Nursing

Dr. Janice Williams is a Professor of Nursing and the Don and Marie Garner Founding Nursing Program Director at AMSON. Her research interests include leadership, teaching students how to reason well, critical thinking assessment and curriculum development in nursing education. Dr. Williams is certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health (ACNS-BC), a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), a Nurse Educator (C.N.E.), and as a Parish Nurse. Additionally, she serves as a CCNE Site Evaluator and Missouri State Board of Nursing Adjunct Surveyor. She has 35 years of expeience in nursing education with 26 years in nursing administration and enjoys creating a nourishing environment for the AMSON team.

Mrs. Becca Hamon is an Associate Professor of Nursing at College of the Ozarks. Her professional career includes maternal-child nursing, nursing management,  leadership, and education.  Mrs. Hamons’ research interests include the role of mentorship among the nursing profession. She is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) by the National League of Nursing.  

Ms. Lisa Herchenroeder received her undergraduate nursing degree from Burge School of Nursing and her BSN, MSN and Post-Masters Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville (UVA). She is also a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE).

Mrs. Shepherd's educational focus is best practice standardized patients and simulated de-escalation training for nursing students. She teaches at all levels of the program. She is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) by the  Society for Simulation in Healthcare and is completing a DNP from Arkansas State University.

Mrs. Denise Tlustos is an Associate Professor of Nursing at College of the Ozarks. Her professional career includes nursing education, leadership in long term care, and clinical positions in cardiac and medical-surgical nursing.  Mrs. Tlustos' research interests focus on the use of an interprofessional simulation to impact students' perceptions of patients living in poverty.  Her national certifications include:  C.N.E., National League of Nursing and GERO-BC, American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is completing a DNP at Colorado Christian University. 

Mrs. Melissa Sanders is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at College of the Ozarks. Her professional career includes clinical education, medical-surgical, family practice nursing, and maternal child nursing. Mrs. Sanders’ research interests are reducing burnout and increasing resiliency in nursing students. Her national certifications include:  C.N.E., National League of Nursing; MEDSURG-BC, American Nurses Credentialing Center; and RNC-OB, National Certification Corporation. She is completing a DNP degree at Colorado Christian University. 

Mrs. Laura Paul is an Assistant Professor of Nursing. Her professional career includes critical care, medical-surgical, and leadership/management in nursing . Mrs. Paul’s research interests include early mobility in the critical care setting and peer mentoring to increase student success. National certifications include: C.N.E., National League of Nursing and C.C.R.N., American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She is currently enrolled in DNP studies at Arkansas State University. 

Mrs. Kimberly Smith is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at College of the Ozarks. Her professional career includes medical-surgical nursing with emphasis on cardiac care. Prior to coming to College of the Ozarks she served as a nursing coordinator/instructor for seven years at a local community college. Her clinical focus is in adult medical-surgical nursing. 

Dr. Raine Prather is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at College of the Ozarks. His professional career includes maternal child health nursing, pediatric oncology, leadership, accreditation, and education. Dr. Prather's research focuses primarily on improving self-care behaviors in practicing clinicians to decrease burnout.