Nursing Faculty & Staff
Leadership
Interim Director School of Nursing | Visiting Associate Professor
debra.harrison@unf.edu
Debra Harrison is the Interim Director of Nursing and a Visiting Associate Professor for the School of Nursing, Brooks College of Health, 成人AV视频. Her undergraduate BSN and MSN are from Winona State University in Minnesota and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is from the 成人AV视频.
Dr. Harrison has been an adjunct professor for Nursing and Health Administration at 成人AV视频. She was the Chief Nursing Officer at Mayo Clinic Florida from 2006 – 2016. Her career at Mayo Clinic spanned 40 years, starting in Rochester, Minnesota. After retiring from Mayo Clinic, along with teaching, she was an Executive Coach with MEDI Leadership, a company focused on Coaching for Healthcare Executives throughout the country. Dr. Harrison has published several professional articles and has been a local, regional, and national presenter throughout her career. She co-authored three chapters in the book Essentials of Strategic Planning in Healthcare, 3rd edition published by Health Administration Press.
Assistant School of Nursing Director – Accreditation and Curriculum | Instructor
t.taylor@unf.edu
Program Directors
FNP Program Director | Clinical Associate Professor
mbednarz@unf.edu
Online Program Director | Assistant Professor
lauren.boardman@unf.edu
Prelicensure Program Director | Associate Professor
jcomeaux@unf.edu
Nurse Anesthesiology Program Director | Associate Professor
ryan.shores@unf.edu
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Director | Assistant Professor
m.smith.east@unf.edu
Faculty & Instructors
Instructor
b.bailey@unf.edu
Clinical Associate Professor
jabaker@unf.edu
Dr. Julie Baker-Townsend earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in Women’s Health (WHNP-BC) and Family Practice (FNP-BC) studies, with graduate degrees from the University of Florida and the 成人AV视频. With over 20 years of nursing education experience, she is dedicated to women's health education to support the unique health needs and challenges that women face throughout their lives. She is a full-time educator at the Brooks College of Health School of Nursing and works clinically at 成人AV视频 Student Health Services as a nurse practitioner, providing women’s health and primary care services to the college population. She is a student advocate who is dedicated to educating the nurses of tomorrow by fostering mutual respect in the classroom and in the clinical setting. Her research interests include evidence-based practice changes and women’s health issues. Personally, she enjoys sports and water-based activities.
Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor (NAP)
adam.m.conrad@unf.edu
Instructor
amy.draves@unf.edu
Associate Instructor
cora.evensen@unf.edu
With a strong background in pediatric nursing as a staff nurse, Cora Evensen, MSN, RN, CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse) brings a wealth of experience to the field of nurse education. Having served as a preceptor and adjunct clinical instructor, she has a proven track record of guiding and mentoring students and new nurses, fostering their development in the fundamentals of nursing – a cornerstone of quality patient care. Motivated by a desire to address the growing need for qualified nurse educators, Cora Evensen possesses a genuine passion for supporting nursing students on their academic journey. Witnessing their transformation and success as they become the future of the profession is a source of immense personal satisfaction. The opportunity to educate at the university level in the Fundamentals and Pediatrics courses of the School of Nursing has been particularly rewarding, allowing her to share knowledge and experience with a wider audience.Cora also enjoys connecting nursing students to their community through the community engagement experiences scaffolded throughout the curriculum. When she is not helping students, this Jacksonville native enjoys getting outside with her family.
Clinical Assistant Professor
n00204774@unf.edu
Sarah Firmin, DNP, RN, Clinical Associate Professor, is an educator, clinician, and an advocate for healthcare excellence. She has over a decade of clinical practice and multiple nationally recognized board certifications in nursing. Dr. Firmin is passionate about continual professional development and providing education regarding pathophysiology, health promotion, and the aging process. In her clinical practice, she advocates for and works with underserved patient populations. In the classroom setting, she incorporates simulation and case studies based on real-world events to empower students with the tools needed to be successful during their transition to practice. Her dedication to student success is evident in her unwavering support and mentorship, ensuring that each student feels confident transitioning into professional nursing practice.
Visiting Instructor (NAP)
jason.green@unf.edu
Instructor
Brittany.gibson@unf.edu
Brittany Gibson is a nursing instructor at the Brooks College of Health School of Nursing and a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of critical care nursing experience. She graduated from Texas Women’s University with a BS in Nursing and obtained a MS in Nursing from Georgetown University. Her primary areas of expertise and interest are in critical care and pain management. She is passionate about health promotion and disease prevention within the local community as well as nurturing the next generation of future nurses to think critically in both the classroom and clinical setting. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and dining out.
