I began my nursing journey in my mid-thirties after nearly a decade as a manager at FedEx Ground. While that role provided valuable experience, I felt called to pursue something more meaningful—to serve a greater purpose beyond logistics. My lifelong love of learning and desire to make a tangible impact on people’s lives led me to nursing, a field I saw as offering both purpose and endless opportunities for growth. Before becoming a nurse, I earned a B.A. in English with a concentration in writing and a minor in Women’s Studies from Indiana University. I later returned to school to earn my Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) from Ivy Tech Community College Northeast. Over the course of my nursing career, I have worked in a variety of clinical settings, including step-down, rehabilitation, and intensive
care units. My experience also includes over a decade as a clinical educator at three different hospitals, as well as leadership roles such as Director of Quality Management and interim Chief Nursing Officer at a Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital.
While I’ve enjoyed each of these roles, my greatest passion has always been mentoring and nurturing the growth of new nurses. That passion inspired me to pursue further education through Western Governor’s University, where I earned both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) with a focus in education. Two years ago, I returned to where my nursing career began—as a faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College Northeast. In my teaching, I emphasize the art of nursing as much as the science, believing that compassionate, competent care is essential regardless of a patient’s background, socioeconomic status, or the current political climate. This fall, I’ve taken the next step in my academic career by joining Trine University’s School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. I remain deeply committed to shaping the next generation of nurses and helping them understand that empathy and clinical excellence must go hand in hand.
Research Interest:
Gamification of Learning in Nursing Education
