Author: Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and "playing with words" to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.

Q&A with UM Master in Athletic Training Prof Dr. Megan Harper

by Kathy Dean

Experience is a great teacher, and that’s certainly true for college students preparing for a career in athletic training. As coordinator of clinical education for the Master of Athletic Training Program at the University of Mobile, Megan Harper said providing students with a variety of experiences not only benefits the student – it also benefits the community.

“The exercise science program and Master of Athletic Training program both offer a variety of clinical education sites as well as internship sites. We are able to utilize wonderful clinics and facilities all throughout Mobile. This has truly allowed us to really showcase our students to people in the community,” said the assistant professor of kinesiology.

In addition to being a UM professor, Harper also is a UM alumna. She graduated from UM in 2009 and worked as an athletic trainer for 10 years before coming back to her alma mater to be part of the new Master of Athletic Training Program in the School of Health and Sports Science, part of UM’s College of Health Professions.

As both a University of Mobile graduate and a professor, Harper has a unique perspective on what makes this Christian university special. Here’s what she said:

Q: What do you like most about UM?

A: The thing I love about the University of Mobile is the same thing I loved when I was a student here, which is the sense of family and community. Here at UM, the professors and students are able to get to know one another and truly make connections. I had professors who invested their time and energy into me because they believed in me as a student. I am so thankful and blessed to have been given the opportunity to pay it forward to my students.

Q: What does “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose” mean to you?

A: What “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose” means to me is preparing and equipping young adults with the knowledge and the tools to leave UM and make a positive and impactful difference in their communities. As professors, we have been put into positions to help our students find their calling, understand it, and prepare them to do God’s work once they leave the University of Mobile.

Q&A with UM History Professor Michael Robinson

by Kathy Dean

Dr. Michael Robinson knows what it’s like to step into a job right out of college and realize, from the very first day, that it’s not your calling. He also knows what it’s like to take a step back, regroup, and pursue a different career path that you truly love.

Now, as associate professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Mobile, Robinson mentors UM students and helps them discover their own professional calling.

We talked with Robinson about discovering and pursuing your calling, his passion for studying and teaching history, and how a degree in history opens doors to a variety of careers.

Q: You have taught at UM for seven years. What is your background?

A: My path to the University of Mobile was a circuitous one. I received my Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University, my Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and my PhD from Louisiana State University. After graduating from NC State with a business degree, I worked in the world of finance for about a year. My first day on the job, I knew that I had not found my calling. Thankfully, with the encouragement of my family, I pursued a career path I truly love: teaching, researching and writing about history. I completed my PhD in American history at LSU in May 2013 and started work here at the University of Mobile in August of that year.

Q: Your dissertation was about the secession crisis in the Border South. What drew your interest to that area of study?

A: I have always been fascinated by the American Civil War and sought to study its root causes in my dissertation, which examined the four slaveholding states that did not secede from the Union in 1860-61. I was always puzzled why Kentucky, a state that seemed so similar to the 11 states that made up the Confederacy, did not secede. As I examined the Bluegrass State, I was drawn to the other Border South states of Delaware, Maryland and Missouri. I found that these states were as equally committed to slavery as the 11 states of the Confederacy, but the political leaders in the Border South felt as though the Union would best protect their interests, leading them to spurn secession.

Q: Why should someone choose to study history?

A: Knowledge of our past is essential to leading us forward as Christians, Americans and world citizens! We also offer numerous career options through the study of history. We prepare our students for secondary teaching, for work in museums or public history settings, for graduate school and for law school.

Q: What courses do you typically teach?

A: I normally teach U.S. History from 1500 to 1877, Western Civilization from 1500 to the present, and a variety of upper-level courses like the Civil War & Reconstruction, the Old South, Jacksonian America, and Slavery and Abolition in the United States. I especially enjoy teaching the upper-level classes, where we get to focus on pivotal events in our nation’s great past.

Q: What do you like most about UM?

