NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University is welcoming 21 new faculty for the 2020-21 academic year, according to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Greg Handel.
New faculty in the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health are Associate Professor Dr. Aimee Badeaux and assistant professors of nursing Dr. Nancy Alexander, Saundra Blake, Jacqueline Blakes, Sarah Girlinghouse, Andrea Jones, Krystil Martelly, Dr. Katrina O’Con, Stephen Peters, Jessica Tidwell, Carla Watson and Dr. Tiana Williams. Jessica Despino is a new faculty member in radiologic sciences.
Joining the faculty in the School of Biological and Physical Sciences are assistant professors Dr. Douglas Landry and Dr. Kaleigh MacQueen in veterinary technology and Dr. Yohaselly Rodriquez, an assistant professor of chemistry.
New faculty in the School of Creative and Performing Arts are Assistant Professor of Art James Zamora, Assistant Professor of Music John Price, Assistant Professor of Dance Michael Lomeka and Assistant Professor of Theatre Carlos Nine.
Dr. Mustafa Mozael is joining NSU’s faculty as an instructor in the Department of Engineering Technology.
Here is information on each new faculty member.
Dr. Nancy Alexander
Degrees earned:
Baccalaureate of Nursing, Northwestern State University
Master of Nursing (MSN), Northwestern State University
Doctor of Nursing (DNP), Northwestern State University
Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner through ANA
Certified as a Nurse Educator through NLN
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
NURB 4130 (Online) Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
NURA 2100 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and Clinical
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I love my teaching family at NSU and the wonderful teamwork everyone gives. NSU puts out top notched students and it is wonderful to see these students develop into professionals in such a caring environment.
Dr. Aimee Badeaux
Degrees earned:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (2002)
Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, formerly known as Our Lady of the Lake College (2007)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana State University (2015)
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Nursing Theory, Nursing Research, serving as major professor for DNP scholarly projects.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am glad to be a faculty member at Northwestern State University, working with like-minded professionals to educate nurses and develop tomorrow’s advanced practice nurse leaders. NSU is recognized locally, regionally and nationally for its excellence as a higher education institution and its ability to develop outstanding nurses. I am very proud to be a part of NSU’s legacy of innovative programming and hope my contribution of developing the nurse anesthesia program will further added to the University’s recognition while supporting its mission.
Saundra Blake
Degrees earned:
Northwestern State University-BSN, 2012
Northwestern State University-MSN, 2020
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
The following 4th level ASN courses
NURA 2500-Nursing Concepts III (didactic/lecture)
NURA 2510- Application of the Nursing Process III (clinical-pediatrics)
NURA 2550-Humanistic Nursing Care
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am elated to be a faculty member at my alma mater. Northwestern State nursing faculty value high quality, equitable healthcare, have a passion for nursing education, and truly care about students as a whole. It is an honor to be part of the NSU’s College of Nursing and Allied Health team!
Jacqueline Blakes
Degrees earned:
Associate Degree in Nursing Northwestern State University
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Northwestern State University
Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration, Louisiana State University, New Orleans
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Second Level Nursing Courses in the School of Nursing
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am an alumna of NSU and I have always wanted to give back to the institution that has afforded me many great opportunities. This is something that I’ve always wanted to do therefore I am grateful to have the opportunity.
Jessica Ashworth Despino
Degrees earned:
Bachelor of Radiologic Sciences, Northwestern State University
Master of Radiologic Sciences with a concentration in Education, Northwestern State University
Certified in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR)
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Radiologic Sciences: Clinical Radiography, Introduction to Radiography and Radiographic Positioning. Allied Health: Foundations of Patient Care, University Studies 1000
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
After receiving both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern State University, I was thrilled when the opportunity came for me to come back to my roots and become a faculty member for NSU. I am passionate about my profession and enjoy working with students who also want to share this passion that I have.
Sarah Girlinghouse
Degrees earned:
MSN-APRN-FNP-C 2016– University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL)
BSN 2013—Northwestern State University (NSU)
ASN 2011—Northwestern State University
LPN 1997—Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (Diploma)
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Women’s Health Didactic and Clinical – Fall semester
Pediatric Clinical – Fall semester
Psychiatric/ Mental Health Didactic and clinical – Spring semester
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
As an NSU nursing graduate it feels as though I have come home! I have come full circle and I am now molding young nurses as I once was myself.
Andrea Jones
Degrees earned:
Associates of Science – Bossier Parish Community College
Bachelor of Nursing – NSU College of Nursing
Masters in Adult Gerentology/Education – NSU College of Nursing
Currently a Senior in Organization Systems Leadership to DNP – NSU College of Nursing
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
NURA 1100 – Introduction to Nursing
NURA 1110 – Introduction to Nursing Skills
NURA 1160 – Methods Medication Dosage Calculation
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I have worked at NSU College of Nursing for four years under a partnership program between NSU and Willis Knighton. I have always been treated just like I was a part of the NSU family even though I wasn’t officially. Since my employment with WK was affected due to COVID-19, I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to continue with NSU College of Nursing in my same position, just now as a true member of the “family” of NSU.
Douglas Landry
Degrees earned:
D.V.M (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) Louisiana State University, 2003
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science Louisiana State University, 2000
17 years of veterinary medical and surgical practice
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
VTEC 2090/2091 – Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology lecture and lab
VTEC 3190/3191 – Veterinary Hospital Technology 1 & 2 along with their corresponding labs
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am looking forward to continuing to grow an already very successful Veterinary Technology program. I would like to integrate more practical “hands on” skills into the lab curriculum as these are critical to the success of Registered Veterinary Technicians going into the veterinary hospital workplace. My goal would be to incorporate a small working clinic into the program in the future to further enhance the learning experience.