Instructor
j.gonzalez.etheredge@unf.edu
Clinical Assistant Professor
n01547837@unf.edu
Dr. Hammack is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Brooks College of Health School of Nursing at the 成人AV视频. Dr. Hammack began her career at a small community hospital in Ohio. She worked in med-surg, hospice/palliative care, admissions, pediatrics, endoscopy, education, and as a clinical nurse leader in the years she was there. After 13 years, she accepted a position as a nurse education specialist at a children's hospital. She got to work closely with 16 outpatient subspecialty clinics including HIV, genetics, and neurology just to name a few. Searching for sunshine and warmer weather, she moved to Florida and worked as a nurse navigator and an ICU nurse until transitioning to academia in 2017. She currently works in the undergraduate nursing program, loves her family, spending time at the beach searching for shark teeth, and her fur babies.
Instructor
amy.howell@unf.edu
Clinical Assistant Professor
Shavondra.Huggins@unf.edu
Clinical Assistant Professor
lisa.jaquet@unf.edu
Dr. Lisa Hopper Jacquet is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing Brooks College of Health. She is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner since 2006, currently working in 成人AV视频 Student Health Services. Dr. Jacquet has lived and worked all over the country and for the US Armed forces as a civilian. She currently works in the graduate program with the DNP students.
Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor (NAP)
n00590959@unf.edu
Clinical Assistant Professor
dina.khentigan@unf.edu
Dina Khentigan is an Assistant Clinical Professor for the School of Nursing, Brooks College of Health, 成人AV视频. Her undergraduate BSN is from Clemson University in South Carolina, and her MSN is from East Carolina University in North Carolina. Her DNP was obtained from Post University in Connecticut where her research project was focused on the impact of meditation on test anxiety.
In the hospital setting Dr. Khentigan has worked in labor and delivery, post-partum, infection prevention, plastic surgery, and administration. Her academic credentials include teaching obstetrics/neonatal and fundamentals in nursing . Dr. Khentigan has earned certification by the NCC in EFM. Due to her passion for health promotion, Dr. Khentigan is an Integrative Health Professional from Dr. Weil's Center for Integrative Medicine and certified by the American Council on Fitness as a Group Fitness Instructor.
Instructor
d.kilcrease@unf.edu
Instructor
n01529980@unf.edu
Professor
lloriz@unf.edu
Dr Loriz is a tenured Professor at the Brooks College of Health, School of Nursing (SON). She is a certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner. Dr Loriz began her career in Washington DC where she worked with HIV patients in the early days. After earning her PhD in Nursing Administration she moved to Jacksonville and 成人AV视频. She was the Director for the SON for 17 years. During her tenure as Director, she introduced many programs in the SON including, Nurse Anesthesiology (NAP), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Accelerated Nursing (APL), and Freshman Admissions to Nursing (FAN). Currently, Dr. Loriz teaches in the DNP programs and thoroughly enjoys working with students completing their doctoral projects. She is available as a mentor to junior faculty. In her free time, Dr. Loriz enjoys being active outdoors.
Instructor
katrina.magyar@unf.edu
Professor
jane.mccarthy@unf.edu
E Jane McCarthy CRNA, PhD, FAAN is a nurse anesthetist and pulmonary physiologist and has been in academia doing research, teaching and administration for over 20 years. As a member of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps for 24 years she served as a regulatory scientist at FDA. She developed the congressionally mandated nurse anesthesia program for the Uniformed Services University and the University of Maryland. She was one of the first nurse anesthetists to be recognized as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1994 and has been a member of the AANA Board of Directors. Dr. McCarthy is a Professor here at the 成人AV视频 where she does primarily on-line education in Healthcare Policy and Evidence-Based Practice for doctoral nursing students.
Professor (NAP)
john.mcdonough@unf.edu
Assistant Professor
r.thomas@unf.edu
Professor
jmeires@unf.edu
Associate Professor (NAP)
katherine.meuti@unf.edu
Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor (NAP)
ryan.navarro@unf.edu
Instructor (NAP)
jonathan.pabalate@unf.edu
Instructor
bree.walker@unf.edu
Clinical Assistant Professor (NAP)
carol.roland@unf.edu
Assistant Professor
n00445501@unf.edu
Dr. Sandra Shapiro is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Brooks College of Health School of Nursing at the 成人AV视频, a board-certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She has worked in multiple unique settings with various populations across the continuum of care. After receiving her BSN from the University of Florida, she began work as an RN in intensive care units, telemetry, med-surg, and ambulatory care and was a travel nurse for several years, mostly with the adult population. Born and raised in Jacksonville, she returned to her community to attain three advanced nursing degrees at 成人AV视频. As a CNL, she was instrumental in improving patient outcomes while being fiscally responsible in a large community hospital. She began her career as an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner working in pediatric forensics at the Child Protection Team, where she assists law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families with their investigations. During the school year, Dr. Shapiro continues to provide her services to both the hospital as a Case Manager, assisting patients with discharge planning, and as an APRN for the Child Protection Team. During the summers, she works as a camp nurse in North Carolina. Her research focus is centered around her passions for community nursing, nursing education and nursing theory.
