This semester鈥檚 Suter Science Seminar lineup at 91短视频 include professionals working in disease ecology, behavioral health and crisis services, animal health, and biology.

The events will be held in Swartzendruber Hall of the Suter Science Center, and will be livestreamed for the off-campus community on the . [You do not need to be a member of Facebook to view the livestream.]

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 4 p.m. 鈥淓merging Vector-borne Disease in the Commonwealth鈥� with Dr. Gillian Eastwood, assistant professor of vector-borne disease ecology in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech.

Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. 鈥淏uilding-up the Behavioral Health System in a Time of Crisis: Opportunities and Challenges鈥� with Dr. Rolando L. Santiago, chief of behavioral health and crisis services for the Department of Health and Human Services in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 4 p.m. 鈥淐ount Up: My Reflections on Science, Industry, and Life鈥︹�� with Raul E. Diaz Lugo, global quality lead for Merck, Animal Health North America.

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. 鈥淐haracterization of Sensory Driven Intrinsic Iris Constriction in Mammals鈥� Dr. Marquis Walker, assistant professor of biology at James Madison University.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. 

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

As she began her final coursework to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree at 91短视频, Crystal Perez saw an opportunity to impact the greater community. Partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Perez led an initiative in the Allentown City School District (ASD) to launch , a federally funded program that offers free vaccines for children 0-18 who are uninsured or underinsured. Perez is the district鈥檚 assistant director of health services, overseeing school nurses and health services.聽

There was no blueprint to follow to implement the program鈥擜llentown is only the second school district in Pennsylvania to participate. Additionally, the process was delayed by about a year due to the COVID pandemic; while Perez鈥檚 project began in the spring and summer of 2021, the program didn鈥檛 launch until spring 2022.

This did not stop Perez, who was able to live out her ongoing mission to protect student health, promote academic success, and preserve community relationships. She believes that 91短视频鈥檚 MSN program added to her philosophical foundation. 鈥淎ll my professors were so supportive and encouraging,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey made me believe I could actually do this. I was inspired to make a change.鈥� 

Historically, over 1,000 students district-wide are undervaccinated at the start of the school year, which is grounds for exclusion according to Pennsylvania law. Exclusion can lead to missing valuable classroom instruction time and strained relationships between school staff and families, Perez said. 

From a public health perspective, immunizations protect both children and the community, she added. Though the pandemic created logistical challenges, Perez said this was an advantageous time to implement the program with the public more focused on disease prevention and immunizations.

This initiative targets communities experiencing 鈥渟ometimes insurmountable barriers鈥� obtaining immunizations, she said. School nurses are the most consistent and accessible medical provider for many children, especially those from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and racial minority groups. 

Now, instead of referring students to outside providers for vaccines, certified school nurses may administer vaccines themselves after providing families with a letter of explanation, a consent form, and vaccine information. If the student attends school in a building not storing vaccines, the district will either arrange to take the student to another school, or a nurse will bring the vaccine to the student.

Perez and her team developed forms, procedure guidelines, protocols along with obtaining required VFC certifications and passing inspections. District nurses completed online training from the CDC, a full-day, in-person in-service, and one-on-one staff training. Perez cited the 鈥済enerous support and guidance of the Allentown Health Bureau鈥� as essential to getting the project up and running. The bureau donated all of the needed equipment for the project: vaccine storage units, monitoring equipment, and other supplies.

By the end of the school year, school nurses district-wide will begin to distribute vaccines from storage units at Allen High School, Dieruff High School and Central Elementary School. The district plans to expand the initiative to South Mountain and Harrison Morton middle schools in the fall. 

鈥淐rystal’s MSN capstone project serves as a great example of the impact 91短视频’s MSN, DNP, and undergraduate nursing students have on the health needs of our communities and beyond,鈥� said Don Tyson, the director of 91短视频鈥檚 MSN program. 鈥淐rystal demonstrated compassion for the needs of a very vulnerable urban population of students and decided to blaze a trail to a wonderful model for other schools to emulate.鈥�

Throughout the month, 91短视频 Nursing held several workshops, shared stories of prominent nurses throughout history, and posted videos for and about nurses.

Also in May, 91短视频’s online RN to BSN program was recognized as the best in the state for 2022 by RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization.

To view the entire series, visit the .