A: We’ve got great students here at the University of Mobile. I’m always amazed by their dedication and love for Christ, which is on display inside and outside of the classroom.

Q: What are some of your interests or hobbies?

A: I love to read, and when taking a break from American history you can often find me reading some of the great works of William Faulkner or Mark Twain. I’m also a big LSU sports fan, which can present some problems here in Alabama. Nevertheless, Geaux Tigers!

Q&A with UM School of Business Dean Kathy Dunning

by Kathy Dean

It’s not enough to be a good person in the world of business – God calls you to be more, says Dr. Kathy Dunning, dean of the School of Business at the University of Mobile.

“That is why our students and faculty use their business skills to help low-income citizens prepare tax returns, organize a community clothes closet, and help non-profits through our student-led Good Work Agency,” Dunning says. “Our School of Business faculty mentor and prepare students to be good citizens, making ethical business decisions through the lens of a Christian worldview.”

We asked the dean about teaching at UM and where you’ll find her when she’s not in the classroom.

Q: A strength of the UM School of Business is the combination of practical experience and academic learning. How has that played out in your career?

A: It’s obvious I love the University of Mobile since I am beginning my 28th year at UM this fall. After earning my Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, I worked for two international, publicly-traded corporations. I worked in tax compliance and planning for both prior to moving into academics. I am a Certified Managerial Accountant, Certified in Financial Management, Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis and have earned my doctorate with a specialization in Accounting. You could definitely say I am a life-long learner!

Q: How does the School of Business prepare students for the business world?

A: The University of Mobile School of Business offers a perfect combination of theory and practice. We work with students to become grounded in foundational business knowledge while also ensuring they leave UM as good communicators, capable critical-thinkers and problem-solvers, ready to pursue their career calling.

Q: We say UM is a place where students can “Know and Be Known.” What does that mean to you?

A: To me, that phrase can be a student stopping by my office to talk about career goals; a student letting me know they’ve passed that first or final section of the CPA exam; or keeping up with a student even 25 years after graduation. Connections are made and maintained here at UM.

Q: What are some of your interests outside of teaching?

A: I really enjoy hiking in the mountains, golf, kayaking and paddle boarding, primarily because all of these activities typically take place in some pretty spectacular spots. I feel closest to God in nature and stand in awe of His creations. And I do love to read on the rainy days!

 

J.L. Bedsole Sports Performance Center Opens at University of Mobile

by Kathy Dean

MOBILE, Ala. – The new J.L. Bedsole Sports Performance Center on the University of Mobile campus is more than a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility for student athletes.

It is a testament to the faithfulness of the Lord and the generosity of the Christian university’s first Board of Trustees Chairman, J.L. Bedsole, said UM’s current Board of Trustees Chairman Fred Wilson at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 9. The facility was funded by gifts and grants, including a major gift from the J.L. Bedsole Foundation.

As student athletes, coaches, donors, faculty and staff gathered to dedicate the center, Board Chairman Wilson prayed, saying the Lord “blessed Mr. J.L. Bedsole with a keen sense of business and blessed him with success. May we all take his example to heart of giving back to not just one generation, but to future generations.”

Nearly 450 student athletes will use the 4,000-square-foot sports performance center which includes iPads with TeamBuildr online strength and conditioning software. TeamBuildr allows athletes and coaches to program workouts and track progress.

Maddie Bergeron, a senior volleyball player from Mandeville, Louisiana, demonstrated a medicine ball side toss as visitors toured the facility.

“I love that our school cares enough about student athletes to provide this incredible facility, so we can work out together and build team chemistry,” Bergeron said. Teammate Melea Meadows, a senior from Jacksonville, Florida, added, “They are helping us in achieving our goals of championships.”

University of Mobile President Lonnie Burnett noted the impact Bedsole had on the university during his lifetime and, after his death, through the foundation established to carry on his lifelong emphasis on education and economic development. The Bedsole name is on buildings across campus, and Bedsole scholarships support students as they pursue God’s calling for their lives.

