I am a board-certified nurse midwife, women’s health nurse practitioner, and certified registered nurse first assist in Texarkana and Fort Worth, Texas as well as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at East Texas Baptist University. Prior to joining the faculty of ETBU, I served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing with the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing & Health Innovation from 2013-2021. I have also served as a chapter leader with the Delta Theta chapter since 2015, including the roles of Governance Chair (2015-2020), Vice-President (2020-2021), President-Elect (2021-2022), and President (2022-2024). I am also a member and leader of Iota Nu At-Large since 2019, including as University Counselor (2021-Present), Vice-President (2022-2023), and President-Elect (2023-2024). My research interests include decreasing maternal morbidity & mortality particularly in rural committees, the improvement of associated healthcare risk, utilization of ERAS in gynecologic surgery, high-risk obstetrics, and adolescent gynecology. Prior to my career in healthcare, I developed a passion for the liberal arts, specifically history, in which I hold a baccalaureate degree from East Texas Baptist University.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with minor in Religion from East Texas Baptist University in 2008, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UT Arlington in 2011, a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from UT Tyler in 2013, a Master of Science in Nursing as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Cincinnati in 2015, Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in 2018, and Post-Master's Certificate in Nurse Midwifery from Texas Tech University Health Science Center in 2020. Prior to my advanced practice career, I worked in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, operating room, and post anesthesia recovery units. I have presented a wide array of healthcare and historical research at the Texas Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference, UT Arlington Innovation in Healthcare Research Conference, JPS Health Network Research Symposium, Louisiana Historical Association Conference, and National Phi Alpha Theta Historical Honor Society Conference. I was also invited to present my work at the 2018 Sigma Theta Tau International Research Congress in Melbourne, Australia. I have published articles related to healthcare risk management and high-risk obstetrics and a C-EFM certification textbook.
I have served on the Test Development committees for the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) developing the CNOR exam since 2016 as well with the National Certification Corporation (NCC) developing the WHNP exam since 2019. I am a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society in Nursing (STTI), American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), Texas Nurse Practitioners Association--Legacy Member (TNP), Piney Woods Advanced Practice Nurses Association, East Texas Nurse Practitioners Association (ETNPA), Association of Perioperative Nurses--Lifetime Member (AORN), Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), American Nurses Association (ANA), & Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society in History (PAT).
I am excited to advance in my career as a nurse educator and nurse leader in order to education & train the next generation of nurses and help foster and progress nursing excellence and research in the advanced practice environment. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing the piano & violin, international travel, and spending time with Wes, my husband who serves our community as an inpatient clinical pharmacist, Peyton, our 20-year-old daughter studying pre-law, and our best friends.