Alumni

Beth Good ’03

MSN Program Director

鈥淏efore my husband and I began working internationally, I decided to prepare myself by taking an EMT training. It was during that training that I realized caring for people鈥檚 health was something that brought me fulfillment and I set my mind toward becoming a nurse. It took several years and the encouragement of a dear friend while living in Kenya until I was able to begin moving toward this goal. After completing an associate鈥檚 degree and licensure as an LPN, I was able to complete my undergraduate work at 91短视频. The timing was perfect since I knew that at least one or two of my daughters were nipping at my heels to begin their own journey into nursing.鈥�

Rebekah Good Charles ’07

Administrative role as a Mennonite Central Committee country representative

鈥淚 remember trying to decide what I wanted to study when I visited the 91短视频 nursing department, where my mom was finishing her BSN at the time. I loved the holistic approach and the variety of ways this one vocation took form in different individuals.

Having family members who are nurses is a special treat. We can share experiences from our different nursing roles and have a certain level of understanding. We have a shared pride in our profession that is fun to talk about or share with others around us. I also love that each one of us has done nursing in a slightly different way.

I have been a public health nurse more of my career. Right now, I am finishing an administrative role as a Mennonite Central Committee country representative with my husband Derrick. It is not a traditional nursing role but has used all the skills I learned in school. I am looking forward to getting back into a more traditional nursing role- but still community based soon.鈥�

Naomi Good ’15

Certified Nurse Midwife

鈥淚t took me a while to find my niche in nursing, I started out as an ICU nurse and quickly realized that was not the path for me. I even contemplated leaving the nursing field. I then switched to labor and delivery where I found my love for women鈥檚 health and the birthing process. I furthered my education and recently became a Certified Nurse Midwife, which is my dream job! I love working with women and partnering with them as their provider in their health and in their pregnancy and birth. It is a very sacred thing to be a part of someone鈥檚 birth and just watch the amazing things that our bodies can accomplish.鈥�

Johnathan Barni 鈥�22

Emergency Department nurse at Sentara RMH hospital

“My desire to help people started at a young age. I played ice hockey and was an action sports enthusiast starting when I was in first grade, and as one might imagine, this led to frequent visits to receive care for injuries. All of those experiences were overwhelmingly positive as I interacted with great care teams, which captivated me and led to my desire to be able to do the same for others. It has been a lifelong journey to get to nursing school, but one I am very proud of. After finishing my first bachelor鈥檚 degree at James Madison University in healthcare administration with a minor in business, I worked on the quality improvement side of the field before returning to school to join the 91短视频 nursing program. It is here that I feel I have found my true calling and my home. This program has challenged me beyond measure and given me many skills to carry into a future career. In the fall, I will be starting as an emergency department nurse in our local Sentara RMH hospital. There, I look forward to a lifelong commitment to bettering the health of my patients and being a part of a wonderful team that expands the field and strives for excellence.”

Ellie Butsch 鈥�11

Nurse at Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon

“My husband and I are enjoying being first-time parents to our five-month old baby, Isabel. I work at Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon. I have been there ten years but just started in a new department (Prep and Recovery) in order to have more time at home with my baby.”

“My husband and I are enjoying being first-time parents to our five-month old baby, Isabel. I work at Salem Hospital in Salem, Oregon. I have been there ten years but just started in a new department (Prep and Recovery) in order to have more time at home with my baby.

Nadene (Brunk) Eads, MSN 鈥�75, CNM

Retired executive director of Midwives For Haiti

“The wonderful thing about a nursing degree is that the choice of jobs is wide. If you get tired or disillusioned with one type of job, you can go a different direction without starting your education over. From patient care to a desk job, from hospital to home health, from public health to service in a different country — there are so many opportunities if you are willing to stretch yourself and grow. I have had employment as a med-surg nurse, a home-health care nurse, an OB-Gyn nurse-practitioner and nurse-midwife. I spent the last five years of my career running a non-profit, Midwives For Haiti, educating Haitian nurses in midwifery skills. 91短视频 provided both the education and the passion for service necessary for all of my choices of jobs.”