“We are so grateful for that partnership,” Burnett said.

J.L. Bedsole Foundation Chairman Bestor Ward said he was a child when he accompanied his great uncle on a visit in 1965 to the new Christian college campus in north Mobile County. He recalled the new college founded in 1961 was “mostly a field” at that time. Today, the campus encompasses over 880 acres and offers over 75 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.

“I know he was especially proud to be a benefactor to this school,” Ward said. “We’ve been watching the university grow, and I know that my great uncle is in heaven looking down and is very proud of what he was able to accomplish.”

Strength and Conditioning Coach Taylor Lee Ledbetter said the center provides enough space for athletes to work out as a team, with an area over three times larger than the original weight training room in Pharr Gym.

“This is a classroom and a place for athletes to train, prevent injury and increase athleticism. We are super thankful to the J.L. Bedsole Foundation and donors,” Ledbetter said.

Vice President for Advancement Bruce Earnest said, “We are grateful for the support of our donors and the J.L. Bedsole Foundation for their continued support of the University of Mobile.”

For information on ways to support students at the Christian university, visit umobile.edu/giving or call the Office for Advancement at 251.442.2585.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Q&A with UM Theology Professor Jay Robertson

by Kathy Dean

Theology matters, says Dr. Jay Robertson. The University of Mobile associate professor of systematic theology is director of the theology program in the university’s new Center for Christian Calling.

The Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies provides a rigorous academic program based on a bold commitment to the trustworthiness of the Bible that aims to produce first-rate scholars. This program is designed for Christians called to teaching ministry and provides a solid foundation for students who plan to pursue graduate degrees.

Robertson brings a deep understanding of theology and a pastor’s heart to the classroom – and to the congregation of Crawford Baptist Church in Mobile, where he serves as pastor for preaching and vision.

We asked Robertson how the theology program prepares graduates to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Q: What is your background?

A: I have taught at the University of Mobile for 18 years. I earned a Master of Divinity and PhD from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova, Tennessee. My PhD is in systematic theology with minors in church history and preaching. I also have served as a pastor for 30 years.

Q: What courses do you teach?

A: I teach Introduction to Christian Worldview, The Mission and Message of Jesus, Biblical Interpretation, Systematic Theology, Christian Apologetics, and Global Disciple-making. My favorite courses to teach are Systematic Theology 1 & 2. We must be biblically accurate when it comes to God, His Word, creation, man, sin, the person and work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and eschatology.  The doctrines of theology properly believed lead to Christlikeness.

Q: The Center for Christian Calling has four programs: Theology, Intercultural Studies, Christian Ministry and Graduate Studies. As program director for the Theology Department, what are you preparing students for after graduation?

A: This area within the Center for Christian Calling will prepare students to know what they believe, why they believe it, and be able to explain it to others through preaching, teaching, counseling and conversation. Theology matters. As A. W. Tozer has written: “The most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think about God.”

Q: How do you approach teaching?

A: I am PASSIONATE about disciple-making in every course I teach. I aim for students to grow in their relationship with Christ, their comprehension of biblical truth, and in their desire to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

Q&A with UM Voice Professor Lori Guy

by Kathy Dean

The music world is very competitive, so it’s important college students not only have an excellent music education, but also an environment where they can be known. They deserve a place that is supportive and caring, with one-on-one mentoring from faculty, while preparing for their vocation, says Dr. Lori Guy, assistant professor of music. That’s what she and her colleagues have created in the Alabama School of the Arts at the University of Mobile. Guy believes, “We have been created on purpose and for a purpose.” That’s a good fit for a professor at a Christian university that offers “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.”

We talked with Guy about her passions, from church planting and discipling young women to bringing the poetry of a Holocaust survivor to audiences through performances of “Farewell Auschwitz.”

Q: What courses do you typically teach?

