December 2011

Dr. Deborah A. Raines ’11, an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Educational Technology graduate, was named a regional winner of Nurse.com’s 2011 Nursing Excellence Awards in October.

Robin Hertel ’08, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) student, was recently elected national secretary of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) for 2011–2014. She has been an active member of AMSN since 2004.

November 2011

Melinda Kelly ’11, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was hired as a faculty member at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M.

Pamela Wick ’11, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, designed a three-week summer class to improve nursing students’ skill retention between the first and second years. Wick is monitoring students to measure the impact of the class and will publish the results as part of her practicum project.

Persephone Munnings ’10, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was cited on TheBahamasWeekly.com for leading the Nurses Association of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in a community health screening as part of Walden’s Global Day of Service on Oct. 1.

September 2011

Robbin Odom ’11, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, is the new chief clinical and chief nursing officer for CMH Regional Health System/Clinton Memorial Hospital in Wilmington, Ohio. Previously, Odom was the chief operating officer for Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa, Iowa, and chief nursing officer at Navarro Regional Hospital, Corsicana, Texas.

Elizabeth Carvelli ’10, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was awarded a nursing scholarship from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston. Carvelli is a unit-based educator and has been part of the BIDMC community for 19 years. Her goal is to become a nurse manager.

Cynthia J. Hickman ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate and a Ph.D. in Health Services student, received the Ruby Award from the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) in July 2011 at its 39th annual Institute and Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. The award is given to NBNA members who support nursing students financially through the Cynthia J. Hickman Pay It Forward Nursing Scholarship.

Donna Wright ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, wrote the article “The Documentation and Coding Adjustment (DCA): A CDI Specialist’s View” for AdvanceWeb.com (August 2011). Wright is currently a medical coding data analyst and has worked in critical care, clinical research, and supervisory/management in long-term care during her 28-year nursing career.

July 2011

Michael Lang ’10, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, provided insights into his career as a registered nurse in oncology for the “Ear on Careers” podcast on www.toptiertutoringmedia.com.

June 2011

Cynthia J. Hickman ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate and a Ph.D. in Health Services student, was awarded “Nurse of the Decade” from the Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association in Houston, Texas. The award is given to nurses who demonstrate a passion for promoting social change in their area of interest.

Renee F. Rogers-Frank ’08, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate and a Ph.D. in Education student, authored “Relaxation Tips for Nurses” in MedCity News on April 22, 2011.

May 2011

Julie Mullikin Beard ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, accepted a position as a faculty member and full-time instructor in the Practical Nursing program at Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, S.C.

April 2011

Margaret M. Travis-Dinkins ’07, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, co-authored the book Schaum’s Outline of Psychiatric Nursing (McGraw-Hill, 2010).

March 2011

Cyndi Stroburg ’10, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was named chief nursing officer at StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tenn.

February 2011

Mary Ervi ’08, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was certified as a nurse educator by the National League for Nursing. Ervi also accepted a position as an associate professor at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas.

December 2010

Michelle “Micky” Hess ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, oversaw the creation of Adventist GlenOaks Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute in Glendale Heights, Ill.

October 2010

Teresa Santilli ’10, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, joined the faculty at Kent State University, Salem, Ohio.

Tia Campbell ’08, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was named vice president of the National Association of School Nurses, a nearly 15,000-member association.

September 2010

Cynthia J. Hickman ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, presented her practicum project, “Didactic and Simulation Education a Partnership: Together They Stand for Success,” at the National Black Nurses Association Conference held August 3–8, 2010, in San Diego, Calif.

Elizabeth Pratt ’07, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was selected by the Arkansas Board of Nursing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to participate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) item development panel of subject matter experts held in Chicago July 13–16, 2010.

May 2010

Khristi McKelvy ’09, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was accepted into the 2010 Health Information Technology Scholars (HITS) program—an initiative working to expand the capacity of collegiate nursing schools.

March 2010

Sharon Druce ’07, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, wrote two chapters on organizational preparation and leadership in Disaster Nursing: A Handbook for Practice. The book was named the 2009 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing.

November 2009

Derek Kouwenhoven ’08, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, was appointed director of critical care services at Central Vermont Medical Center.

September 2009

Susan Sonnier ’07, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate with a specialization in Education, was recently awarded the Nurse of the Year award in her hospital, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas. She serves as the patient education coordinator in her facility.

July 2009

Robynn F. Anwar ’07, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate, received a 2009 Camden Hero Award from the Greater Camden Partnership for her contributions to workforce training for the local healthcare industry.