Jeanee’ Kennedy, MBA, BSN, R.N., is the chief nursing officer of Freeman Health System, a 410-bed, health system located in Joplin, Mo. As CNO, Kennedy works to provide leadership through planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating nursing services, and collaborates with other administrative team members to develop goals and plans for the health system. During the last decade, Kennedy has led a wide variety of projects and initiatives — ranging from patient experience and patient safety, to quality and clinical program development. In 2016, Kennedy was named one of Joplin Regional Business Journal’s 15 under 40. Kennedy received her associate’s dDegree in nursing from Crowder College in Neosho, Mo., and later pursued both her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her Master of Business Administration — Healthcare from American Sentinel University in Aurora, Colo.
Nancy J. Mitchell, MSN, R.N., is the Dean of Health Sciences and director of nursing at East Central College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English communications from William Woods University, an AAS in nursing from East Central College, a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Central Methodist University, and a Master of Science in nursing education from Maryville University. Mitchell began her nursing career at Mercy Hospital Washington, formerly known as St. John’s Mercy, in 1996. During her time at MHW, Mitchell worked as a staff and charge nurse on the Medical-Surgical-Pediatric Unit and ED, later serving as a house supervisor. Mentoring new nurses fostered her passion for education, and she returned to East Central College in 2003. For 15 years, she served as a full-time nurse educator in the classroom and clinical setting, as well as a program coordinator. Three years ago, Mitchell was appointed Dean and Director. Under her innovative leadership, the “Earn While You Learn to be an RN” model of clinical nursing education was developed.
Heather Sluis, MSN, R.N., is the clinical educator of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital and adjunct clinical instructor at East Central College. She has been a registered nurse for 15 years and alumni of ECC. In 2017, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in nursing, and in 2018, obtained her Master of Science in nursing leadership and management, both from Western Governors University. She has spent the last 12 years at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. During her time at MBSH, she has worked as a critical care nurse, house supervisor and now clinical educator. As clinical educator, Sluis oversees all nursing students and was instrumental in building a Student Nurse Extern Program from the ground up. She oversees the onboarding of all new R.N. graduates and the bi-annual clinical skills evaluation of current staff. Sluis is involved in the clinical development program at MBSH and is currently working on a CNA program. She also collaborated with ECC in the development of the “Earn While You Learn to be an RN” Program. Concurrently, Sluis teaches 2nd-year associate degree nursing students for ECC as a clinical adjunct.
Sandra Reed Wilson, MSN, R.N., ACNS-BC, is the director of nursing for Crowder College. She oversees the registered nursing programs at Crowder College’s four instructional sites (Neosho, Nevada, Cassville and McDonald County) and Crowder Nevada Practical Nursing. She is a practicing R.N. licensed in Missouri specializing in cardiovascular medicine, and she is licensed as an advanced practice nurse in Missouri as an adult clinical nurse specialist. Wilson has spent the past two years developing a clinical partnership model for senior-level nursing students in the region with a variety of health care partners.