A: I teach undergraduate and graduate applied voice, graduate music history and research, and I associate direct some of the musicals. I honestly enjoy all of my classes, but I especially love my time in the studio with singers. I love helping students find their natural voice and empowering them as performers.

Q: You have taught at UM for 6 years. What is your background?

A: My undergraduate degree is from the University of Indianapolis and my master’s and doctorate is from The University of Southern Mississippi. My degrees were in voice performance and pedagogy, and with those degrees I have gotten to sing roles in operas and musicals. I love being a flexible singer and teacher, so navigating belt voice and a classical aria in the same day is normal for me!

Q: Tell us how you became interested in poetry and music inspired by the Holocaust.

A: For my dissertation, I studied Krystyna Żywulska who was a Polish Jew who survived the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. While in the camp, she wrote beautiful poems that were extremely popular among the prisoners. The poems survived and a modern composer, Jake Heggie, set them to music in a work called “Farewell, Auschwitz.” My dissertation focused on analyzing the poetry and the music of “Farewell, Auschwitz.” Since my dissertation’s publishing, I have collaborated with colleagues and friends to perform “Farewell Auschwtiz” to audiences in Mississippi and Alabama.

Q: What does “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose” mean to you?

A: We have been created on purpose and for a purpose. I believe that purpose is to fulfill Jesus’ command when he says in Matthew to “go and make disciples.” How we live out this purpose looks differently depending on where we end up working and where we have the opportunity to serve others with excellence. I believe we train our students to be excellent at their vocation so they can spend a lifetime serving others and discipling well in whatever field they go into!

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching at UM?

A: I love spending time with my husband and son (especially outdoors – we love a good walk, and if you are in Chickasaw, Alabama, in the evenings, you will probably see the three of us and our red wagon). I love to read – all genres! I am an introvert who likes to recharge with a good fiction book. My husband and I are church planters, so that takes a lot of our time right now, but we are loving it and thankful for the opportunity.

Q: You are passionate about discipleship. Tell us about it.

A: One of my favorite things is that I get to co-lead a college/young adult women’s Bible study. As we were launching it and having a lot of conversations, I began researching discipleship and became really passionate about it. It became really important to create a safe space on Sunday afternoons to help college and young professional women wade through the tough questions they have about God and life. I have become more aware this past year that we are going to (intentionally or not) disciple people to something, and being mindful of that has shaped my focus on intentional discipleship.

*Photo: Dr. Lori Guy performs in Mississippi Opera’s production of “Carmen.”

Q&A with UM Nursing Simulation Lab Coordinator Julie Hughes

by Kathy Dean

As long as she can remember, Julie Hughes wanted to be a nurse. It’s the career the Lord directed her to years ago, she says.

“When I look back on my career in nursing, I find it fascinating to see how the Lord used each detail of my career to lead me to my current position of teaching nursing,” said the University of Mobile assistant professor of nursing. As simulation coordinator in UM’s Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice, Hughes uses her experience as a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and her spiritual gift of teaching to serve the Lord in her calling as a nurse.

We talked with this University of Mobile graduate-turned-professor about the field of nursing and what it’s like to teach and learn in UM’s School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions.

Q: What are you passionate about as a nursing professor?

A: I am passionate about encouraging students to see the potential that I see in them! I am passionate about encouraging them to stay in the Word and believe the Lord has a great plan for their life…that He has chosen them on purpose for a great purpose.

Q: What is your background?

A: After I graduated from UM with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I started my nursing career in the newborn nursery. After a few years of working in the hospital, I moved to a pediatric office. Along the way, I became a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and earned a Master of Science in Nursing. I began teaching as an adjunct in January 2019 and started full-time in August 2019.

Q: What is your favorite class to teach and why?

