William Woods University has appointed Lisa Sitler as the first director of WWU's new School of Nursing.
On Oct. 5, the university officially announced the establishment of a nursing school, a first in the university's history.
The intent is to offer a nursing degree beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. The new program will be part of a partnership with the Fulton State Hospital.
Sitler, of Hawk Point, joins William Woods with more than 20 years of nursing and health care teaching experience, serving in hospital and academic settings. In her new role, she will be responsible for overall leadership, development, direction and administration of all aspects of the nursing program, including ensuring the program is in compliance with laws and regulations of the State Board of Nursing and coordinating the nursing curriculum with other degree requirements.
She comes from Maryville University in St. Louis, where she served as an adjunct faculty member and clinical instructor since 2009.
She has also taught at a number of other institutions in her career, including Lindenwood University, Grand Canyon University, the University of Central Missouri, Graceland University, the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Stirling, Scotland.
Sitler has extensive experience working in the health care industry, including serving as a registered nurse at Fulton State Hospital; public health nurse at the Lincoln County Health Department and assistant at the Lincoln County Coroner's Office.
"We are fortunate to have an individual with vast experience in both the teaching and practical side of health care as William Woods' first ever Director of Nursing," WWU President Jahnae H. Barnett said. "Lisa has the right combination of professional and academic credentials that make her the perfect choice to direct the building of our newest program of study, a program that will produce graduates who will be in high demand in the health care industry."
Almost 16 percent of nursing positions in Missouri hospitals currently are vacant, according to the Missouri Hospital Association. The vacancy rate in Mid-Missouri doubled in 2016 alone, to 16.2 percent; Fulton State Hospital itself currently has a nurse vacancy rate of more than 30 percent.
According to a memorandum of understanding between WWU and Fulton State Hospital, the hospital will make its educational facility available for William Woods students in the program, including use of classroom space, additional space for a simulation lab, access to the hospital's library and office space for nursing faculty and staff.
Hiring a director of the School of Nursing is the first step in certification, beginning the process of assessing which specific degree programs William Woods will offer. Additional steps will be to gain approval for the programs from the Missouri State Board of Nursing and the Higher Learning Commission, and designing a course curriculum for each program offered.