Biography

Groer has been in Nursing education and research for 40 years, beginning at Lewis University, then the University if Tennessee, teaching in the undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs. Groer spent five years at MGH Institute of Health Profession where she was director of the nursing program, followed by the presidency for three years. She then returned to UT College of Nursing, and was the Associate Dean for Research and Evaluation until 2005. Groer moved to the University of South Florida Tampa as an endowed professor, became tenured, and then became a distinguished university professor. She returned to an 80% position at UT as a research professor in 2022. During her years in nursing education she taught at all levels, and was primarily engaged in NIG+H funds research. Groer has received 4 RO-1 grants, and 3 R21 grants, and has been published widely.

Biography

Jewyl Gibson is a clinical associate professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she has been teaching for the past two years. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Tennessee State University in Nashville. Additionally, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

With over 19 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner, Gibson is dual board-certified as a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Currently, she utilizes a telehealth platform to provide psychiatric mental health care to adults, children, and adolescents.

Gibson has practiced in various specialty settings throughout her career, including Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Allergy and Asthma, Weight Loss, Geriatric Wellness, and Prevention Clinics. She has held corporate leadership positions, notably as the Associate Director of Clinical Operations at United Healthcare, where she managed health prevention initiatives.

In addition to her academic and clinical roles, Gibson is the contributing editor on mental health for Gospel International magazine. She is also a speaker, mental health coach, and consultant for corporate clients, families, and individuals.

Gibson’s commitment to mental health advocacy and her extensive experience in nursing make her a valuable asset to both her students and the wider community.

Biography

Sharon Clemmensen received her MSc in Entomology from the University of Florida in 2010 and her PhD in Ecology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2017. Clemmensen taught at Ross University School of Medicine and Pellissippi State Community College before coming back to UT to start teaching in the College of Nursing in 2019. Clemmensen also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Nurse Anesthesia Education.

Biography

Jada Johnson Russell, PhD (UT ’20), MPH (UT ’10), BS (UT ’08) is a distinguished three-time graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, concentrating in Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, followed by a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education. She later earned her PhD in Higher Education Administration, focusing her research on student success for all students.

Russell’s passion for higher education was ignited during her tenure as an Academic Coach at the Student Success Center. This experience led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of  Enrollment Management and Assistant Professor of Practice with the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Throughout her career, Russell has been actively involved in numerous professional associations, including NACADA (The Global Community for Academic Advising) and its local chapter TennACADA. Russell’s dedication to student success is evident through her extensive work on various projects and presentations. She has co-authored several significant works, such as “Innovation and Inspiration: Early Intervention for Academic Success in Nursing” and “Bridging Opportunity: Good Jobs for Nurses in the Delta,” which received a $1.4 million grant from the Department of Labor.

Her professional experience includes roles as an instructor for courses for first year students, university honors and leadership studies. Russell has presented at numerous conferences both nationally and internationally, addressing topics such as transfer-friendly colleges, underrepresented populations in STEM majors, culturally responsive academic advising, and strategies for supporting academic journeys.

In addition to her academic roles, Russell is deeply committed to community service. She serves on the boards of Gennisi Charitable Birth Services, Healthy Families with McNabb Center, and the Tennessee Health Department Community Health Council. Russell’s current research focuses on providing access to higher education for all populations.

Her favorite quote is “Live, Laugh, Love,” reflecting her positive outlook on life and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others.

Biography

Dr. Yoo earned a postdoctoral fellowship at the College of Nursing from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the Kyunghee University, School of Medicine in South Korea. Furthermore, she received a MSc in Exercise Science from Kingston University in London and a BSN in Nursing from Sahmyook Health University in South Korea.

Dr. Yoo is an Assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, College of Nursing. She teaches undergraduate-level fundamental nursing courses. Since her doctoral training in 2014, she has been researching the gut microbiome field. Her major research interest is the mechanisms and metabolites of the human gut microbiome and their role in the host body. Recently, she and her research team worked on a R01NR015446 project entitled, “The Preterm Infant Microbiome.”, and published papers. She also published review journals focused on how the loss of gut homeostasis relates to dysbiosis and health problems. Additionally, she has been working on a cancer project to identifiy the evidence of gut microbial alteration and predictive model of colorectal cancer risk in firefighters.

Dr. Yoo is a Editorial Reviewer in Foods (MDPI), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, BMC Public Health, Molecular biology reports (Springer), Microorganisms and Nutrients (MDPI).

Dr. Ji Youn Yoo’s Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Frank Thomasson is a clinical instructor in the undergraduate program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Nursing. He received a BA in Geology from UT, an MS in International Relations from Troy State University extension program (RAF Mildenhall, UK), a BSN in nursing from UT, an MSN in nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner track) from UT. Thomasson’s work experience includes aircrew navigator on B-52G’s and RC-135’s and Major Command staff officer at HQ North American Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, CO and HQ Air University at Montgomery AL. In addition, his work record included floor nursing duties on an Orthopedic unit at Methodist Medical Center and as an Inpatient Unit nurse at Ridgeview Behavioral Health facility both in Oak Ridge TN. Thomasson was the 2022 UTK College of Nursing recipient of the Faculty Daisy Award for the college.