Addison Hawpe 鈥�22

Pediatric Acute Care RN at UVA Children鈥檚 Hospital

“Imagine this 鈥� you are six years old, your mom is at the hospital delivering your baby brother and you are at your aunt鈥檚 house, beyond ecstatic to meet your new sibling. Sweet, right? Now, imagine this 鈥� your aunt gets a phone call from the hospital saying your brother was being transported to the University of Virginia鈥檚 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, NICU, for short. You see your aunt start crying, but you are not sure why. And, four days later, your mom returns home without baby brother, telling you he was born with a hole in his lung and is now at the hospital. You are put in the car and driven half an hour away to visit your baby brother, who you see is stuck in this box with wires and tubes poking out from every angle. The only love you can give him is a tiny touch through two holes in this heated box. People in funny looking outfits touch him, pick him up and care for him with such finesse. They know he isn鈥檛 as fragile as he appears. This was my life 15 years ago; a 6-year-old little girl who had her first real experience with the medical field. Looking back now, I realize just how much of an impact this moment had on me and am surprised by how much I truly remember. My most vivid memory of visiting my brother in the hospital consists of me, navigating through what seemed like a never ending maze of incubators, all housing the most sickly and frail looking babies I had ever seen. Finally, at the end of the maze tucked in a back corner was my little brother鈥檚 boxy home. I saw one of these funny clothed people, who I now know were nurses, giving him what looked like water through one of the many tubes he had. She rolled his little body over and swaddled him back up. I remember thinking, isn鈥檛 she going to hurt him? He is so tiny! But, I also remember thinking, wow, she is SO cool. I want to be like her one day. It was from this moment on that I knew that I wanted to be a nurse.”

Sophie Hodge 鈥�22

Surgical-Trauma ICU nurse at UVA

“Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to work in the medical field. My mother has worked in radiology for over 30 years and seeing her provide patient care is what inspired me to pursue health care. It wasn鈥檛 until my Freshman year of high school that I really started considering nursing. My grandfather, whom I was very close to, had a stroke in 2013 and was diagnosed with lymphoma shortly after. Seeing the hospice nurses care for him sparked my interest in nursing. I was able to do a mentorship at Sentara RMH my senior of high school on the Medical-Surgical Oncology and Palliative Care floor and that鈥檚 when I fell in love with nursing. I got my EMR when I was 16 and started volunteering at Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad and then in 2019 I got my EMT. I started working as an Emergency Department technician in 2020 at Sentara RMH and have loved my time there. I will be working at UVA in the Surgical-Trauma ICU. And plan to pursue flight nursing after that.”

Melissa Jantzi 鈥�16

Nurse at Christ House in Washington, DC

“One of my fantastic 91短视频 nursing professors first introduced me to Christ House, a medical respite facility for men experiencing homelessness in Washington D.C. I’ve been working at this amazing place for almost 5 years now. I love being a part of reconnecting patients to care who have sometimes been lost for many years. We provide primary care and also connect patients with specialists, addictions services, psych, and spiritual care. Also, we are currently searching for a new night nurse!”

Rebekah Lehman 鈥�02

Home health nurse at Carefree Home Health & Companions in Harrisonburg

“I started out my career at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Obstetrics. Smaller community hospitals, as this was, have their benefits as well as disadvantages, especially when it comes to change. From there I moved on to Med/Surg at Sentara RMH, sparing the details, this was not for me. Feeling a little lost at the time, I shifted from hospital bedside nursing into home health at Carefree Home Health & Companions, which as it turned out was nothing like what I had experienced during nursing school. This job is specially working with special needs individuals, which I have now loved doing for 9 years! For a few years, I also supplemented this job with a part-time nursing job at a pediatrics doctors office. So, while I initially thought, why me, my career has not been ground-breaking or heroic, I do know the significance I am and the difference I make to the individuals & families I care for. That is why I do what I do. My nursing career has not been anything like what I envisioned while in nursing school, and that’s okay. Life in general doesn’t always go the way we thought it would. Just have faith, and an open mind, the possibilities are endless.”

Miriam Mitchell, MSN 鈥�19, MPH, RN

Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Health in New Zealand

For the last two years Miriam has been working at The Ministry of Health in New Zealand. Her role includes advising the Minister (Secretary) of Health, on matters related to government health policy and strategy.

鈥淭he New Zealand national health system is currently going through a major reform. I love being able to use the skills I gained from my MSN course work in risk, safety, quality improvement, and systems thinking, to contribute to achieving health equity for all New Zealanders. Thanks 91短视频 Nursing!鈥�

Abby Oyer 鈥�15 

Travel nurse

“For my first two years as a nurse I worked at Sentara RMH on the progressive care unit. I was surrounded by caring, supportive nurses who taught me many valuable lessons. However, 91短视频 nursing gave me the fundamentals and pushed me to become the nurse I am today. Experiencing Covid-19 as a nurse was a challenging time that I couldn鈥檛 have done without Joy Kiser (91短视频 grad in picture 2). Working together as a team helped the long shifts be more bearable. In August 2021 I decided to try travel nursing. I was pushed out of my comfort zone but have grown even more as a nurse. I am more confident in my nursing skills and learned to ask for help. At a new facility with different protocols, this was key. When it comes to nursing, I have always asked questions when I needed clarification. Travel nursing taught me how important this is as a nurse. I am so happy I decided to try travel nursing as it led to a flexible schedule and meeting amazing nurses. I鈥檝e learned that it is okay to not know exactly what I want to do in nursing. I am unsure what I want to do next but I know that I have a passion for helping my patients wherever they may be.”

