additionally, London has over 25 years of clinical experience in Labor & Delivery. In 1986, she started her work in L&D at McKay-Dee Hospital Center (Ogden, Utah), and then continued her clinical career at St. David’s Medical Center (Austin, Texas) from 1992 to 1998. Upon returning to Utah, London resumed her work at McKay-Dee’s L&D unit brining her full circle back to her clinical roots.Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Currently, Dr. Lowe is a professor in the Weber State University Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. She is also the WSU ATDSON Military Liaison and adviser for Army and Air Force ROTC nursing cadets. In addition, London is the Chair of the Nursing Honors Program.
London’s areas of research include resilience in nursing, disaster nursing, and anxiety & self-confidence in nursing students. Her areas of expertise include women’s health and the childbearing family, disaster triage, explosives and incendiary devices in mass casualty incidents, the psychological impact of disasters, and caring for vulnerable populations in disasters.
Dr. Lowe belongs to Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing Nu Nu Chapter – serving on the board in various positions over the years. She is also a member of the Utah Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses.Personal Activities
London loves snowboarding, family trips to the mountains, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and sailing aboard the Schooner Ladona (Rockland, Maine).
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Connie Merrill, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor
constancemerrill@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Connie Merrill, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileConnie has been a registered nurse since 2011. Connie received her Associate Degree in Nursing in 2011 and Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012 from Weber State University and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration in 2015 from Western Governors University. Connie began teaching as a full-time nurse education in 2017 at Weber State University. Prior to teaching full-time, Connie worked as a nurse in Orthopedics, assistance nurse manager in orthopedics and case management for Medical/Oncology at McKay-Dee Hospital.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Connie is currently teaching in the ADN program. She teaches in the clinical, lab, simulation and didactic settings. She teaches the first semester laboratory course focusing on skills and simulation, first semester clinical and first semester didactic. She is course chair of N2200, N2250 and N2251. She also teaches fourth semester students in their capstone experience. Connie serves on the simulation and curriculum committees for the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing.Personal Activities
Connie and her husband have two little boys who keep them on their toes. Her interests include playing the piano, camping, reading, hiking and spending most of her free time with her family.
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Michele Morrill MSN, RN
Instructor
michelemorrill@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Michele Morrill MSN, BSN, RN
Professional ProfileMichele received her RN from Weber State Universityin 2014. She received her BSN from Weber State University in 2015. In 2018, Michele received her MSN from Western Governors University. She has a background in Med/Surg Intermediate Care, Home Health, Clinical Coaching & Case Management.
Personal Activities
Michele was born and raised in Utah. She has 4 great kids. She loves to spend her free time traveling to new places, being outdoors, reading, singing and traveling some more.
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Emily Murray MSN, RN
Instructor
emilymurray2@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Emily Murray, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileEmily has been a registered nurse since 1996. She received her associated degree from Ricks College. She later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Education from Weber State University. She started teaching at Weber State in 2022. Emily has worked as a nurse in various adult and pediatric units. She primarily worked in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Utah and Nevada. She still currently works in an adult Intermediate Care/Medical/Surgical unit. Emily has also served as a volunteer EMT First Responder since 2020.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Emily has taught various skills lab, simulation, clinical, and didactic courses in the ADN program. She primarily teaches first and second semester courses. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing and the National League for Nursing. Emily’s research interests include diabetes, nutrition, and wellness promotion.Personal Activities
Emily and her husband have four sons and two daughters. She is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending her kids’ sporting events, lifting weights, reading, and hiking.
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Kyra Neeley, MSN, RN, CNE
Instructor
kyraneeley@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Kyra Neeley, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileKyra Neeley has been a registered nurse for 16 years. She graduated from Weber State University with her ADN in 2004. She then worked in Float Pool and the Emergency Department at McKay-Dee hospital for 12 years. She went back to Weber State University for her BSN in 2016 and then proceeded to get her MSN in Nursing Education in 2018. She continued to work in the Emergency Department during this time as their educator. She continues to work in the Emergency Department to this day. Teaching is Kyra’s first love and Emergency Medicine is her second. Kyra became a Nursing Instructor with Weber State University in the spring of 2020.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Kyra currently teaches in the ADN program at Weber State University. She primarily teaches 2nd, 3rd, and 4th semester students. She currently teaches 2351 clinical, 2551 lab, 3200 Complex Patient Centered Care, and 3350 Professional Practice Capstone. She loves working with students in every aspect and takes great joy in seeing them progress and learn.Personal Activities
Kyra is married to Richard who is active in the United States Air Force. She has one 13 year-old daughter whose name is Ava. She also has a very cute and friendly black lab named Peta. She spends all of her free time with her family and enjoys camping, paddle-boarding, biking, crocheting, and cooking.
