Faculty and Staff

Education

B.S.N., Gwynedd Mercy College
M.S.N., DeSales University
Ph.D., Widener University

Career Highlights

Wendy J. Robb joined the Cedar Crest College Nursing Department in Fall 2000. Her background includes work as a clinical nurse specialist in adult acute care, particularly trauma care. She is also an experienced clinical research coordinator, with expertise in the area of complementary and alternative healing.

Wendy has published and presented nationally and internationally on a variety of topics and has traveled to nursing schools in Ghana, West Africa and Sweden as part of international exchanges. She has participated in several national grants and maintains certification as a nurse educator by the National League for Nursing.

Memberships & Awards

American Holistic Nurses Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National League for Nurses, Pennsylvania League for Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Theta Rho Chapter

Education

B.S.N., Cedar Crest College
M.S.N., Bloomsburg University
Adult CRNP Certificate, Bloomsburg University

Courses Taught

Karen teaches the junior level clinical courses and assists with teaching pharmacology.

Career Highlights

Karen has taught at Cedar Crest College since 2005 on a part time basis. She spent the majority of her time with the students in the clinical area, but also spent time in the labs and classrooms. Karen helped teach the pharmacology course. In the 2009-2010 academic year, she assisted with grant work in developing a fall prevention study that was implemented during one of the junior level clinical courses. She also works as a nurse practitioner in a family planning clinic to stay current with nursing skill and techniques."

Memberships

ANA, Sigma Theta Tau, Phi Kappa Phi, ACNP.

Why Choose Cedar Crest?

"I feel that as an alumna and also a nurse that Cedar Crest College prepares nursing students in a very special way. I feel that the liberal arts base is key to understanding patients in a holistic manner. By learning to appreciate the aesthetics and make connections between all of our areas of knowledge, we allow the students to see a bigger picture. This creates for a more adaptable, creative, and intelligent nurse."

Advice

"I am passionate about the commitment to learning new knowledge, and the holistic caring for patients. I never want to stop learning or growing in my understanding of new information. I encourage curious learners and welcome questions. Finding the correct answers benefits us all."

Inspiration

"All of the motivated and insightful teachers and professors in my past have served as inspiration for me. They helped to fan the spark of interest in learning into a fire. If it weren't for those committed few, I would most likely not have found my way here. The vision for this school inspires and motivates me to want to contribute to continuing the tradition of excellence in the nursing program."

How Did You Become a Teacher?

"It seems that I have always been helping others to understand things better. I tutored Spanish in high school and while a student at Cedar Crest I tutored in microbiology and fine arts and was an instructional assistant for Freshman Seminar and Anatomy and Physiology. It was my work as an instructional assistant that really influenced my interest in teaching. I found that the students understood the material better when I explained it in my terms. It led to my first teaching job years later. I started teaching A&P at a community college."

Education

B.S.N., Cedar Crest College
M.S.N., DeSales University
Ph.D., Rocky Mountain University

Career Highlights

Nancy DalPezzo teaches community health nursing, nursing leadership, nursing administration and nursing informatics. She has more than 25 years of experience in nursing administration and community health nursing. Before joining the Cedar Crest College faculty she worked as a home care/hospice nurse and as a nurse executive for local, regional and international companies.

Her areas of expertise and research interests include nursing administration, home care, palliative care and hospice. Nancy also is a practicing home care consultant and parish nurse, and has published and presented on various topics related to her areas of expertise.

Memberships & Awards

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Nurses Association, Pennsylvania Nurses Association, National League for Nurses, Pennsylvania League for Nurses

Philosophy

"I am inspired by family, friends and faith. I have always admired and been inspired by excellent teachers, and from the time I entered nursing school my long-term goal was to teach someday. I enjoy working with students and feel it is important to give back to my profession by helping to educate the next generation of nurses. Nursing studies are difficult but not impossible! I encourage students not to hesitate to seek help from the faculty if they need it."

Education

B.S.N., Penn State University
M.S.N., West Chester University
PhD, Widener University

Courses Taught

Undergraduate - Community Health Nursing; Nursing Leadership; RN to BS in Nursing Program; Travel Abroad course Graduate - Vulnerable Populations; Nursing Education

Career HIghlights

Dr. Leh brings many years of clinical and teaching experience to the nursing department. As a community health clinical nurse specialist, her focus is on health promotion of adult and pediatric populations. Her background includes practice in emergency nursing, home care, school nursing and community health program planning. Dr. Leh continues to serve as a health consultant for child care centers through the PA American Academy of Pediatric Early Childhood Education Linkage System. Dr. Leh has presented nationally and internationally and published on a variety of topics related to community health and nursing education. She was instrumental in establishing nursing study abroad courses as well as student-faculty exchanges in Africa and Sweden. Her research interests include community and global health nursing issues.

Memberships

National League for Nursing PA, League of Nursing Transcultural Nursing Society, Association of Community Health Nurse Educators, Sigma Theta Tau; Theta Rho Chapter.

