Western Nebraska Community College recently added five full-time instructors to the Scottsbluff Campus faculty, including a new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Director and Instructor, as well as two nursing instructors.
Ken Boston will serve as the new EMS Program Director and Instructor, bringing 19 years of EMS work experience to WNCC. Prior to joining WNCC, Boston worked with Regional West EMS and Kimball Health Services. He also served in the U.S. Navy from 1981 to 1988 and earned a master's degree in Biblical Studies from the Reformed Theological Seminary.
Dr. Jordan Colwell and Jennifer Seiler joined the Nursing program faculty. Colwell recently earned a doctorate in Business Administration after receiving a master's in Health Care Administration from Walden University and a bachelor's in Nursing from Chadron State College. Colwell has also served as an adjunct faculty member at both the Alliance Campus (2010-2013) and the Scottsbluff Campus (2017).
Although he was an adjunct faculty member in the past, it will be his first stint as a full-time instructor, an adjustment he is looking forward to.
"I've never taught in the nursing division, so I'm really excited for the opportunity to educate the next generation of nurses, because we really need them today," Colwell said. "I'm really excited to work with the nursing faculty because WNCC has a long-standing reputation of producing high-quality nurses."
Seiler has nearly 15 years of experience in nursing, including 11 as a certified nursing assistant and three as a registered nurse. She is pursuing an master's in Nursing Education from Walden University. She earned a bachelor's in Nursing from the UNMC and attended WNCC to complete her nursing prerequisites.
Francesca Mintowt-Czyz brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to WNCC as the new theater arts instructor. She completed the MA Theatre Lab at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She also holds a bachelor's in Theater Performance from the University of Wyoming and an associate's in Social Science from Western Wyoming Community College. She has taught and performed internationally and in diverse settings.
Although her path has led her all over the globe, Mintowt-Czyz found the community of WNCC and the surrounding area as the biggest draw to the college.
"Quite simply, I was drawn to WNCC because the people here have heart," she said. "The college itself is a community, but it also belongs to the bigger community of Scottsbluff, and it's a community I am thrilled to be part of. As the new theater instructor, I am most excited to engage with the entire student body and get some collaboration across various courses."
Finally, the Mathematics and Science Division welcomed Dr. Erandi Gunapala as a math instructor in January. Her esteemed resume includes a doctorate in Physics from the University of North Dakota, a bachelor's in Physics from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, as well as numerous publication and presentation accolades.