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Melissa Neville-Norton, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE
Professor
mneville@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Mellissa Neville-Norton, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE
Professional ProfileMelissa NeVille Norton is a Professor of Nursing at the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. She joined the School in 2010 as a full-time faculty member. Melissa received her BSN from the University of Utah in 1998 and her MSN and Pediatric Nursing Practitioner degree at the University of Utah in 2001. Melissa practiced full-time as a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and received her Post Master's DNP degree in leadership in 2009. She has been PNCB-certified since 2001 specializing in pediatric urgent and primary care. She maintains a clinical practice that focuses on serving vulnerable and underserved populations.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Melissa is a certified nurse educator through the National League of Nursing (NLN) and an e-learning instructor She is involved in several teaching and research activities, co-authoring several book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on various topics, including leadership, curriculum design, faculty peer review, DNP-PhD collaboration, and quality improvement in higher education; having several conference presentations on those subjects. Current research and translational projects include adding virtual simulation to improve nurse practitioner clinical education, evidence-based approaches to enhance writing competency for graduate students, curriculum design for program improvement, and streamlining doctoral student projects. Melissa has contributed to developing curriculum and evaluation strategies for program enhancement in the Master's and Doctoral Programs, serving as program director, program evaluator for the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and committee work. Melissa has gained expertise and received recognition for faculty governance, program assessment, leadership, and high-impact educational practices for graduate studies. Currently, Melissa serves as Director of Graduate Studies for Weber State University.Personal Activities
Melissa enjoys various activities with family and friends, including yoga, meditation, hiking, cycling, scuba, pickleball, and new traveling. Learning new things is always the best adventure.
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Deon Openshaw, MSN, TNCC RN
Instructor
deonopenshaw@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Deon Openshaw, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileDeon Openshaw has been a nurse for over 26 years. She earned her BSN and MSN at Weber State University. Deon has worked in various aspects of the health care delivery system including medical-surgical nursing, gerontology, and community/public health. She has been a nurse educator for the past 11 years teaching in varied and multiple levels of nursing levels of nursing curricula at colleges/universities in Utah and Weber State University.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Deon is currently teaching in the Associate Degree and Bachelor of Science in nursing programs. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National League for Nursing and has been a past board member. Deon received the Excellence in Clinical Mentoring of Nursing Students from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National League for Nursing in 2013. She has been on the board of directors for Utah Certified Nursing Assistants.Personal Activities
Deon has been married for 18 years and has 7 children and 10 grandchildren. Her and her husband enjoying traveling and exploring new areas of the world and camping with their kids and grandchildren.
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Angela Page, DNP, APRN,
PPCNP-BCAssistant Professor
angelapage@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Angela Page, DNP, APRN, PNP-BC
Professional ProfileAngela Page became a registered nurse in 1983. Beginning with her ADN from Brigham Young University (BYU), she continued at BYU to obtain a BSN with an emphasis in Family Advanced Practice Nursing in 1985. Wanting to specialize, she finished her Master’s degree in 1990 from BYU in Pediatric Advanced Practice Nursing. Angela graduated in 2021 with the first cohort of Weber State University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students. Her DNP studies focused on developing school-based health in Utah.
She has experience in a variety of clinical settings from rural hospital nursing, adult critical care, NICU, to pediatric primary care, community health and school nursing. Her passion revolves around improving health care delivery for children within a family, school, and community setting. She is also enthusiastic about nurturing the next generation of advanced practice nurses, especially as it relates to their skill in a family-centered approach to health promotion and disease prevention.Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Angela joined the ATDSON Faulty in 2017 with the first cohort of FNP students. She enjoys teaching pediatrics class and lab and physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning for the FNP students. She loves working with DNP students as they develop their quality improvement projects as well as teaching in the bachelors and associate degree nursing programs. She is a member of and holds offices in both The National Association of Pediatric Nurses and Practitioners (NAPNAP), SIGMA International Honor Society. She earned an eLearning Certificate form Weber State University in 2018 and a microcredintial from The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) for Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity in the Classroom in 2022.Personal Activities
Angela loves being with her husband, 6 children and grandchild taking walks with their dog and enjoys working in the garden and caring for their chickens and donkeys. She enjoys making music with her family, discovering her roots in family history research, keeping up with current events in politics and serving in her church and community.