Faculty (current and former)

Beryl Brubaker PhD

Administrative Emeriti

Dr. Brubaker started her long 91短视频 career in the nursing department, which she chaired for 10 years. Recognized for her administrative ability, she was appointed vice president for enrollment management in 1994 and then provost, 91短视频鈥檚 second-highest post, 2000-2008. She also served briefly as interim president. At the time of retirement, she was awarded the Administrative Emeriti title.

“I loved teaching and administration in the Nursing Department and later in the university as a whole. I found I enjoyed mentoring students and persons who reported to me as an administrator. One of the satisfactions in such a career is having persons return to tell you how much that meant to them and helped them move into their careers.”

Deb Cardenas, DNP, MSN, BSN

Nursing faculty, president of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association

“Nursing has been my passion ever since I was a little girl. There was never anything else. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to use my nursing knowledge in many settings. Risk Management and Safety are at the top of my list. Providing education and advice to nurses on practicing safely, discussing the legal process and working with attorneys to support nurses is something I enjoy. Another avenue where I utilize my nursing knowledge is as the president of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA). I have had the honor of being the President since June 2021. In this position, I have enjoyed meeting and talking with nurses from across the state about their concerns, their priorities, and their nursing stories. I would like to wish you Happy Nurses Week! YOU make a difference! Patients, families and communities see what you do, how you do it and they are grateful. Thank you for everything you do! You are amazing!”

Bethany Detamore, MSN

Nursing faculty

“Nursing is a career in which one can do just about anything. This is something I truly love about the profession. I graduated with my BSN in 2016 and have taken on many different roles in the last 6 years as an RN. As a new grad, I started on a cardiothoracic surgery unit doing bedside nursing for two years, then transitioned into case management at an outpatient wound clinic. Once I completed my MSN degree in 2019, I began teaching. I have worked everything from weekend twelve hour night shifts to Monday through Friday, no weekends or holidays. Although, grading sneaks into my weekends occasionally. Throughout the different seasons of this profession and all the roles I have had the pleasure to fill, I can confidently say a career in nursing has something for almost everyone. If twelve hours shifts aren鈥檛 a good fit for you, seek out other types of shifts. If bedside nursing isn鈥檛 something you think you can do for thirty-plus years, seek out other opportunities! I would have never known how much I loved wound care if I hadn鈥檛 been asked to join a wound care quality improvement team. My encouragement for any nurse, both new and seasoned, is to find your niche. Find where you are able to use your God given talents, skills, and intuitions to the best of your ability, and don鈥檛 be afraid to take chances or seek opportunities to grow. There may just be a more fulfilling, joy filled future in it for you and those around you.”

Jennifer Norton, MSN 鈥�16, RN, CSN

Nursing Informaticist with PSNI, Inc.

“My nursing journey has followed anything but a straight path. This is the beauty and gift of my chosen profession of nursing. As a new graduate with stars in her eyes, I couldn鈥檛 wait to get started. And there were no jobs for nurses that year. And my state licensing office burned to the ground, so no graduate licenses. These closed doors opened windows to nursing roles I never would have otherwise experienced. After working for a visiting nurse agency, I spent several years soaking up everything I could in the fast paced world of ER and Trauma. Then came a jump to Hospice and Palliative Care, followed years later by an extraordinary 15-year career as a Certified School Nurse. Even more surprising, after proclaiming that I 鈥榳as done鈥� with school, I completed my MSN at 91短视频 just as my own children were graduating from high school! These days, I support School Nurses all over the world as a Nursing Informaticist with PSNI, Inc. (SNAP Software). Even though I couldn鈥檛 always see around the corner of my path in Nursing, and never would have imagined THIS journey, I am so very grateful for all of the bends and turns that formed me into the nurse I am today.”

Ann Schaeffer, DNP, CNM, M.Ed, CNE, FACNM

Nursing faculty

“I am a 2nd degree nurse, returning to school over the years for my BSN, MSN, and eventually my DNP. It’s hard to think of a profession that offers the flexibility and opportunities found in nursing. I am passionate about midwifery, public health, and education. Nursing has allowed me to explore all of those, and my nine years as faculty at 91短视频 is where I truly learned to apply the care and support of clinical nursing to the education and mentoring of future nurses. Nursing has evolved with me as a professional, has never been boring, and has allowed me the great privilege of being present with clients and students along the way. It’s truly a profession unlike any other!”

