School of Nursing
Administration
Shanna W. Akers, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N./M.B.A.-H.C., Ed.D. CNE
Dean, School of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
Diane C. Bridge, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., Ed.D.
Administrative Dean, School of Nursing Online Education
Associate Professor of Nursing
Sharon J. Kopis, R.N., B.S.N., M.S., Ed.D., CNE, FNP-C
Chair, DNP/APRN Programs
Professor of Nursing
Kathryn Miller, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., DNP, CNE, CHSE
Executive Director, Clinical Affairs
Associate Professor of Nursing
Elizabeth Whorley, R.N., Ph.D., CNE
Chair, Undergraduate and Graduate Online Programs
Associate Professor of Nursing
Program Directors
A listing of program directors can be viewed at http://www.liberty.edu/administration/institutionaleffectiveness/index.cfm?PID=37389.
Purpose
The purpose of the Liberty University School of Nursing is to prepare registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses, who are committed to Christian ethical standards and view nursing as a ministry of caring, to care for patients, families, communities as well as to educate and to lead. The nursing curriculum is built upon a foundation from the arts, sciences, and the Bible, and focuses on the use of the nursing process to guide the acquisition of nursing knowledge, build strong clinical skills, and develop the foundation necessary for a sound practice. Graduates are skilled at using the science of nursing, as well as the art of nursing, to positively impact individuals and communities. Built upon a strong legacy, the School of Nursing has five Foundational Stones, which serve to focus faculty and students. These Foundational Stones include: Ethics- Nurses must act within both Biblical and professional ethical standards, Research/Scholarship- Nurses must continue to build the nursing body of research and disseminate gained knowledge, Compassion- Nurses must act with compassion as this helps to build trusting relationships improving the shared experience, Excellence- Nurses must provide excellent patient care as well as practice in excellence whatever their sub-specialty, and Future- Nurses must look to the future to guide decision-making to improve healthcare, patient outcomes, and the profession of nursing.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) for RNs: Post-Licensure - Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)
- Dual Degree Programs
- Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
- Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) & Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
- Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) & Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (M.S.)
- Post Graduate Certificates
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
A
Adigun, Shade; B.S., M.S.N., Ph.D.
B.S. - Bryan College, M.S.N. - Liberty University, Ph.D. - University of Tennessee in Knoxville
Akers, Shanna; B.S., M.S.N., M.S.N., Ed.D., Ed.S.
Title: Professor of Nursing
B.S. - Virginia Commonwealth University, M.S.N. - University of Phoenix, M.S.N. - University of Phoenix, Ed.D. - Liberty University, Ed.S. - Liberty University
B
Baker, Martha; BSN, M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Missouri State University, M.S.N. - University of Missouri-Columbia, Ph.D. - University of Missouri-Columbia
Barbee, Kristen; BSN, M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Gardner-Webb University, M.S.N. - East Carolina University, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Blackwood, Shelley; BSN, M.S.N., D
BSN - Carson-Newman College, M.S.N. - Liberty University, D - Liberty University
Brickhill, Cherie; B.A., BSN, M.S.N., Ed.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
B.A. - University of Virginia, BSN - University of Virginia, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, Ed.D. - Liberty University
Bridge, Diane; B.S., M.S.N., Ed.D., Ed.S.
Title: Online Dean, School of Nursing
B.S. - Indiana University of Pennsylvania, M.S.N. - University of Phoenix, Ed.D. - Liberty University, Ed.S. - Liberty University
Brooks, Christine; BSN, M.S.N., Ed.D., Ed.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Georgia Southern University, M.S.N. - Kennesaw State University, Ed.D. - Nova Southeastern University, Ed.D. - Nova Southeastern University
C
Crawford, Ann; BSN, M.S., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, M.S. - University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, Ph.D. - Texas A&M University
D
Diggins, Kris; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Duquesne University, M.S.N. - Duquesne University, DNP - University of South Alabama
G
Gates, Karen; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Assistant Professor
BSN - University of Akron, M.S.N. - University of Akron, DNP - Texas Christian University
Giese, Karla; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Assistant Professor
BSN - University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, M.S.N. - Old Dominion University, DNP - University of Colorado Denver
Goodrich, Cynthia; B.S., M.S., Ed.D.