Assistant Professor
d.shoemake@unf.edu
Assistant Professor
n00860923@unf.edu
Bethanie Simmons-Becil is a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and graduate educator. She has over fourteen years’ experience with providing evidence-based, holistically focused mental health care to multiple patient populations. Bethanie is an Assistant Professor with the 成人AV视频 with specialty in psychopharmacology and neuroanatomy. Her university research foci include integration of evidence based holistic interventions in nursing education, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy implementation in depressive symptom remission, and use of combinatorial pharmacogenetics in advanced neuropsychiatry. In the classroom, Bethanie is an engaging and dynamic educator. She engages students through humor and exuberance through complex neuroanatomy, neuropsychiatry, and mental health diagnostician concepts. Her ultimate desire is to provide her patients, students, and peers with research based, holistically focused, psychiatric management education and strategies for improving the mental health community.
Instructor
michelle.sink@unf.edu
Michelle Sink has been a dedicated registered nurse since 1994, after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. Early in her career, she realized her true passion lay in education, prompting her to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and transition to teaching in 2003. With extensive clinical experience in areas such as medical-surgical nursing, home care, postpartum care, and newborn nursery, Michelle brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her teaching. Over the past 20 years, she has taught a diverse range of nursing courses, including Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing Fundamentals, Leadership, Community Health, Ethics, and Transitional Nursing. Additionally, Michelle has had the unique opportunity to teach nursing courses to students in Inner Mongolia, China. Michelle works closely with nursing publishing companies to integrate the latest evidence-based content into her courses, ensuring that her students are well-prepared. As an instructor, she is passionate about student engagement and fostering a supportive classroom environment. Outside of her professional life, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family whether camping, traveling, or simply enjoying the outdoors.
Clinical Assistant Professor (NAP)
amy.suralis@unf.edu
Dr. Amy Suralis is a dedicated Nurse Anesthesiologist working in all areas of surgery including private independent practice, office based anesthesia, and regional trauma centers. She has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Nurse Anesthesiology doctoral program since 2021. She is passionate about student success through the program. Her main focus in the nurse anesthesiology program is board preparation and holistic test prep and success.
Jessica Taylor, MSW, LCSW
Mental Health Counselor
jessica.taylor@unf.edu
Instructor
n00048111@unf.edu
Clinical Assistant Professor
michelle.urbanek@unf.edu
Instructor
wendy.white@unf.edu
Wendy White, MSN, RN is a Nursing Instructor at the Brooks College of Health, School of Nursing. She attended Cornell University and received her first Bachelor of Science but decided to return to school to become a nurse because she loved caring for older adults. After completing her nursing degree at Midway University, she worked in med/surg and telemetry units before finding her home as an ICU nurse. In 2019 she received her MSN from Western Governor’s University and became a full-time nursing instructor. She has taught nursing students in the first and last semesters including in the classroom, lab, simulation, and clinical experiences. When she is not teaching, she loves spending time at the beach and with her family and cats.
Assistant Professor
christina.wright@unf.edu
Staff
Annalise Clarke, M.S.
Program Coordinator, Nurse Anesthesiology Program
Annalise.f@unf.edu
Catherine Mae Cosare
Clinical Assistant
c.cosare@unf.edu
Beth Dibble, Ed.D., M.P.S., M.S.C.J.
Nursing Admissions Coordinator
bdibble@unf.edu
Rachel Edwards
Credentialing Specialist, Nurse Anesthesiology Program
n01669369@unf.edu
Hannah Falconer
Office Manager
h.falconer@unf.edu
Stefani Foshee, BSN, RN
Student Success Coach
stefani.foshee@unf.edu
Venessa Hayes, MSN, BSN, RN, CEN
Simulation Educator
v.hayes@unf.edu
Molly Molis
Program Operations Coordinator
molly.molis@unf.edu
Miwa Nguyen, Ed.D.
Manager of Operations
m.nguyen@unf.edu
George Reeves, B.S.
Nursing Simulation Systems Technologist
g.reeves@unf.edu
Lori Rice, M.H.A.
Manager Simulation and Clinical Innovation
lori.rice@unf.edu
Victoria Ritz, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Visiting Part Time Instructor
victoria.hand@unf.edu
Kristen West
Clinical Coordinator
Kristen.west@unf.edu