December 2, 2013

Erika Barrington (MA ’13) and Amy Capomacchio (MA ’13) hosted a workshop called Theatre of the Oppressed for mental health professionals at Studio 34 in Philadelphia. The workshop consisted of games and theatrical exercises designed to help improve communication skills that are required for the mental health field. Barrington and Capomacchio began working with the Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed in 2010. They are scheduled to present a Theatre of the Oppressed workshop at the American Dance Therapy Association’s national conference in New York City. Barrington is a Dance/Movement Therapist for The Center for Autism in Philadelphia.

Sarah Campbell, PhD, (RN ’70, Hahnemann) was appointed to Professor of Nursing and Director of the forthcoming Nursing Program at Lee University, in Cleveland, Tennessee. The university’s nursing program is scheduled to launch in 2014. Campbell was previously a professor of Nursing and the Chief Academic Officer in the School of Nursing at the University of South Carolina, Aiken. She has also been the Principle Investigator for the Teaching Nursing Home project with Illinois State University-Mennonite College of Nursing. She also served there as Interim Dean, Associate Dean, Interim Director of the Undergraduate Program and Coordinator for Student Development. Campbell has a certification in spiritual formation from Lincoln Christian University and faith community nursing from Western Kentucky University. She serves as Dean Representative in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Melanie L. Cason (MS ’07) received an award from the International Nurses Association for Simulation and Clinical Learning (INASCL) for “Excellence in the Academic Setting Mentoring Others.” Cason is the Collaborative Service Coordinator for Simulation for HealthCare Simulation South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. She is a participant in the National League for Nursing Simulation Leadership Development Program.

Anna Henn (BSN ’10) was hired as a School Nurse for the Hudson, Wisconsin School District.

Dottie Higgins-Klein (MFT ’83, Hahnemann), Director of the Family and Play Therapy Center in the West Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, published a textbook called Mindfulness-Based Play-Family Therapy: Theory and Practice. The book introduces a new technique in family psychotherapy called “play-family therapy” which combines child development practices with traditional family therapy.

Jill Kwasny (MS Nutrition ’01) gave a presentation called “The Hard Facts About Nutrition Labels” at McCaffrey’s Market in Princeton Shopping Center, Princeton, New Jersey. Kwasny, a registered dietitian, is a consultant for Yardley Nutrition and works with individuals and organizations such as healthcare facilities and grocery stores to address nutrition-based needs. Kwasny also works with the Families Living Well Team at St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she teaches nutrition to children and their families.

Eugene Lucas, Jr., DNP, (PMC, Nursing ’05) was appointed to assistant professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where Lucas also earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. He holds basic life support certification as well as certifications as a family nurse practitioner, an adult psychiatric, and mental health nurse practitioner. His areas of expertise include family practice, adult psychiatry, dual diagnoses, developmental disability, care of the older adult, and care of the inmate population.

Emily Nussdorfer (MCAT ’01, MCP Hahnemann) was profiled in an article on newsworks.org, a Philadelphia news website. Nussdorfer is founder and Executive Director of Moving Creations, Inc., a nonprofit organization that operates a program called Girls On the Move that works with at-risk teenage girls to build self-esteem and leadership skills through the performing arts. The program teaches conflict resolution, sexual health, dance, poetry, teamwork, and performance skills. Moving Creations has worked with a total of 88 at-risk teenage girls since its establishment in 2005. In 2012, Nussdorfer worked with girls from Germantown High School, but the school’s closure also shut down Girls on the Move. She has been working with schools’ administrators and parents to identify “girls on the edge of failing, but with leadership potential, who need therapeutic support and artistic channels to turn it around.” Nussdorfer’s neighbor who runs a Pilates studio was so moved by the program that she hosted a silent auction at her studio to help raise money to sponsor students.

Maggie Reneau (MS ’05) was promoted to Director of Saint Xavier University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online program. Previously, Reneau was an assistant professor at Saint Xavier University since 2012. Prior to St. Xavier, she spent several years working in health care management for notable companies, including Baxter, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck and Roche. She is currently a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, the Transcultural Society of Nursing, and the National League for Nursing.