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Nursing Faculty
Our faculty are a unique blend of researchers, educators and professionals who are proven experts in their fields.
Erica Blumenstock, Program Director of Nursing
Nursing
Dr. Blumenstock began her career working in an acute care setting in rural Southern Illinois in 1994. She earned her BSN from Barnes College in St. Louis, MO, MSN at the University of Southern Indiana, and DNP at McKendree University in Illinois. Throughout her career, she worked in a variety of healthcare settings including acute medical-surgical nursing, maternal/newborn, pediatrics, public health, and home health/hospice.
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Office: ASA 129
erica.blumenstock@siu.edu
Heather Brown, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Heather Brown joined the faculty at SIU in 2022. She earned an associate degree in Nursing from John A. Logan College in 2016, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governor's University in 2018, a master's degree in Nursing Leadership & Management from Western Governor's University in 2019, and is currently on track to complete a Doctorate in Nursing Practice by the Fall of 2023.
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Office: ASA 209B
heather.n.brown@siu.edu
Jacque Giacone, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Jacque Giacone joined the faculty at SIU in 2022. She earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Rend Lake College, and her BSN and MSN from McKendree University. She has worked in So. Illinois in various nursing roles including Med/Surg, Cardiac Step Down, Dialysis, and Oncology. She recently worked in Nursing Informatics and received the first Daisy Award for Nursing Informatics in 2018. She joined the faculty at SIU working with the BSN students. She is passionate that the entry level for nursing should be BSN and is proud to join the School of Health Sciences.
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Margaret Kress, Clinical Assistant Professor
Nursing
Margaret earned her DNP from Maryville University in St Louis in 2022. She earned her FNP and BSN from Northern Illinois University. She has over 30 years of experience in nursing that include neonatal, pediatric, and adult critical care, and transport medicine where she worked as a flight nurse for 15 years.
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Jasmyne Lewis, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Jasmyne Lewis joined SIUC's nursing faculty in 2022. She has a background in nursing education with undergraduate students in the community college setting. She also has experience in a variety of nursing areas including leadership, medical-surgical, neuroscience, clinic, ICU, and orthopedics. Ms. Lewis received her ASN from Illinois Eastern Community College in 2013, BSN from Eastern Illinois University in 2015, and MSN from Western Governors University in 2018. She is on track to complete her DNP from the University of Southern Indiana in 2025.
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Office: ASA
jasmyne.lewis@siu.edu
Rebecca McElhose, Clinical Assistant Professor
Nursing
Dr. McElhose joined the faculty at SIU in 2022. She earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Kaskaskia College and received her BSN, MSN, and DNP at Chamberlain University of Nursing. She has experience in cardiac step-down, urology, surgical, and oncology.
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Office: ASA
rebecca.mcelhose@siu.edu
Nancy McNitt, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Nancy McNitt joined the faculty at SIU in 2021. She earned an associate degree in Nursing from John A. Logan College, a BSN from McKendree College, and a master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Southeast Missouri State University. She has worked in hospitals, and clinic sites in Illinois and Tennessee. She has a passion for Women's Health, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics. But she has worked in a variety of different specialties including public health, school health, and hospice. She believes that it is an honor to provide nursing care to her patients. She sees nursing as a blend of compassionate caring and evidence-based practice.
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Office: ASA 209B
nancy.mcnitt@siu.edu
Debra Penrod, Assistant Professor of Nursing
School of Health Sciences
Dr. Penrod’s career began teaching in secondary education at area schools. Since 1996, she worked as a nurse in various roles including acute rehabilitation, medical-surgical nursing, school nursing and case management. In 2009, she began working as a nurse educator in the community college setting, teaching in the practical nursing and associate degree of nursing programs. Prior to coming to SIUC, she also has worked as an adjunct faculty member in a baccalaureate of nursing online program. Dr. Penrod is a member of Sigma Theta Tau international nursing honor society. She also holds nursing certifications in rehabilitation and school nursing.
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Office: ASA 211A
debra.penrod@siu.edu
Brittney Sanford, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Brittney Sanford joined the faculty at SIU in 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO. Throughout her career, she has worked in various nursing specialties including the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Perioperative Services, Educational Services, Ambulatory Clinical Services (Family Practice and Urgent Care), and Nursing Informatics.
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Tierra Smith, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Tierra Smith started her career in healthcare in 2009 as an CNA working Long Term Care. She received an LPN certificate in 2014, RN from Lutheran School of Nursing in 2017, BSN in 2019 and MSN, FNP in 2022 from Walden University. She has worked in various healthcare fields including behavioral health, emergency room, telemetry, hospice, and doctors' offices, most recently as a house supervisor for a local hospital. Her passions include both women’s and behavioral health.
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Kelli Whittington, Assistant Professor
School of Health Sciences
Dr. Whittington's nursing career began in 1992 with practice in the acute care setting. Her nursing experience includes ICU, oncology, management, and administration. Her nursing education career began in 1993 with an adjunct clinical position at the community college level. Throughout her nursing education experience, she has taught nurses across all academic levels, from certified nurse assistants through bachelor's prepared registered nurses, culminating with doctorally-prepared registered nurses. She received the 2019 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, is a member of Sigma Theta Tau international nursing honor society, and recipient of the visiting scholar award from Michigan State University in 2009. She is designated as a Certified Nurse Educator.
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Office: ASA 226
kellid@siu.edu
Destiney Wilson, Assistant Lecturer
Nursing
Destiney Wilson joined the faculty as the Simulation Coordinator in January 2023. She completed a Practical Nursing Program at Beck Vocational school in 1999, earned her associate degree in Nursing from Rend Lake College in 2012, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McKendree University in 2016 and currently on track to complete her Master’s degree in Nursing from Western Governors University. Throughout her career she has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, long term care, school nursing, medical surgical and operating room.
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