A: Typically I teach senior seminar, which prepares students to take the NCLEX nursing licensure exam, and I also teach in the simulation lab. My favorite is, without a doubt, teaching in the simulation lab! I love to see students apply what they are learning in class to a nursing scenario. I have the blessing of seeing all the pieces of the nursing education come together as the students grow in the program. In their first simulation lab experience, students are nervous and unsure about what to do next. In their senior semester, the same students are critically thinking and managing the care of multiple patients with confidence.

Q: Why should someone choose to study nursing at UM?

A: The University of Mobile is a small university with a big heart! Each instructor is fully invested in seeing each student successfully pursue the calling the Lord has placed on their lives. The foundational education I received at UM years ago prepared me for a life-long career in nursing. It was amazing to return to UM almost 20 years after I graduated and see how much the university had invested in the nursing program. The addition of the simulation lab provides an amazing hands-on experience, giving students an opportunity to function in the role of a nurse in a simulated clinical scenario.

We offer a variety of degrees for students wanting to enter the field of nursing for the first time, like the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and for those who are already working in the field, like the RN to BSN program. We also have several Master of Science in Nursing programs, from Family Nurse Practitioner to Executive Leadership and Nursing Education. Our new doctoral program includes the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice.

Q: What advice would you give to high school students considering nursing as a major?

A: Pray about it! Nursing is not an easy degree, nor is it an easy career path. It is so rewarding, though! Keep seeking the Lord. He didn’t show me everything when I was a senior in high school; He only revealed peace that I was taking the next right step in the plans He had for my life. Just look for His peace in the next step. He will reveal the rest in His time!

University of Mobile Announces Directors of New School of Nurse Anesthesia

by Kathy Dean
Todd Hicks

MOBILE, Ala. – Todd Hicks, DNP, CRNA, has joined the University of Mobile as professor of nurse anesthesia and director of the new School of Nurse Anesthesia. He leads the first and only Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program in a four-state region that includes Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia.

Also joining the UM School of Nurse Anesthesia as assistant professor and associate program director is Hunter Speeg, DNP, CRNA.

Most recently, Hicks served as an assistant professor and the associate pathway coordinator of the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

During his tenure at UAB, the nurse anesthesia program expanded by more than 100 percent. He was instrumental in the conversion of the UAB nurse anesthesia training program from a master’s-level degree to the now-required doctoral endpoint. His role was to design and develop the curriculum and manage the didactic preparation of all nurse anesthesia students. Under his leadership, outcomes from the nurse anesthesia program improved during a period of rapid program growth.

Hicks was awarded the Dean’s Award for Innovation in Simulation Education in 2016 and was nominated by his students for the AANA Didactic Instructor of the Year in 2017.

In addition to his work at UAB, he is the Expert Clinical Sciences Lecturer for Valley Anesthesia Review, which is a nurse anesthesia board review course given multiple times per year across the country.  In this role, Hicks has assisted more than 1,000 nurse anesthesia graduates to prepare for the National Certification Examination (NCE).

A native of North Carolina, Hicks has been a resident of Alabama since 1989. He earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Auburn University in 1999 and worked as a middle and high school teacher for three years, prior to returning to Auburn. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2004 and worked as a critical care registered nurse at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama, prior to matriculation in a nurse anesthesia training program.

Hicks earned a Master of Nurse Anesthesia from UAB in 2008 and has worked as a clinical CRNA since completion of his anesthesia training. He earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from UAB in 2015, completing his graduate studies.

He is a sought-after continuing education speaker, having provided content locally, regionally, and nationally for CRNAs in almost any setting. Following years of work as a staff CRNA in the Baptist Health System, he maintained a busy nurse anesthesia practice in central Alabama, providing anesthesia services in an office-based, independent setting. His clinical interests include obstetric anesthesia, regional anesthesia, opioid-free/-reduced techniques, and total intravenous anesthesia techniques. Recent publications pertain to pharmacology and genomics.

Hicks is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist and the Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists, for which he has served on the Board of Directors and in various committees. His focus in service is for expansion of nurse anesthesia practice in Alabama to full-scope as well as pharmacology-based continuing education.