- Professional Profile
Chelsea Pike, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
chelseapike@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Chelsea Pike, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileChelsea Pike received her RN from Weber State University in 2012. She received her BSN from Western Governor’s University in 2018 and her Masters of Science in Nursing Education from Western Governors University in 2019. Chelsea joined the Weber State Faculty in 2020 and is happy to be teaching in the same program where she discovered her love and passion for nursing. Her clinical experience is in pediatrics, with her first job at Primary Children’s Hospital in the float pool where she spent most of her time in the PICU. After that, she worked at Primary Children’s inpatient psychiatric unit at Wasatch Canyons and then at a pediatric clinic in Salt Lake City.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Chelsea currently teaches simulation, lab, clinicals, capstone, and the Complex Patient-Centered Care course in the ADN program. She serves on the testing committee and as co-chair of NRSG 2351.Chelsea loved nursing school a student and loves helping students have a positive learning experience.Personal Activities
Chelsea has been married for 26 years and has lived in Utah for 17 of those years. She and her husband are from tiny towns in southeastern Washington State but after 17 years here, they are finally starting to think of this as home. She and her husband have three children and one grandchild. She loves road trips, sunshine, baking, sewing, and spending time with her immediate and extended family.
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Mary Anne Reynolds, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC
Professor
maryannereynolds@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Mary Anne Reynolds, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC
Professional ProfileA native of Ogden, Dr. Reynolds earned her ADN from Weber State, BSN and PhD in nursing from the University of Utah and completed her MS in nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. She is board certified as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and has a strong critical and cardiac care background.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Dr. Reynolds has taught nursing for many years. Before returning to Weber State, she was the program coordinator for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Northern Arizona University. She also coordinated the Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist tract at Idaho State University. She helped implement the RN to BSN program at Weber State University in the early 1990s. She has held faculty positions at Washington State University and the University of New Mexico. Her current clinical practice and research interests include adult health issues relating to palliative care and community based interventions. Recent scholarship activities have looked at Palliative Care Needs of Young and Middle Aged Adults and Improving Heart Health in Native Americans. Her research has been funded by the Oncology Nursing Foundation, American Nursing Foundation, Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association, and the Center for American Indian Resilience. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and the Oncology Nursing Society.
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Jessica Robison, MSN-Ed, RN
Instructor
jessicarobison1@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Jessica Robison, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileJessica Robison earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Education Promotion with a Health Science emphasis in 2015 from Utah State University. In 2017 she obtained and ADN degree from Weber State University and a BSN with Psychology minor in 2018 from the same institution. After finalizing an MSN-Ed degree from Weber State University in December of 2020, she began instructing in 2021. Her healthcare experience started in 2012 as a Certified Medical Assistant and covers a wide range of disciplines including cardiac clinic, pediatric clinic, urgent care, family practice, medical/surgical care, correctional nursing and leading unit practice guidelines, along with Joint Commission readiness.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Jessica is currently an instructor for the ADN program. She teaches pharmacology, lab, simulation, clinical and capstone courses. She is involved as a course co-chair, faculty committee member of the WSU National Student Nurses’ Association and volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corp of Bear River. Jessica is a member of the Utah Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International- Nu Nu and Alpha Beta Xi chapters.Personal Activities
Jessica enjoys exploring local, national and international locations with her husband. She loves her mini home zoo of 3 dogs and 3 cats and wishes she could take her 4lb pomchi to class to provide animal therapy for stressed nursing students. Her hobbies include any activity that inspires creation; including, but not limited to sewing, crocheting, paper crafting, watercolor, hand lettering, floral arrangement, baking, cooking and anything else that sparks joy.