Priscilla Simmons, EdD, MSN, RN

Professor Emerita of Nursing at 91短视频

“You know 91短视频鈥檚 underlying philosophy of nursing as a sacred covenant into which nurses stand on holy ground with patients? Well, it goes for teachers too. I have often committed myself to entering into a sacred covenant with my students and more than once, I have stood with them on holy ground as they entrusted me to guide their education.”

Dr. Arlene Wiens, MSN, PhD 

Professor Emeritus of Nursing at 91短视频

Arlene Wiens was named the chair of the 91短视频 Nursing Department in the late 1990s. She served as chairperson until June 2011 when she retired. Arlene was instrumental in expanded nursing program enrollment, the addition of the RN to BS and MSN programs, and the beginning use of simulation in nursing education.

Her wisdom for nursing students, new nurses, and experienced nurses includes:

鈥� There is a lot to learn, but nurses do not need to know it all at the beginning. There is always room for growth.

鈥� As a new graduate, it is important to find a mentor or partner in nursing who can mentor one through the tough first few years.

鈥� Stay engaged with your patients, learn their stories.

Students

Brooke Detwiler, BSN student

鈥淲hen I was younger, I was diagnosed with Dysautanomia POTs shortly after an allergic reaction to general anesthesia, when started the onset of my symptoms. Being a young girl wanting to play sports and be active, it made it extremely difficult to keep up with everyone else, which lead me to having to give up that part of my life. Medications have helped with some of the symptoms including tachycardia, but I continue to experience daily blood pulling which makes standing for long periods of time pretty miserable.

Being in and out of cardiac care, I have interacted with a variety of nurses. I have always admired their ability to show up and selflessly put others first. I hope that I can be that nurse who can make even some of the hardest times, not so hard. Overall, I want to prove that no matter the challenges in life, if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it!鈥�

Tammy Johnson, MSN student

“I have worked in many different nursing settings as a travel nurse, USAF nurse, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, and assisting a missionary nurse one summer while in college. I currently work as the Sentara RMH Medical Center’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program Coordinator. As a SANE, I have the opportunity to provide patient-centered care to victims in an acute traumatic crisis. With the specialized training we receive, we have more autonomy than many nurses and get to spend as much one-on-one time with our patients as they need. It is this relationship built on empowerment, choices, collaboration, safety, and trustworthiness that makes it easy for our patients to disclose more to us than anyone else. SANEs fall under the umbrella of Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE), which means we do much more than sexual assault exams, evidence collection, and testifying in court. FNEs may also be involved in exams involving non-fatal strangulation, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, elder and child abuse, assaults, gunshot wounds, death investigations, and more. The great thing about being a nurse is that you can work in different areas until you find the perfect fit for you.”

Brad Mullet, BSN student

“I will go on to work on a psych ward to live out my passion to emotionally, mentally, and spiritually help people who need it the most. Be it suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, bipolar, or substance abuse, patients with these symptoms are crying out for help when they are at their lowest moments in life. Having been through a lot in my own mental health journey, I want to empathize, help, and listen to the stories of these patients who have been through so much darkness.

The need for emotional and mental healing is so great (especially when combined with a physical illness), that I believe there should be a standardized system to prepare nurses to respond to the emotional, mental, and spiritual states of the patients. Just like standard precautions for blood, disease, and hygiene, nurses should adhere to emotional precautions. A standardized system of knowing how to react, empathize, and expect emotions is just as important, if not more, than knowing what PPE to don. Let鈥檚 put on those N95鈥檚 and gowns as well as shields of love, armor of justice, and helmets of grace.”

Kelly Stephenson, DNP student

鈥淎s a current nurse educator, I have navigated these past two unprecedented years alongside my nursing students in addition to providing emergency care to patients in our local emergency department.

One of the most important skills that nursing students have acquired over the past two years is perseverance. As a nurse educator and nursing student in a doctorate program, I have also maintained my strength to continue on and reach my own professional goals.

