Advancing narrative pedagogy, empathy, and reflective practice in nursing education.
The Nurse Narratives Faculty Fellows are educators, scholars, researchers, and clinicians from the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing whose creativity, scholarship, and educational leadership have helped shape the Nurse Narratives Initiative.
What began as a partnership to explore the power of authentic nurse and patient stories has evolved into a collaborative model for integrating narrative pedagogy, reflective practice, professional identity formation, and empathy development throughout nursing education.
The Faculty Fellows reflect the collaborative spirit that has shaped the Nurse Narratives Initiative from its beginning—a partnership between StoryCollab and the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing grounded in scholarship, innovation, and a shared commitment to more human-centered nursing education.
Together, StoryCollab and ETSU faculty have co-developed educational resources, classroom learning experiences, faculty development initiatives, and research that use authentic stories from nurses, patients, and families as catalysts for reflection, dialogue, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the human experience of healthcare. Grounded in Caring Science and informed by lived experience, this work recognizes that empathy is not simply taught as a communication skill; it is cultivated through authentic relationships, reflection, deep listening, and shared meaning-making.
The value of Nurse Narratives is not in the stories alone, but in the intentionally facilitated experiences built around them. Through deep listening, shared reflection, authentic presence, and meaningful connection, narrative becomes a powerful approach to teaching and learning.
The Faculty Fellows are the nursing educators who have helped build, implement, study, and continually refine this work. Their expertise spans undergraduate and graduate nursing education, curriculum development, clinical practice, leadership, simulation, research, community health, and student success.
The Faculty Fellows bring expertise across many areas of nursing education and practice, including:
Narrative pedagogy • Reflective learning • Empathy development • Professional identity formation • Caring Science • Curriculum integration • Clinical education • Nursing research • Faculty development • Student success
Amber Arsenault is an assistant professor in the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing. A registered nurse and board-certified family nurse practitioner, she brings clinical expertise and an educator’s perspective to her work with nursing students. Arsenault completed her Doctor of Education in 2024 and has served as a faculty associate with ETSU’s Center for Teaching Excellence. She also participated in the university’s Trail Guide Research Mentorship Program, reflecting her continuing commitment to scholarly growth, effective teaching, and faculty collaboration. Amber is also a National League for Nursing (NLN) Leadership Institute Fellow.
Karen Carver is an assistant professor in the ETSU College of Nursing and a certified family nurse practitioner. Her scholarship includes diabetes self-management, continuous glucose monitoring, and evidence-based treatment in primary care. She mentors graduate research and quality-improvement projects, including work designed to improve guideline-based diabetes and obesity care in rural settings. Carver has also completed Quality Matters higher-education certification, strengthening her preparation in course design and active learning. Her work connects clinical practice, nursing research, graduate mentorship, and thoughtful instructional development.
Jean Croce Hemphill is a professor and director of the PhD program in the ETSU College of Nursing. A board-certified family nurse practitioner, she has developed a sustained program of scholarship concerning homelessness, trauma, vulnerable women, and nurse-managed community care. Her qualitative research has explored how women experiencing homelessness and abuse understand and draw upon personal strength. Hemphill also mentors doctoral researchers studying complex nursing and health experiences. Her career integrates advanced nursing practice, community engagement, research leadership, and the preparation of future nurse scholars.
Kacie Hauldren is executive director of academic success and a clinical instructor in the ETSU College of Nursing. A certified nurse educator and ETSU nursing alumna, she leads initiatives that help students strengthen study strategies, clinical reasoning, resilience, and academic performance. Hauldren has held leadership roles in practical-nursing and undergraduate nursing education and has helped develop supplemental instruction within the college. Her current work emphasizes coordinated tutoring, peer mentoring, skills development, and individualized support so that nursing students can progress confidently toward their academic and professional goals.
Alisa Hearl is a lecturer in the ETSU College of Nursing. Her credentials encompass registered nursing, diabetes care and education, sexual-assault nursing, and clinical nursing education. Hearl incorporates community and population health into student learning, including faculty-supervised health fairs where students assist with intake, education, laboratory work, and interdisciplinary care coordination. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer and serves as a College of Nursing representative in the ETSU Faculty Senate. Her service reflects a strong commitment to education, prevention, and responsive community care.
Michelle Littleton is a lecturer in the ETSU College of Nursing. During her career at the college, she has held significant undergraduate leadership and coordination responsibilities, including service as senior director for undergraduate programs and coordinator of an off-campus nursing cohort. Littleton has also represented the college at milestone events such as its White Coat Ceremony, welcoming students as they transition into the clinical phase of their education. Her professional contributions center on undergraduate nursing education, program coordination, student progression, and creating meaningful academic experiences that prepare future nurses for professional practice.
Trisha Mims is an assistant professor in the ETSU College of Nursing. Her preparation spans nursing, business administration, and health-care management, supporting an interdisciplinary approach to education and leadership. Mims serves as faculty advisor to the ETSU Student Nurses’ Association and participates in university initiatives concerning trauma-informed teaching and research mentorship. She has also served the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing as an education director and lead nurse planner, supporting continuing nursing education, professional conferences, publications, and programs aligned with the organization’s strategic mission.