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Kimber Simons, MSN, RN
Instructor
kimbersimons@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Kimber Simons, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileKimber Simons has been a nurse since 2019. She received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education (2019) and her Master's degree in Nursing (education emphasis) (2021) from Weber State University. After obtaining her MSN-Ed, she began teaching as an adjunct at Weber State University in the Summer of 2022 before becoming a full-time faculty member in the Fall of 2023. Kimber started her Doctor of Nursing Practice program in 2023. Kimber's main area of clinical expertise is women's health nursing. She worked as a Well-Baby nurse and cross-trained to postpartum before transferring to the NICU. She became the women's center educator before becoming a full-time faculty member at Weber State University. Kimber teaches in the ADN program, is passionate about education and the nursing profession, and is excited to share these passions with new nursing students.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Kimber teaches various lab, simulation, clinical, capstone, and didactic courses in the AND program. Kimber started serving on the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing evaluation committee in 2023. She has focused her research on women's health, mainly the golden hour after term healthy delivery and the golden hour after premature delivery. Kimber will continue her research throughout her educational profession and through her Doctorate of Nursing Practice program.Personal Activities
Kimber loves to spend time with her husband and two children. She has a daughter, who is her oldest, and a son. Kimber and her family enjoy amusement parks and water parks. Kimber and her family enjoy camping and spending long days on a boat or riding jet skis at the lake. Lastly, she loves to travel and enjoys trips close to home and internationally.
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Holli Sowerby, EdD, RN, CNE
Associate Professor
Evaluation Committee Chair
hollisowerby@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Holli Sowerby, EdD, RN
Professional ProfileDr. Holli Sowerby has worked as a nurse in long-term care, home health, and assisted living. She received her ADN, BSN, and MSN from Weber State University and completed her Doctorate with Walden University. Her professional practice was mostly in home health. She has been faculty at four institutions and spent some time in administration. Holli believes that nurses should be committed to ongoing education and life-long learning.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Holli is an associate professor in the RN-BSN and MSN programs. Her doctoral research was regarding recent graduates’ perception of the efficacy of simulation. She belongs to Sigma theta Tau and has served on the board of STTI, Nu Nu Chapter.Personal Activities
Holli is an avid quilter and loves spending time listening to books and working on her current quilting project.
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JoAnn Spencer, MSN, RN, CCRN-K
Instructor
joannspencer@weber.edu- Professional Profile
JoAnn Spencer, MSN, RN, CCRN-K
Professional ProfileJoAnn Spencer, MSN, RN has been a part of the Weber State University, Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing, full time since 2019. A graduate of Weber State University with an Associate Degree in Nursing (1983), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1989 (the first BSN class at WSU), and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Walden University in 2009. JoAnn worked for over 25 years in the McKay-Dee Intensive Care Unit. She continues with an active CCRN certification. Prior to becoming a faculty member at WSU School of Nursing, she worked as an Evidence-Based Nursing Consultant researching and developing evidence-based practice standards for Intermountain Healthcare in SLC, Utah. She now feels fortunate to share her extensive nursing experience teaching the ADN and BSN students at WSU.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
JoAnn teaches Healthcare Policy and Decision Making, Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice and the Critical Care Class in the BSN program along with Skills Lab, Simulation and Capstone for the ADN students. She has been a clinical Instructor at the Ogden Weber Applied Technology College and adjunct faculty for WSU, DATC and the University of Utah. She has participated in many research projects including the ARDSNET Trial, ALTA Study – NIH ARDSNET study, EDEN/OMEGA-NIH ARDSNET study. JoAnn is an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society and serves on the WSU SON Curriculum Committee.Personal Activities
JoAnn’s passions are spending time with family and Maltese’s, walking, body pump, reading (especially historical fiction), traveling, anything NYC and watching students grow and develop into nurses! The greatest profession ever!!
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Mitchell C. Standing, MSN, RN
Instructor
mitchellstanding@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Mitchell C. Standing, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileMitchell Standing has been a registered nurse since 2013. He has worked in medical, surgical, telemetry, pediatric, detox, and NICU floors as a float staff RN for 3 years and has been working in the emergency department since 2016. Mitchell has been involved in student education for most of his career. He found a love for training the next generation of nurses by taking preceptors and clinical students, and then running clinicals until he joined Weber State as a full time faculty. Mitchell received his Associates, Bachelors, and Masters of Nursing from Weber State University.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Mitchell currently teaches in the ASN program at Weber State University School of Nursing. His research was in utilizing telecommunications to distribute health information to rural areas. He belongs to Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing Nu Nu Chapter and currently serves on the board.Personal Activities
Mitchell loves hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and paddle boarding with his family in the majestic Utah mountains. He also has interest in traveling, especially for international healthcare purposes.