It doesn鈥檛 take long for nursing students to realize that nurses are family. Their faculty members, their peers, their clinical instructors, and their fellow nurses in local healthcare facilities all play a vital role in student nurse success. I am ecstatic to see individuals choose the nursing profession and to have the opportunity to be a part of helping them become part of the nursing family within our local community.鈥�

Dr. Emma Mitchell will present the final Suter Science Seminar this semester, 鈥淐ervical Cancer as a Cancer of Disparities: Innovative Technology on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua for Health Equity Through a Community-based Participatory Process,鈥� on Wednesday, April 6, at 4 p.m. Mitchell is an associate professor and director of global initiatives at the University of Virginia School of Nursing.

The campus community is invited to attend the seminar in person in Room 106 of the Suter Science Center. The seminar will be livestreamed on the .

The seminars are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

Mitchell will present a case study of a long-term collaboration for cervical cancer control on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. Her work centers on the feasibility of this in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). She argues that the 10-year cervical cancer elimination strategy set by the World Health Organization 鈥渃an only be successful at the intersection of innovative technology and community-based participatory processes, in order to work toward health equity.鈥�

鈥淭hough highly preventable, about 85% of the burden of cervical cancer persists in LMICs,鈥� Mitchell says. 鈥淐aused by high-risk genotypes of the Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV), cervical cancer can be prevented through safe and effective vaccination, screening for hrHPV, and effective treatment of pre-cancerous/cancerous lesions.鈥�

Mitchell completed her BSN at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and earned her PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Virginia. Her scholarship centers on cervical cancer as a cancer of disparities. In collaboration with long-term community partners both in far Southwest Virginia and in Nicaragua and Honduras, Mitchell has researched integration of innovative technology to increase access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Susannah Moore ’08, assistant professor of psychology at 91短视频, will give the spring semester鈥檚 third Suter Science Seminar, 鈥淔rom Fitness Training to Health Psychology: My Journey Back to 91短视频,鈥� on Wednesday, March 2, at 4 p.m. 

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the . The campus community is invited to attend the seminars in person in room 106 of the Suter Science Center. 

Moore鈥檚 research explores the 鈥渓ong-term health risks associated with childhood maltreatment and health behaviors that may help to reduce these risks,鈥� Moore says. 鈥淐urrently in my lab, we are interested in discovering early health markers that may be due to exposure from childhood stress, and how various behaviors, such as physical activity, can improve overall health.”

The path of Moore鈥檚 research has diverged from physical fitness itself to the importance of 鈥渕ind and body connection in relation to being physically active and healthy: in particular, how early stressful life experiences shape our pathways of health,鈥� Moore says. 鈥淭he more we understand, the more we can create opportunities for prevention and intervention.鈥�

Moore completed her undergraduate degree from 91短视频 and her masters and PhD from the University of Northern Colorado.

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Cardenas is adjunct faculty in 91短视频’s graduate nursing program and in the BSN-RN program. She is the program manager of quality and patient safety outcomes at Penn State Health Medical Group鈥檚 Academic Practice Division. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from George Washington University in 2018, a MSN from Widener University, and a BSN from Albright College. Cardenas is a graduate of the PSNA Legislative Ambassador Program, was a member of the PSNA Government Relations Committee and Nominating Committee, and has served as PSNA Secretary and PSNA Vice President and Secretary of the Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania.         

鈥淚 would like to thank Tarik Khan for the many years of service he has dedicated to PSNA, especially for his role as PSNA president. I know he will continue to do great work for nurses in Pennsylvania,鈥� stated Dr. Cardenas. 鈥淚 am privileged to serve as President of PSNA. It is important to continue showcasing the important, selfless contributions Pennsylvania nurses have made both before and during the pandemic. I look forward to continuing the momentum for positive change for nurses in our Commonwealth.鈥�

Betsy M. Snook, the organization’s CEO, called Cardenas “a motivated professional nurse leader.” She continued: “During her time with the association, Dr. Cardenas has collaborated with nurses and state lawmakers regarding legislative initiatives and issues affecting the healthcare profession. In addition, she has served as the PSNA Board liaison to the Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania, in which she helped raise scholarship funds to support the education of nurses in the Commonwealth. Her range of professional experiences in clinical settings and education, provide Dr. Cardenas with the knowledge and background to be a strong leader for our membership. We look forward to having her serve PSNA as the incoming president.鈥�

This semester’s Suter Science Seminar lineup at 91短视频 includes a patent attorney, a wildlife management professional, a watershed steward, a pediatrician, and a neuroscientist.

The events sessions will be live streamed on the (you do not need a Facebook account to watch). 