Education

B.S.N., West Chester University
M.S.N., DeSales Universit

Courses Taught

Medical-Surgical nursing, focus on Acute Care and Critical Care

Career HIghlights

Nadine has more than 21 years of nursing experience, with 16 years in emergency care in various hospitals across the nation. She has worked as a family nurse practitioner and nurse educator since 2000.

Memberships

Lehigh Valley Nurse Practitioners Association, National League of Nursing, American Nurses Association, Emergency Nurses Association

Why Choose Cedar Crest?

I believe in the mission and value of the College's liberal arts curriculum to provide the student with much more than just a degree.

Advice

"Immerse yourself in the learning. Make it a part of your life."

Inspiration

I am inspired by all of the students who struggle and overcome the enormous obstacles in their quest for an education. Also, all the nurses that are practicing who dedicate their lives to this profession.

How Did You Become a Teacher?

"I first thought of teaching when I was in my undergraduate classes, I was impressed with the knowledge and experience that my teachers had and that they were so willing to share it with us."

Education

B.S.N., Kutztown University
M.S.N., Bloomsburg University
D.Ed., Pennsylvania State University
ANCC- Adult Health Nurse Practitioner
NLN - Certified Nurse Educator

Courses Taught

Health Promotion I, Health Assessment, Leadership in Nursing, Independent Practicum, Concepts in Professional Nursing, Research Teaching Strategies for the Nurse Educator, Nurse Educator Practicum

Career Highlights

Dr. Melincavage has taught in baccalaureate and diploma programs of nursing. She has practiced nursing in the areas of neurosurgery and cardiac care. She is also a certified registered nurse practitioner and practices in adult health and is certified as an adult health nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Dr. Melincavage is also certified as a nurse educator by the National League for Nursing. Her research interests include anxiety in student nurses in the clinical setting. She was awarded the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Theta Rho Nurse Research Award in 2007.

Memberships

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, Pennsylvania League for Nursing, The Reading Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association - Life Member, Penn State Alumni Association - Life Member

Education

B.S.N., Jersey City State College
M.S.N., Rutgers University
Ph.D., University of Northern Colorado

Courses Taught

Complex Health Problems, Health Promotion III, Nursing Research I, Leadership in Nursing, Family Health Promotion II

Career HIghlights

After beginning her career on a medical-surgical unit, most of Katherine's work has been in emergency nursing. She has spent about 30 years in clinical practice in emergency care in the N.J. and N.Y. area. During the 1990s, Katherine worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner in a pediatric same day surgery unit, as well as pediatric emergency department. She began teaching as an adjunct around 2002. Katherine loves teaching and is currently working on attaining a Ph.D. in Nursing Education.

Memberships

American Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, Transcultural Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Emergency Nurses Association.

Why Choose Cedar Crest?

"I believe that people deserve excellent nursing care and that will arise from a highly educated and competent nursing workforce. Our profession has grown exponentially in knowledge and skills; we have a lot to offer the public. Cedar Crest College offers a broad liberal arts education that is essential in today's complex healthcare environment. As a largely female profession, we need strong leaders who can really make a difference."

Advice

"Nursing is an important profession. We hold people's lives in our hands. Therefore nursing education is very difficult and demanding-- you have to know a lot for your patients! Believe in yourself and believe in what you are trying to accomplish. You would not be in this program unless you could succeed. Work hard, use all your resources, and keep talking to your professors-- we want you to succeed! Always keep yourself open to new ways of thinking; you will find yourself growing as you learn and practice nursing."

Inspiration

"I am inspired by people of vision like Martin Luther King, but also by the everyday heroes who persist in seeking change when they see injustice. When I started in nursing, nurses were exposed to injuries such as needlesticks every day, nurses were verbally harassed, patients were isolated from family while critically ill, newborns were separated from mothers at birth and many other inhumane practices occurred. I am encouraged that over the years, nurses and other people have worked to change healthcare. My students inspire me because I believe they will be the ones to make healthcare more and more humane. They will have the knowledge, skills and the caring to change our society."

How Did You Become a Teacher?

"I love being a nurse, and I believe all nurses are teachers. I began teaching around 2002, and it seemed to be an extension of what I have always done in nursing. Teaching is a way of sharing ourselves as well as our knowledge. I learn as much from students or patients as they learn from me and that is what makes it so rewarding."

Education

B.S.N, Misericordia University
M.S.N., DeSales University
C.N.E., Certified Nurse Educator
S.N.C., Certified School Nurse

Career Highlights

Joan Timalonis teaches fundamentals of nursing, medical surgical nursing, health assessment and the final practicum for senior nursing students. She has taught since the mid-1990s, and has known she wanted to be a teacher since working with new nurses and nursing students in the hospital. She wanted to be a role model for others, and thoroughly enjoys seeing the growth and progress her students demonstrate as they progress through their courses. Joan believes teaching is an integral part of the nursing profession, as nurses teach patients in every encounter.

Memberships & Awards

National League for Nursing, Pennsylvania League for Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Nurses Assocation

Philosophy

"I teach to maintain the high standards of the nursing profession and the college, and to contribute to safe health care practices in the community. I believe you must take care of yourself before you can take care of others. My mentors, my students and my family all inspire me to become a better version of myself each day."