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I. Marlene Summers, MeD, MSS, MSNED, RN
Instructor
marlenesummers@weber.edu- Professional Profile
I. Marlene Summers, MeD, MSS, MSNED, RN
Professional ProfileMarlene was born and raised in southeastern Idaho. She is the youngest of four in her immediate family. She is a graduate of Ricks College, Weber State College/University, Utah State University, the United States Army War College, and Westminster College. She served her country for 33 years in the Army uniform and commanded units at company, battalion, and brigade levels. In the twilight of her career she deployed for a year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is a member of the Honor Guard for Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Marlene has taught more than 45 years in multiple capacities. Her students have ranged from 6 months to 86 years of age. As a public educator she was able to bring certification programs in CPR and Advanced First Aid to one of the local high schools. After 12 years in public education, she returned to Weber State to acquire both an Associate and Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. She was employed more than 30 years with Intermountain Healthcare at McKay-Dee Hospital. Twenty-four of those years were spent as a Clinical Nurse Educator and Regional Education Consultant. Her clinical experience is in cardiac care.Personal Activities
Marlene is proud to be a Charter member of the Nu Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. She has served on the Chapter’s Board of Directors for over a decade in nearly every leadership position. She has been involved in the Nu Nu Chapter earning four consecutive Key Chapter awards and has presented internationally for the organization. Intrigued by multiple types of complementary modalities, she has earned and sustained credentials as a Qualified Therapeutic Touch Practitioner and Reike Master. She serves on the Board of Directors for Therapeutic Touch International Association. Driving her boat at sun rise, waterskiing, participating in the annual Huntsman Senior Games with her sister and niece, and watching family members and her students grow and excel are her passions.
- Professional Profile
Samantha Tietjen MSN, RN
Instructor
samanthatietjen@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Samantha Tietjen, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileSamantha has been a nurse since 2018, primarily in Medical/Oncology and end of life care and still practices in Medical/Oncology. She received her ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Certification in 2021. Samantha completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Weber State University. Her passion for teaching lies in empowering students to develop a life-long enthusiasm for learning, and creating a culture of safety in learning.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Samantha teaches in the ADN program. She primarily teaches first and second semester in clinical, lab, simulation and didactic settings. Samantha’s research interests include oncology, patient teaching, nursing education, and end of life care. Samantha hopes to continue her research as she furthers her education.Personal Activities
Samantha enjoys spending time with her family. When she is not at work you can find her hiking, white water rafting, reading, and gardening.
- Professional Profile
JoAnn Tolman, DNP, RN, CNE
Instructor
joanntolman@weber.eduJamie Wankier Randles, MSN, RN
Associate Professor
jamiewankier@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Jamie Wankier, MSN, RN
Professional ProfileJamie Wankier Randles started her formal career as an R.N. in 2001. Jamie spent fifteen years as an R.N. at Primary Children’s Medical Center, serving in many roles and as the Unit Educator for the Neuroscience Trauma Unit, responsible for new hire orientation and education and developing classroom and one-on-one education for new and existing staff. Jamie has two Bachelors Degree’s from the University of Utah, including her B.S.N. She received her M.S.N. degree from Weber State School of Nursing.
For five years, Jamie served as the Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator with the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing, managing the clinical coordination, residency placement, and project affiliations for the Graduate program. She has also served on many University and School of Nursing Committees.Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Jamie brings comprehensive experience in teaching, learning, coaching, and mentoring to her faculty role. She has taught various clinical and didactic courses as adjunct faculty for five years and then as a full-time faculty member at Weber State University since 2012. Jamie teaches primarily in the B.S.N. and M.S.N. programs.
An outstanding teacher, Jamie is the recipient of the W.S.U. Presidential Teaching Excellence Award in 2021 and the Nurse Educator of the Year award from the Sigma Theta Tau Nu Nu Chapter in 2020. She has served as a board member and president of both the Weber State Faculty Staff Association and a board member and President of the Sigma Theta Tau Nu Nu Chapter.
Jamie has volunteered and coached for a local training organization for 15 years, empowering individuals to enhance their personal and business lives in positive methods. In addition, she earned a certificate in nurse coaching, which involves personal and health-based coaching.Personal Activities
Jamie is married with one son, two step-children, and two grandkids. She loves the mountains and spends all her free time exploring trails with her husband, her kids, and her collection of dogs. When not in the mountains, you can find her in her yard or garden.
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Nancy Weston, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
nancyweston@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Nancy Weston MSN, RN, CNE
Professional ProfileNancy has been an RN since 1989 and a nursing educator at Weber State University since 2017. She completed her RN at Weber State College, BSN at Weber State University, MSN in nursing education from Western Governors University, and is on track to graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Leadership degree from Weber State University in 2023. Her clinical nursing experience includes working in physical rehabilitation, long-term care, and over twenty years in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Her DNP focused on promoting inclusive nursing care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer patients.