Hunter Speeg

Hunter Speeg, DNP, CRNA, joins UM as assistant professor and associate program director of the School of Nurse Anesthesia. Most recently, he served as an adjunct assistant professor within the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway at UAB while maintaining a clinical anesthesia practice at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham.

He has more than 10 years of clinical experience, most recently as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with previous experience as a critical care and medical-surgical nurse and then case management and health education experience with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

As adjunct assistant professor, Speeg worked within the pathophysiology course series, where he developed and delivered course content and assessments as well as participated in evaluation and long-range planning for this series.

A native of south Mississippi, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011 from the University of Southern Mississippi and then was awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice (Nurse Anesthesia) from UAB in 2020. His professional interests include ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, opioid-free anesthesia, total intravenous anesthesia, and geriatric anesthesia.

UM’s DNAP program is accredited by the Alabama Board of Nursing, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Currently, the university is interviewing applicants for the first cohort of students who will start the program in August.

The university is accepting applications for the second cohort of students who will begin the program in August 2022. To learn more or apply for admission, visit umobile.edu/dnap. For more information, call Enrollment Services at 251.442.2222.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.

For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Q&A with UM Athletic Training Prof Melissa Thomas

by Kathy Dean

Dr. Melissa Thomas believes athletic training is a calling. As program director of the new Master of Athletic Training program at the University of Mobile and a certified athletic trainer, she knows what it takes to succeed in the field. She says the best athletic trainers possess empathy, kindness, perseverance, humor, a strong work ethic, emotional intelligence, cultural acceptance, dedication, intelligence, determination, and a passion for the profession. Those qualities are evident in the first class of students to enroll in the new Master of Athletic Training program (pictured above). We asked Thomas about the field of athletic training and UM’s new master’s degree in the School of Health and Sports Science in the College of Health Professions.

Q: What can you do with a Master of Athletic Training degree?

A:The field of study focuses on prevention of injury/illness, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients across a lifespan and in various settings. The profession has expanded to include job opportunities in college and high school settings, physician extenders, industrial, professional sports, performing arts, and emerging settings.

Q: What is unique about UM’s Master of Athletic Training program?

A: The University of Mobile has one of only a few Master of Athletic Training programs within this region. It’s a two-year program with 62 credits for completion. Students are selected through an application process based off cumulative grade point average, personal statement, prerequisites, and an interview process. The program links classroom to clinical with an opportunity to learn from a variety of healthcare professionals. Some of the highlights of the program include: human gross anatomy class, clinical immersions, state-of-the-art simulation lab in the Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice, clinical skills lab courses, and experienced faculty and preceptors. The program leads to graduates being eligible for the Board of Certification exam.

Q: You are an associate professor of kinesiology and a UM graduate. What is your background?

A: I have been full time at UM for 20 years. I played college softball at UM from 1993-1997 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in sports medicine in 1997 and Master of Arts in physical education with teacher certification in 2001. I completed my Doctor of Education in 2012 at the United States Sports Academy with an emphasis in sports medicine. I have been a certified athletic trainer since 1999 and worked in both the high school and college setting.

Q: We say UM is a place where students can “Know and Be Known.” What does that mean to you?

A: I think that faculty and staff do an incredible job in getting to know students. Faculty pride themselves in knowing their students. Over the course of a student’s time at UM, we seek out intentional moments to learn about their families, their home life, their passions, their spiritual path, their struggles, and their accomplishments. I believe we invest in student’s lives and can commit to helping them achieve their professional goals.

Q: What do you like most about UM?

A: I like the family atmosphere. It is what drew me to UM in 1993 as a student and what has kept me here over the years. The faculty, staff and students are some of the best. I firmly believe the first time a student drives onto campus for a visit, it becomes an “ah ha” moment for them. I have been told by several freshmen over the years that the drive into campus was when they knew God was calling them here for college.

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