Ann Nunn is a lecturer in the ETSU College of Nursing. Her graduate preparation in nursing education and health-care administration complements her clinical background as a registered nurse. Board certification in gerontological nursing reflects specialized knowledge of the health needs of older adults, including the complexities of aging, chronic illness, and coordinated care. After serving among the college’s adjunct faculty, Nunn joined its lecturer ranks. She brings students a valuable combination of bedside perspective, educational preparation, administrative understanding, and focused expertise in the care of aging populations.
Tabitha Quillen is director of undergraduate bridge programs, a clinical assistant professor, and a student-success educator in the ETSU College of Nursing. Her leadership has included RN-to-BSN, LPN-to-BSN, post-licensure, and off-campus programs. Quillen’s doctoral research examined academic progression among licensed practical nurses and received a National League for Nursing scholarship award. She has also contributed scholarship concerning inclusive academic pathways for LPN-to-BSN students. Her work centers on expanding educational opportunity, supporting student persistence, and helping practicing nurses advance their education and professional roles.
Mary Ellen Schafer is a lecturer in the ETSU College of Nursing and a certified health-care simulation educator. She began her nursing career in medical-surgical practice before specializing in postoperative neurosurgical care and serving as a unit-based neurosurgical educator. Schafer earned her nursing degree from Valencia College and an MSN in nursing education from Walden University; she also holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida State University. Her scholarship includes co-authorship of an article on designing evidence-based simulation scenarios for clinical practice.
Lisa Scholz is a clinical assistant professor in the ETSU College of Nursing. She is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified adult nurse practitioner, bringing doctoral-level clinical preparation to nursing education and patient care. Scholz has served as a provider at ETSU’s Johnson City Downtown Day Center, a nurse-led practice offering acute, chronic, preventive, and behavioral health services. She also represents the College of Nursing in the ETSU Faculty Senate. Her professional work bridges advanced practice, community service, faculty governance, clinical teaching, and evidence-informed care for adults.
Kendrea Todt is an assistant professor and undergraduate honors research coordinator in the ETSU College of Nursing. A certified nurse educator and clinical nurse educator, she mentors students engaged in nursing scholarship and serves as a graduate counselor for the Epsilon Sigma at-Large Chapter of Sigma. Todt’s research has examined nursing care in Appalachia, including nurses’ experiences caring for patients with infective endocarditis associated with intravenous drug use. Her scholarly interests also encompass nursing education, educational disruption, student outcomes, and the development of emerging nurse researchers.
Charlotte Webb is a clinical associate professor and family nurse practitioner coordinator in the ETSU College of Nursing. A doctorally prepared advanced practice registered nurse and board-certified family nurse practitioner, she helps guide graduate education for students preparing to provide primary care across the lifespan. Webb is identified by ETSU as a coordinator for its adult-gerontological and family nurse practitioner offerings. Her work combines advanced clinical expertise, curriculum and program coordination, graduate mentorship, and preparation of nurse practitioners for evidence-based, patient-centered practice in diverse communities.
Melessia Webb is director of quality improvement and an associate professor in the ETSU College of Nursing. She previously served as associate dean for undergraduate programs, bringing extensive experience in academic leadership, curriculum development, and program evaluation. Webb’s scholarship includes development of nursing curricula and creation of more inclusive educational pathways, particularly for licensed practical nurses advancing toward the BSN. She has received an ETSU Presidential Grant-in-Aid award and participates in university research mentorship and curriculum-governance initiatives. Her work advances quality, access, and innovation in nursing education.
Florence “Flo” Weierbach is a professor in the ETSU College of Nursing. Her interdisciplinary preparation in nursing and public health informs scholarship focused on rural and Appalachian health, family caregiving, vulnerable populations, and community well-being. Her published and presented work has addressed caregiver health and stress, tobacco use, health behavior, homelessness and trauma, and experiences of protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weierbach also contributes to institutional faculty-affairs work and collaborative research. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to understanding health within family, community, social, and regional contexts.
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The Nurse Narratives Initiative demonstrates what is possible when storytellers, educators, researchers, clinicians, and healthcare leaders work together to create meaningful learning experiences grounded in authentic lived experience.The Nurse Narratives Faculty Fellows are faculty members of the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing. The designation recognizes their significant contributions to the development of the Nurse Narratives Initiative and their educational leadership in advancing narrative pedagogy, reflective practice, and professional identity formation within nursing education.
StoryCollab partners with schools of nursing, healthcare systems and organizations, universities, and other organizations to design narrative-based initiatives that strengthen reflective practice, empathy, communication, professional identity formation, and more human-centered approaches to healthcare education and practice.
The Nurse Narratives Faculty Fellows are faculty members of the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing. The designation recognizes their significant contributions to the development of the Nurse Narratives Initiative and their educational leadership in advancing narrative pedagogy, reflective practice, and professional identity formation within nursing education.The Nurse Narratives Initiative demonstrates what is possible when storytellers, educators, researchers, clinicians, and healthcare leaders work together to create meaningful learning experiences grounded in authentic lived experience.
Each StoryCollab project and collaboration is unique. Depending on a project's goals and scope, StoryCollab may invite individual Faculty Fellows to contribute their expertise in nursing education, curriculum development, research, or clinical practice. Participation is determined individually for each project.
