Faculty and Staff

AREAS OF RESEARCH Type II Diabetes, Nursing Faculty Shortage Education: Gardner-Webb University-ADN Gardner-Webb University-B.S.N. Gardner-Webb University-Master of Science in Nursing Education University of South Carolina-Post-master’s certificate in Advanced Practice Nursing Certification: Family Nurse Practitioner-ANCC Clinical Specialty: Adult Critical Care Nursing, Family Practice EDUCATION N/A EXTERNAL AFFILIATION N/A

Philwyna S. Banks-Ledbetter, DNP, AGACNP-C, MSN, RN, OCN, is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with a profound commitment to oncology and geriatric care. She serves as a lecturer in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Philwyna’s expertise is particularly deep in hematology oncology, stemming from her tenure at Wake Forest […]

Zhuo Job Chen, PhD is an Associate Professor at School of Nursing, and an affiliate faculty at Health Psychology. He received the Early Career Award from the International Association for the Psychology of Religion in 2023. He obtained a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Oregon, after completing a […]

Dr. Maren Coffman is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research interests include population health, health promotion, and access to health care. Dr. Coffman has extensive experience working in the Latino community and is fluent in Spanish. She has been awarded internal and external research […]

Judith Cornelius, PhD, MS, RN, ANEF, FAAN is a doctoral prepared nurse educator whose instructional portfolio encompasses a diverse range of courses, including Critical Thinking, Leadership, Health Policy, Research, Global Health and Social Justice. Her professional journey is characterized by a commitment to advancing health equity within marginalized populations. Her research initiatives underscore her unwavering […]

Dr. Cronell, EdD, MSN, RN, CCRN has been an RN for over 30 years, spending most of her professional career in the adult medical intensive care unit. Cronell is an experienced nurse educator, including professional development of practicing nurses for many years and over a decade in the education of prelicensure nursing students. Her teaching experience includes […]

Emily Gullena has worked in various nursing specialties including end-of-life care, geriatrics, medical telemetry, burn/intensive care, pediatrics, neonatal, and as a camp nurse. She teaches in both the undergraduate BSN program and the online RN-BSN program. Emily is a certified simulation educator and enjoys using hands-on learning to help students with thinking skills, communication, and […]

Dr. Kerbon (Kerby) Heath, DNP, RN, CNE, serves as a Lecturer at the College of Health and Human Services, School of Nursing. He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree with a focus on Nurse Education and Nurse Leadership from Ohio University. Dr. Heath’s research interests are centered on evaluating the impact of meditation […]

Jessica Hernandez, MSN, RN teaching specialties include Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing and Transition to Practice. Her clinical nursing specialties include Adult Cardiac, Telemetry, and Progressive Care, Hospice and Palliative Care. Areas of Research Teaching interests: teaching clinical judgement, transition to practice Education MS, 2013, East Carolina University, Nursing Education BS, 2004, East Carolina University, Nursing […]

Carolyn Horne, PhD, MSN, RN, BCB has extensive expertise in managing and caring for adults with cardiovascular disease. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of patients, particularly those facing the complex challenges of dysvascular disease and neuropathic pain following amputation. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Dr. Horne honed […]