• Wednesday, January 27, 4:15 p.m. 鈥� “Can I really patent that?” with Eric Rutt ’01, an attorney with Wolf Greenfield Intellectual Property Law in Boston.
• Wednesday, February 24, 4:15 p.m. 鈥� “Difficult decisions: the role of value-focused thinking in wildlife disease management” with Katrina Alger ’08, a biologist and decision analyst at the United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center.
• Wednesday, March 24, 4:15 p.m. 鈥� “Wadi Rum, watersheds, and well child checks” with Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09.
• Wednesday, April 7, 4:15 p.m. 鈥� “Inhibitory interneuron dysfunction drives seizures in SCN8A epilepsy” with Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. 

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Eric Rutt

Attorney Eric Rutt ’01 will give the first of the 2021 Suter Science Seminars at 91短视频 (91短视频) on January 27 at 4:15 p.m. His talk, titled “Can I really patent that?” will delve into the debate over what developments in biotechnology can be patented, including a 2013 case involving patents for genes that cause breast cancer. 

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Rutt practices law with the firm Wolf Greenfield in Boston, which handles all aspects of intellectual property, with a focus on patent prosecution and litigation.

“The patent laws of the United States contemplate that ‘anything under the sun that is made by man’ can be patented,” Rutt said. “While laws of nature, such as E=mc2, and physical phenomena, such as newly discovered plants or minerals, are excluded, what about patenting genetically engineered organisms or genes that are discovered to cause cancer?”

Rutt graduated from 91短视频 in 2001 with a degree in chemistry. He then worked as a laboratory technician at Merck before earning his doctorate at Boston College Law School.

The next seminar will be given by USGS National Wildlife Health Center biologist and decision analyst Katrina Alger ’08 on February 24.

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Katrina Alger

Katrina Alger ’08, a biologist and decision analyst at the United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center, will give a Suter Science Seminar at 91短视频 (91短视频) on February 24 at 4:15 p.m. Her talk is titled “Difficult decisions: the role of value-focused thinking in wildlife disease management.”

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Alger will speak on decision making and analysis for issues of wildlife disease management, and how to do so in transparent, inclusive, and defensible ways. 

“Outbreaks of disease in wildlife populations can have far-reaching consequences for biodiversity conservation, agricultural production, and human health,” Alger explains. “From a management standpoint, wildlife disease is often considered a ‘wicked’ problem due to ecological complexity, competing stakeholder objectives, and underlying uncertainty about both the system and treatment efficacy.”

Alger has worked on a variety of issues for the National Wildlife Health Center, including white-nose syndrome in bats, tissue loss disease in coral, and chytrid fungus in salamanders. She holds a master’s degree in conservation biology from the State University of New York School of Environmental Science and Forestry. 

The next seminar will be given by Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09 on March 24.

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Laura Cattell Noll & Kelly Smucker

Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09 will give a Suter Science Seminar at 91短视频 (91短视频) on March 24 at 4:15 p.m. Their talk, titled “Wadi Rum, watersheds, and well child checks” will take the audience through their professional journeys and the impact of their friendship, which began their freshman year at 91短视频.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Noll and Smucker joke that they became fast friends as “fellow science nerds” in college, solidifying their bond over late-night chemistry write-ups in the Northlawn dorm. 

Noll studied environmental science and justice, peace, and conflict studies at 91短视频 before earning a master’s in environmental science from the University of Virginia. She coordinates the Local Leadership Workgroup of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and has more than a decade of experience in community-based watershed restoration and stewardship.

Smucker majored in biology and minored in chemistry and history at 91短视频. She worked as a research assistant in microbiology at the University of Virginia, and did translational research in leukemia at Ohio State University, where she went on to earn her medical degree. Smucker completed her pediatric residency at the University of Minnesota and is now a pediatrician in Oregon.

The next seminar will be given by Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia, on April 7. 

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Eric Wengert

Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia, will give a Suter Science Seminar at 91短视频 (91短视频) on April 7 at 4:15 p.m. His talk is titled “Inhibitory interneuron dysfunction drives seizures in SCN8A epilepsy,” and will examine new evidence about the mechanisms of this severe epilepsy syndrome. 

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Wengert is in his fifth year of the neuroscience PhD program under the mentorship of Professor Manoj Patel. His research focuses on a severe form of epilepsy which causes intellectual disability, motor impairment, and seizures that are difficult to treat with medication. 

“Gaining clarification of the precise mechanisms of the disease is warranted to help generate novel treatment strategies,” Wengert explains. “Although previously thought to be unaffected in SCN8A encephalopathy, this presentation will highlight new evidence that inhibitory interneurons are dysfunctional in SCN8A encephalopathy, and that their abnormal activity is sufficient to drive behavioral seizures.”