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Nancy is an instructor in the ADN program, teaching skills in lab, simulation, clinical, capstone, and complex patient-centered nursing care, and has taught pharmacology for nurses. She is a Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Nu Nu chapter member.Personal Activities
Nancy is serving a service mission with her husband for their church. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping in her RV, traveling outside of the United States, experiencing different cultures, and spending time on a beach or in the water. In her free time, she also enjoys photography, digital scrapbooking, and growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers in her yard.
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Stephanie Wheatley MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Instructor
stephaniewheatley1@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Stephanie Wheatley MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Professional ProfileStephanie is an instructor at Weber State University (WSU) Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. She joined the WSU team in 2021 and teaches graduate and undergraduate nursing courses. She has been an RN since 1991, completing both ADN and BSN degrees at WSU (1991 and 1994). In 2016, she returned to WSU to achieve her dream of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She graduated with the first cohort of students in 2018.
Her nursing experience encompasses various specialties—cardiothoracic and medical/surgical intensive care, home health/hospice settings, and assisted living facility nursing management. In 2018, her FNP practice launched at Martindale Clinic (Odyssey House of Utah) in Salt Lake City. She is passionate about providing integrated primary care to clients with mental health and substance use disorders. She currently volunteers at Seager Memorial Clinic in the Ogden Rescue Mission.Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Stephanie teaches–Advanced physical assessment/diagnostic reasoning and skills, clinical courses, women’s health skills lab, and mental health for primary care for FNP/DNP students. Mental health: the complex role of healthcare professionals, population health, and scholarship for evidence-based practice for BSN students. Clinical skills for ADN students.
She is a member of Utah Nurses Association (UNA) , American Nurses Association (ANA), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), Utah Nurse Practitioner’s Association (UNP), and Sigma Theta Tau Nu Nu Chapter.Personal Activities
Stephanie was born and raised in Utah. She has also lived and worked in California, Texas, Georgia, and New York from 1993 to 2002. Utah lifestyle, nature, and family brought her back in 2002. She loves all things outdoors--hiking, paddle boarding, four-wheeling, road tripping, and gardening. She also loves to sew, craft, design floral, and travel. Her most favorite thing to do is spend time with her husband, their children, and doggie—going on whatever adventure awaits.
- Professional Profile
Kris Williams, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Professor
kwilliams@weber.edu- Professional Profile
Kris Williams, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Professional ProfileDr. Kris Williams began her nursing education at Weber State College earning her Associate Degree in Nursing at the tender age of 18. She continued her education, receiving her Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah and Master of Science in Nursing from Brigham Young University. After many years of being out of school, yet while still teaching at Weber State University, she felt a desire to further improve her knowledge and clinical skills. With six small sons at home and with the full support of her husband, she decided to return to school to obtain a post masters certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Indiana State University. She completed her Doctor of Nurse Practice from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2012. Dr. Williams has been teaching at Weber State University since 1991 with a short reprieve taken to complete her growing family. Kris has worked in many areas of the hospital including: Intensive Care, Intermediate Care, Medical and Surgical, Pediatrics, IV team, Pharmacy, Women’s Health, Orthopedics, and Behavioral Health units. She also has experience as a Community Health nurse for over five years. In addition to her full time teaching responsibilities, Dr. Williams currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner in a local clinic, providing acute and chronic care to newborns through older adult populations. “Being able to provide clinically competent care to improve the lives of patients is so satisfying and much more rewarding that I ever imagined.”
Teaching/Research/Related Activities
Dr. Williams discovered as a very young RN, how much she enjoyed teaching patients and helping them to understand their illnesses. She wanted to transfer the joy and satisfaction of teaching empowerment of knowledge to nursing students. In 1991, her dream of teaching nursing students was fulfilled, as she was offered a teaching position at her alma mater - Weber State University. Dr. Williams teaches in the RN to BSN, Nurse Practitioner, and the Master’s Degree Programs. She also has a strong interest in working with individuals with addictive behaviors and helping them to overcome those behaviors. She has served as a board member on the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Nu Nu chapter. Currently a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, as Dr. Williams feels being active in organizations is an important part of professionalism.Personal Activities
Kris and her husband, Shane have six sons, four daughter-in-laws and two grandchildren. Together, she and her husband love to travel and explore exotic places and spend time with family.
- Professional Profile