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Campus Review
August 15, 2014
Page 14
Clayton State Dean, Faculty Make a
Dream Real for MSN Graduate
The American Association of Colleges of
Nursing (AACN) recently included a true
“Dreams Made Real” story on the
“Highlighting Recent Graduates” feature
of
its
website
(http://www.aacn.nche.edu/students/gnsa/
Highlighting-Recent-Graduates.pdf).
Naturally, the story in question concerns a
graduate of the Clayton State University
Master of Science in Nursing program,
Colleen Walters. Having graduated from
the Clayton State MSN program in May
2014, Walters has now taken the next step
in her dream; she’s a new faculty member
in the Clayton State School of Nursing,
thanks to the empowerment and support
of the Clayton State College of Health,
and a unique experiential learning oppor-
tunity in Guadalajara, Mexico.
This is her story…
“In May 2014, I graduated with a master’s
in nursing education from Clayton State
University as a Georgia Board of Regents
grant recipient to increase the number of
nurse educators in the state of Georgia.
“I was given this tremendous opportunity
by Dr. Lisa Eichelberger, the dean of the
College of Health at Clayton State, who
`saw something’ in me that would make a
great nurse educator. It was also the
dean’s way of giving back what had been
invested in her as a young nurse who was
given a similar opportunity to teach. She
changed the trajectory of my nursing
career and helped me to define my niche
in nursing.
“In addition, I was mentored along the
way by other exemplary nurse educators
at Clayton State. Dr. Jennell Charles
served as a role model of nursing excel-
lence in teaching, service, and scholar-
ship. Not only was Dr. Charles my men-
tor, but also my close friend. Dr. Lynn
Stover, MSN instructor and practicum
coordinator, guided and supported me
during the practicum portion of the pro-
gram. Dr. Victoria Foster and instructor
Alicia Collins were always encouraging
me to press forward. The MSN degree
awarded is largely the effort of these great
instructors who would never give up on
me.
“The quality of education I received was
unparalleled. I had the unique opportunity
to study and work as a clinical instructor
simultaneously. Therefore, I quickly
developed in skill and knowledge of nurs-
ing education while serving baccalaureate
students. I was
exposed to issues in
nursing education
at the state and
national level, and
even participated in
the AACN Student
Policy Summit in
Washington, D.C.,
in March 2014.
“I was also given
the opportunity to complete a service
learning study abroad program in
Guadalajara, Mexico in May 2014. My
thesis examined the impact of study
abroad experiences and the level of learn-
ing that takes place.
“I feel that the MSN program at Clayton
State was a rich experience, which has
thoroughly prepared me for a bright future
as a nurse educator. I strongly desire to
inspire my students to serve, love learn-
ing, and lead, in order to be the nurse that
can make a difference in the nation’s
health, one patient at a time.”
Clayton State Celebrates the Peachtree Road Race
by John Shiffert
It’s an annual event at Clayton State
University… faculty, staff and students
gather on the University Quad with
President Dr. Thomas Hynes to celebrate
running the Peachtree Road Race.
This wearing of the Peachtree shirt began
several years ago, partly following Hynes,
who has run the race 17 times, example.
And, even though everyone at Clayton
State who ran the annual event down
Peachtree street may not be able to make
the photo, all who come out traditionally
spend a half hour or so discussing that
year’s race.
Highlighting the 2014 group were, in
addition to Hynes, a mother/daughter
combination; Professor Sandra Jones
from the Computer Science and
Information Technology Department of
the College of Information and
Mathematical Sciences, and her daughter,
Elise Jones, who ran the Peachtree Junior
this year for the third time. (Mom has run
seven Peachtrees.)
Clayton State student Yao Seidu topped
all runners present with 32 Peachtrees to
his credit, while Assistant Vice President
for Student Affairs Dr. Angelyn Hayes
matched Hynes with 17 trips down
Peachtree street. Hayes felt her 2014
effort was especially noteworthy, since
she passed WSB-TV consumer advocate
Clark Howard during the race. Since
Hayes had been instrumental in inviting
Howard to the Clayton State campus in
May to film his “Ask Clark: Life After
Graduation” special, the two runners had
something else to chat about in Piedmont
Park after the race. The newest member of
the group, Interim Vice President for
Information Technology and Services Bill
Race, cont’d, p. 15
Colleen Walters