Wengert earned his bachelor’s in neuroscience from Bucknell University. After his anticipated graduation from the University of Virginia this May, he will join the laboratory of Dr. Ethan Goldberg at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a postdoctoral fellow.

Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

This event has been postponed.

Irina Bochkis, PhD, will give a Suter Science Seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 4:15 p.m. at 91短视频 (91短视频). Her talk will detail findings from a current research project on “Nuclear lamina and fatty liver disease.”

91短视频 students, faculty and staff can access secure Zoom links for events by visiting the  after logging into my.emu.edu.

Bochkis teaches pharmacology in UVA鈥檚 School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Va. She came to the field of biology from an engineering background, which taught her the value of a multidisciplinary approach when tackling biomedical problems. Bochkis completed her PhD in Genomics and Computational Biology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She then trained at the Broad Institute for her postdoctoral fellowship, applying computational analysis of high-throughput data to epigenetic mechanisms in aging liver.

The seminars are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds.

91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Jeannine Uzel MSN ’18* is the director of public health nursing at the Virginia Department of Health. She will give a lecture as part of the 91短视频 (91短视频) Suter Science Seminar series on Wednesday, September 23, at 4:15 p.m. The seminars are free to the public. 

Zoom webinar links, which allow access to Q & A, will be available to the campus community on the 91短视频 Zoom calendar at . (Log into My91短视频 to access this calendar.)

Uzel will speak on “Leading public health nurses during a pandemic,” detailing her experiences in the fight against COVID-19 in the midst of social and civil unrest. She brings a first-hand account of the challenges and successes that she and her colleagues in the Virginia Department of Health have faced throughout the pandemic.

Uzel earned her MSN in nursing leadership from 91短视频 in 2018. She became the director of public health nursing in 2017, bringing with her more than 30 years of nursing experience, including in intensive care units, hospice, school, university, and acute care psychiatric settings. She’s served everywhere from rural settings in the Chickahominy Health District to urban and suburban areas around Richmond.聽

The next seminar is on the topic of “Genetics of mental illness: unique insights from studies of Amish and Mennonite communities,” to be given by Dr. Francis J. McMahon on October 14.

The seminars are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. Named in honor of long-time 91短视频 biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. 91短视频 hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

*The speaker is not being compensated for this presentation.

Ann Graber Hershberger, an emeritus professor of nursing at 91短视频, has been named executive director of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S. She begins her new role in October 2020.

Current executive director J. Ron Byler will retire. The shift reflects a leadership plan determined in 2019 and was affirmed by the organization鈥檚 board of directors in their June 20 meeting, according to an MCC US release.

Hershberger began as associate executive director following an open hire process in 2019. This interim staff position was established to respond to heightened activity and long-range planning surrounding MCC鈥檚 centennial year in 2020.

 She had served on MCC boards since 1996, including chairing the MCC East Coast board and later the MCC U.S. board.

Hershberger is anticipated to lead MCC U.S. as executive director through 2022.

Byler has served as executive director since July 2010. Byler and Hershberger now oversee all MCC U.S. programs and operations and, with Canadian counterparts, all MCC international work. They also lead the network of MCC regional office executive directors and work closely with the supporting denominations of MCC U.S. and with associations of nonprofit organizations.

MCC U.S. Board chair Gwen White of Philadelphia expressed the board鈥檚 appreciation to Byler: 鈥淎s we prepare to say farewell to Ron later this year, we know we are sending him off into new adventures with deep gratitude for his innovative leadership based in his vigorous spirituality.

鈥淎t an earlier time of transition, Ron in his executive director role moved MCC forward and refocused our connections with the Anabaptist church worldwide. Through building warm relationships with denominational leaders, staff, partners and supporters, Ron has set MCC on a course for increasing the work of God鈥檚 kingdom.鈥�

Byler lives in Goshen, Indiana, and is a member of Eighth Street Mennonite Church.

White expressed the board鈥檚 鈥渄elight鈥� with Hershberger鈥檚 two-year appointment, noting, 鈥淎nn has served MCC in multiple roles with grace, intelligence and a deep and compassionate Christian faith.鈥� Hershberger lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and is a member of Mount Clinton Mennonite Church, where her husband Jim is pastor.

MCC works in partnership with local churches and organizations in about 50 countries in the areas of relief, development and peacebuilding. Commemoration of its centennial in 2020 has unfolded in the context of the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pain and promise of turmoil arising from racial injustice in the U.S.