UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

RN-BSN Program

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Quality Program at its Best - Meet the Faculty

Excellent teaching combined with a curriculum that carefully balances online learning with personal classroom interaction and clinical experiences adds up to a top quality program. Upper Iowa University has been developing leaders in all professions since 1857 and our nursing program continues that tradition.

Highly Qualified Faculty with Real-World Experience

Our Director of Nursing Education has recruited highly-qualified faculty members for the RN-BSN program. All faculty are very experienced professionals and the majority hold a doctoral degree.

Dr. Margaret “Mickie” Wimmer Johnson
Associate Professor and Director of Nursing Education
D.N.S., Health Policy and Health of the Community, Indiana University

Dr. Wimmer Johnson is a full-time member of the UIU faculty. She is a public health nurse with over twenty years of RN-BSN education experience. In addition to administering the program, she teaches NUR 360 Professional Seminar, NUR 330 Education Concepts for Nurses, and NUR 400 Nursing Research.

Pam Moss, RN, BSN, MSN
Assistant Professor & Academic Advisor
Bachelor of Science Nursing, Allen College
Master of Science in Nursing Education, Allen College

Pam Moss is a full-time member of the UIU faculty. Her background is in public health and nursing instruction. In addition to academic advising, she teaches NUR 360 Professional Seminar, NUR 310 Nursing Informatics, and NUR 410 Preceptorship in the nursing curriculum.

John Longeway, RN, MSN, ARNP
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
MSN, University of Missouri - Columbia; BSN, Aurora University

John Longeway is an ANCC board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He practices as an independent mental health provider at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines. His professional background is in public health and psychiatry. He teaches NUR 410 Preceptorship in the nursing curriculum.

Dr. Rick Klann
Delano Professor of Science, Upper Iowa University
Ph.D., Biology, University of Missouri

Dr. Klann has expertise in medical pathology through his graduate coursework and teaching experience. He is a full-time member of the UIU faculty and has won several awards for teaching, including Carnegie Foundation’s Iowa Professor of the Year. He has an active research program and teaches NUR 320 Pathophysiology in the nursing curriculum.

Dr. Sheryl Juve
Adjunct professor, UIU Alumni
Ed.D., Leadership, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota

Dr. Juve is an expert in leadership/management. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the Chair of the Nursing Department at Luther College in Decorah. She has over sixteen years experience in nursing education. She teaches NUR 310 Nursing Informatics in the nursing program.

Sharon Harris, ARNP, FNP
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
MN-FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner, Montana State University

Sharon Harris is a Family Nurse Practitioner who practices in her own nurse-run clinic in Elgin, Iowa. Her clinic is Heart of the Heartland. She has experience as a nursing instructor, a nursing administrator, and is retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. Sharon teaches NUR 300 Health Assessment and NUR 410 Preceptorship in the nursing curriculum.

Dr. Maureen Busta
Professor of Mathematics, Upper Iowa University
Ph.D., Education, University of Northern Iowa

Dr. Busta has taught mathematics at Upper Iowa University for 13 years. She enjoys teaching and working with students very much. Her additional work includes reading/reviewing and analyzing research as a member of the Content Network for the Iowa Department of Education and is also Executive Secretary for the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She teaches MATH 220 Elementary Statistics in the nursing curriculum.

Dr. Celina E. M. Peerman, MA, PHR
Adjunct Professor, UIU Alumni
Ph.D., Psychology; M.A.B.L. Master of Arts in Business Leadership; HR Emphasis, UIU

Celina has served in both full-time and part-time positions in both administration and teaching with Upper Iowa University for over ten years. Her professional background includes teaching, corporate training, human resource management as well as senior level management experience in profit and non-profit settings. Celina completed her Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization of Organizational Psychology and teaches BA 474 Organizational Behavior for the nursing program.

Jane Sherman, RN, MSN
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
Master of Science in Nursing, University of Iowa

Jane Sherman is currently employed at Regional Medical Center in Manchester as Vice President of Community and Behavior Health. Her background is in public health, home care and nursing instruction. She teaches NUR 370 Nursing Leadership and Management in the nursing curriculum.

Joanie Copper, RN, BSN, MSN
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
Master of Science in Nursing, Clarke College

Joanie Copper is currently employed as the Practice Development Coordinator at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Her background is in nursing education and acute care nursing. She teaches NUR 300 Health Assessment in the nursing curriculum.

Rhonda DeBuhr, RN, BSN, MSN
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
Master of Science in Nursing, University of Phoenix, Online

Rhonda DeBuhr is currently employed as the Chief Clinical and Nursing Officer at Waverly Health Center in Waverly. Her background is in public health and nursing administration. She teaches NUR 370 Leadership and Management in Nursing in the nursing curriculum.

Virginia Conley, Ph.D., APRN, CS, FNP
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
Ph.D. in Nursing, University of South Florida

Virginia Conley is currently employed as a family nurse practioner at the Iowa Health Express Care Clinic in West Des Moines. Her background is in public health and nursing education. She teaches NUR 300 Health Assessment in the nursing curriculum.

Kristi Brownell, RN, BSN, MSN
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
Masters of Science in Nursing, Walden University

Kristi Brownell is currently employed as the RN Supervisor at Palmer Home Health in Oelwein. Her background is in public health and nursing education. She teaches NUR 330 Educational Concepts for Nurses in the nursing curriculum.

Virginia Wangerin, RN, MSN, PhDc
Adjunct Professor, Upper Iowa University
PhD Candidate, Higher Education, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State University

Virginia "Ginny" Wangerin is currently a consultant in nursing practice and education in Clive. Her background is in nursing education. She teaches NUR Leadership and Management in Nursing in the nursing curriculum.

Amber Buffington
Administrative Assistant, Upper Iowa University
Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Sciences, Criminology

Amber Buffington is currently employed as the administrative assistant to the RN-BSN program at Upper Iowa University. For any questions regarding the program, please contact her direclty at 563-425-5318 or buffingtona@uiu.edu.

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

RN-BSN Program

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