College of Nursing & Health Professions to Recognize 5 Distinguished Alumni at Homecoming
JONESBORO – Five distinguished alumni of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Arkansas State University will be honored for their professional achievements during the annual recognition ceremony Saturday, announced Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the college.
The Homecoming weekend ceremony begins at 3 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Sciences, 217 Driver St. The public is invited to attend this and other CNHP Homecoming events.
Each of the honored alumni represents a school or department within the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Those to be recognized are: Audrey Skaggs, Clinical Laboratory Science; E. Paul Milam, Communication Disorders; Wynne Armstrong Woodard, School of Nursing; Andy Shatley, Physical Therapy; and Mary Williams, Social Work.
Clinical Laboratory Science: Audrey Skaggs
Audrey Skaggs, BS, MT(ASCP), completed her bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science and is near completion of her master’s degree in health science education, both from ASU. She was inducted into the honor society Phi Kappa Phi during her master’s studies.
Skaggs has worked as a bench technologist at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis and NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. This summer, she accepted a science instructor position at Black River Technical College in Pocahontas and she also continues to serve as an adjunct professor of clinical laboratory science at ASU, where she is a highly valued member of the department.
Skaggs has a unique background, growing up in Belgium, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and participating in medical mission trips to South America. A resident of Brookland, she and her husband, Perry, have four children.
Communication Disorders: E. Paul Milam
E. Paul Milam earned both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication disorders from ASU. During a 10-year association with Kids for the Future in Forrest City, Milam developed and established the speech therapy program. Now he is president and owner of Therapy Solutions of NEA, Inc., which was established in 2004. Currently he is completing degree requirements for a Ph.D. in health psychology from Northcentral University in Arizona.
Recently he was reappointed to a second 3-year term on the Advocacy Board of ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. He has developed and presented several different continuing education and training programs, such as evaluation and treatment strategies with oral motor disorders and language-based literacy skills.
His professional activity also includes consultation and review services for Pearson Publishing, which develops and standardizes new tests or revises old editions of existing tests in the areas of psychological evaluation, speech evaluation, or language evaluation. He also provides off-site clinical supervision of ASU graduate students in communication disorders.
Nursing: Wynne Armstrong Woodard
Wynne Armstrong Woodard, MSN, CNS, RN was awarded a master of science in nursing in 2010 with the adult health clinical nurse specialist option. She was an “Outstanding Academic Scholar” in the MSN program. After graduation she returned and completed the nurse educator certificate.
A critical care nurse for 13 years, Mrs. Woodard also was the clinical educator for critical care services in addition to her role as a direct caregiver and charge nurse. She moved into a leadership and training position in health informatics where she was responsible for the implementation of the EMR system at Baxter Regional Medical Center. Currently, she is clinical educator for the hospital and a guest speaker for the AHEC Leadership Series.
She also is an instructor for BLS, ACLS, PALS, ECG Interpretation and Basic Arrhythmias. Woodard has been a volunteer instructor for ASU nursing students and also has mentored many ASU graduates as they enter the nursing field. She has been awarded the HERO Award and the Nurse of the Year for her direct patient care.
Physical Therapy: Andy Shatley
After Shatley graduated from ASU in 2002 with a bachelor’s in biology, he went on to graduate from ASU’s physical therapy program in 2004 with a master’s in physical therapy. Currently working at St. Bernards Sports Medicine as a therapist, he became director of sports medicine in 2008 and attained board-certified status as sports clinical specialist in 2010. Shatley has published articles in Sports Engineering and GameFace Magazine.
Through his involvement in various athletic competitions, Shatley has continued his love of sports and fitness he developed while lettering with ASU football and later playing pro baseball. An active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Shatley also started the annual St. Bernards Sports Medicine Coaches Clinic in 2008. He has served as a member of the FCA Golf Tournament Committee, board member of the ASU Touchdown Club, and founder and co-chair of Arkansas Ride for the Cure.
Shatley serves as a clinical instructor for the PT program, and has served on numerous committees. He and his wife Misty have two daughters.
Social Work: Mary Williams
Williams completed a bachelor in social work degree at ASU in 2005 and subsequently completed a master’s in social work degree at the University of Arkansas. While working with Arkansas Counseling & Associates for six years, she engaged clients in self-improvement and confidence building programs. She has used her network to broaden the horizons of those in need to instill self-motivation and a sense of hope.
Currently she is employed as a career coach at ASU-Marked Tree. Since the inception of the Children of Haiti project, Williams has played a major role in collecting clothing and funding. She has served on the Mississippi County Red Cross Board of Directors and the St. Bernard’s Women Auxiliary. She also assisted in establishing a scholarship challenge in memory of the late Debbie Hall, a professor at UA.
Williams serves as a volunteer advisor for the National Association of Black Social Workers ASU chapter, which she was instrumental in establishing and served as one of its most effective presidents as a student.
Information about the College of Nursing and Health Professions is online at http://www.astate.edu/conhp/. For more information, contact the Dean’s Office, College of Nursing and Health Professions, (870) 972-3112.
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