Michael Lomeka
Degrees earned:
BFA Dance / The Juilliard School (Lincoln Center, NYC)
MFA Choreography / Jacksonville University (Jacksonville, Florida)
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Modern Dance Technique, Jazz Dance Technique, Beginning Ballet, and Senior Seminar (Dance Majors)
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
From the beginning of the Search Committee interviews, I have been struck by the passion of each and every faculty member. These are the type of individuals I would like to surround myself with.
Kaleigh MacQueen
Degrees earned:
Louisiana Tech University- Bachelor of Science
Louisiana State University- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Intro into Vet Tech
Parasitology
Medical Terminology
Pharmacology
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am grateful for the opportunity to teach what I have learned in the field to students seeking the same career. I feel Northwestern State University truly cares about its students and I am proud to be member of its faculty.
Dr. Mustafa Mozael
Degrees earned including the institution:
Doctorate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University – New Jersey
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Electrical Principle I, II (Dc, and AC)
Engineering Programing (MATLAB)
Electrical Principle Lab
Electronics Lab
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I would like to add value to the NSU Engineering Technology Department by serving students and to be involved in the research area of manufacturing, control and system.
Carlos R. Nine
Degrees earned including the institution:
BA in Theatre, University of Southern Mississippi
MFA in Theatre, Texas State University
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Sound Reinforcement, Vectorworks, and Co teaching Dance Theatre Design
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am excited to be a member at Northwestern State because I get to use everything I have learned and teach it to all my students. I think that being able to show people how fun design can be, and see them pursue it in the future is a reason I love teaching.
Katrina O’Con
Degrees earned:
Associate Degree of Nursing, Northwestern State University, 1993
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Northwestern State University 1998
Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia, Texas Wesleyan University, MSNA, 2002
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Texas Wesleyan University, DNAP, 2016
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science, In progress: PhD, Texas Woman’s University, anticipate completion in August 2023Subjects you will be teaching this year:
NURG 7001: Clinical Prevention and Population Health
NURG 7010: DNP Scholarly Project Practicum I
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am proud to be a part of the NSU family. As a two-time alum, I am thankful that I can give back to the University that gave me such a strong foundation in order for me to continue and further my education. I am blessed to mentor young nurses and to become a part of another professional nurse’s strong foundation.
Stephen Peters
Degrees earned:
ASN, NSU
BSN, NSU
MSN, Walden University
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
Fundamentals of Nursing NURB3061 and NURB3041
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am actually a returning faculty member. I was recruited away from NSU but made the decision to return when the opportunity was presented to me. I enjoy the dedication and commitment to the students and faculty at NSU. I believe the mission and values of NSU are lived through our interactions with the students and we truly want them to be successful.
John Price
Degrees earned:
BM Piano Performance, Utah State University
BS Statistics, Utah State University
MM Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Utah State University
DMA Piano Performance and Pedagogy, University of Oklahoma
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
MUS 1700—Piano Minor Study
MUS 1820—Class Piano III
MUS 4150—Piano Pedagogy I
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am excited to work with the dedicated students and outstanding faculty at NSU in both the music department and the School of Creative and Performing Arts. My colleagues have been very welcoming, students have been very engaged in the classroom, and thus far I have loved living in Natchitoches and working at NSU.
Yohaselly Santiago-Rodriguez
Degrees earned:
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM)
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, UPRM
Subjects you will be teaching this year: General Chemistry I (lecture and labs) for science, engineering technology and education majors General Chemistry II (lecture and labs) for science majors, Environmental Chemistry
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am glad to be a member of NSU’s faculty because this is a place where I always feel welcome and part of something greater than me. All students, faculty and staff have a strong sense of community and my colleagues encourage the establishment of collaborations, even between different disciplines, that will help us not only to achieve our professional goals but also institutional goals.
Jessica K. Tidwell
Degrees earned:
BSN, Northwestern State University
MSN, Northwestern State University
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
NURA 2510
NURA 1080
NURA 1081
NURA 1160
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
As a two-time graduate of NSU, I believe strongly in the values of integrity, fortitude and humanity, as these were values of foundation instilled in me by the great faculty of NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. These are values that have carried and elevated me through both my bedside and advanced practices as a nurse, and of which values inspired me to return as an educator. It is my overarching goal to support, advocate, and demonstrate these values in an effort to advance the quality of graduate produced by NSU College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, of which the senior faculty and dean also strongly support and embody.
Carla Watson
Degrees earned:
ASN, Southern Arkansas University
BSN, Northwestern State University- 2005 BSN
MSN, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with focus as Family Nurse Practitioner,
Northwestern State University-2013
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
NURA 2100
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I look forward to serving Northwestern as a assistant professor in hopes of guiding new nursing students in their educational process. Northwestern has a reputation of producing some of the best new graduates in the state and I am excited to be part of such a prestigious program.
Dr. Tiana Williams
Degrees earned:
BSN, MSN, PMC, Grambling State University
PMC, McNeese State University
BTh, MTh, Psy.D., Hope Bible Institute-
Subjects you will be teaching this year:
NURG 5700, NURG 5930
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I am glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty because the College of Nursing is progressive, professional, caring and team oriented. Not only has the College of Nursing faculty been so warm and welcoming, but also other departments that I have been working with to onboard. I am excited about the new programs and growth here and can’t wait to see what other wonderful things Northwestern has in store.
James Zamora
Degrees earned:
Bachelors of Fine Art in Painting and Drawing, University of North Texas,
Masters of Fine Art in Painting, Texas Woman’s University.
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Drawing I and Drawing III
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty?
I’m really excited about the diversity in the student body. The facilities for Drawing are spacious and full of light. The other Art Faculty members are friendly and very supportive of each other, which is rare!