Title: Professor of Nursing
B.S. - Russell Sage College, M.S. - University of Virginia, Ed.D. - Argosy University-Sarasota
Gradel, Dale; BSN, M.S.N., Ed.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - SUNY Stony Brook University, M.S.N. - SUNY Stony Brook University, Ed.D. - Walden University
H
Harrell, Colleen; B.S., D.Pharm.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - University of Toledo, D.Pharm. - University of Toledo
Hudson, Shameca
Humphreys, Heather; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Associate Professor
BSN - Liberty University, M.S.N. - Liberty University, DNP - Eastern Kentucky University
J
Jessee, Brenda; BSN, M.S.N., M.S.N., DNP
Title: Assistant Professor
BSN - East Tennessee State University, M.S.N. - East Tennessee State University, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, DNP - Old Dominion University
Joseph, Rachel; BSN, M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor Nursing
BSN - University of Kerala, M.S.N. - Wilmington University, Ph.D. - Duquesne University
K
Kay, Catherine; BSN, M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - George Mason University, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, Ph.D. - Touro University International
Kennedy, Tonia; BSN, M.S.N., Ed.D.
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
BSN - Liberty University, M.S.N. - Liberty University, Ed.D. - Argosy University-Phoenix
Kidd, Tiffany; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Liberty University, M.S.N. - Liberty University, DNP - James Madison University
Kopis, Sharon; B.S., M.S.N., Ed.D.
Title: Chair, Doctoral Programs; Professor of Nursing
B.S. - Liberty University, M.S.N. - Virginia Commonwealth University, Ed.D. - Argosy University-Sarasota
Krantz, Randy; A.A.S., B.A., M.A.R., J.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
A.A.S. - Virginia Western Community College, B.A. - University of Lynchburg, M.A.R. - Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, J.D. - University of Richmond
L
Lane-Tillerson, Crystal; BSN, M.A.T., M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Howard University, M.A.T. - Howard University, M.S.N. - Hampton University, Ph.D. - Hampton University
Linsky, Rose; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - University of Alabama in Huntsville, M.S.N. - University of Alabama in Huntsville, DNP - University of Alabama in Huntsville
Littlefield, Nancy; BSN, M.S., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - George Mason University, M.S. - Virginia Commonwealth University, DNP - Old Dominion University
M
Maddox, Debra; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
BSN - University of Lynchburg, M.S.N. - Liberty University, DNP - Radford University
Moore, Vickie; B.S., M.S.N., D.N.
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S. - University of Lynchburg, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, D.N. - Radford University
Murphy, Dorothy; A.A.S., BSN, M.S., DNP
Title: Professor of Nursing
A.A.S. - University of Rio Grande, BSN - University of Rio Grande, M.S. - Wright State University in Dayton, DNP - West Virginia University
O
Odedina, Folashade; B.A., B.S., BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Associate Professor
B.A. - University at Buffalo SUNY, B.S. - University at Buffalo SUNY, BSN - Dyouville College, M.S.N. - Dyouville College, DNP - University of Virginia
P
Perryman, Pat; BSN, M.R.E., M.S.N., DNP, Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Texas Tech University, M.R.E. - Christian Bible College and Seminary, M.S.N. - Lubbock Christian College, DNP - Liberty University, Ph.D. - Christian Bible College and Seminary
Powers, Patricia; B.S., D
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - Ohio State University, D - Ohio State University
R
Rasberry, Tamra; BSN, M.S., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
BSN - Liberty University, M.S. - University of Virginia, Ph.D. - Liberty University
Rothwell, Ronni; B.S., M.S.N., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
B.S. - University of Lynchburg, M.S.N. - Walden University, DNP - Liberty University
S
Sanders, Lynne; BSN, M.S.N., Ed.D.
Title: Professor
BSN - Liberty University, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, Ed.D. - Argosy University-Sarasota
Sherwood, Stephanie; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - West Virginia University, M.S.N. - Liberty University, DNP - Liberty University
Simpson, Deidra; B.S., D.Pharm.
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S. - University of Kentucky, D.Pharm. - University of Kentucky
Smith, Lisa; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - University of Lynchburg, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, DNP - Radford University
T
Thompson, Kenneth; D.Pharm.
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
D.Pharm. - University of Nebraska Medical Center
Turner, Tracey; BSN, M.S.N., Ed.D., Ed.S.
Title: Associate Professor
BSN - University of Virginia, M.S.N. - University of Virginia, Ed.D. - Liberty University, Ed.S. - Liberty University
W
Walker, Sherri; BSN, M.S.N.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Wright State University in Dayton, M.S.N. - Vanderbilt University
Washburn, Donna; BSN, M.S.N., DNP
Title: Instructor
BSN - Liberty University, M.S.N. - Liberty University, DNP - Liberty University
Whorley, Elizabeth; BSN, M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
BSN - Liberty University, M.S.N. - Liberty University, Ph.D. - Nova Southeastern University
Wines, Maria; BSN, M.S.N., Ph.D.
Title: Adjunct Faculty
BSN - Dominican University of California, M.S.N. - Case Western Reserve University, Ph.D. - Loyola University
Woody, Dana; B.S., M.S.N., DNP
Title: Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S. - University of Lynchburg, M.S.N. - University of Lynchburg, DNP - Liberty University