Rate My Professor Susie Watkins

Dr. Susie Watkins, PhD, RN, CNE, CPAHA, is the Associate Dean of Academics and Associate Professor at Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing from Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing. Throughout her career at the institution, she has progressed from Assistant Professor to her current roles, demonstrating a commitment to nursing education and leadership. Dr. Watkins serves as President of the Mennonite Nurses Alumni Organization (MNAO), an official alumni club chartered with the Illinois State University Alumni Association. She has held key positions such as Project Director and Partner Liaison for the CAUSE grant project, which focuses on community health initiatives. Additionally, she is a co-principal investigator on an Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) grant of $133,238 with John R. Blakeman for the project "Pre-entry Readiness Education." Her administrative office is located in Edwards Hall 111N, with contact available at (309) 438-0889.

Dr. Watkins contributes significantly to nursing education innovation, leading the Simulation To Address Rural Telehealth Education Development (STARTED) project in collaboration with OSF HealthCare, aimed at integrating simulation-based telehealth training into nursing curricula to enhance rural healthcare access. She organized decorations featuring historical Mennonite College of Nursing uniforms for related events and oversaw the opening of a new simulation lab expected to be fully operational by late 2024. Her research interests align with clinical education and underserved populations, reflected in peer-reviewed publications. Notable works include co-authorship on "A cross-sectional study of Hispanic and Latina/o/x/e undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in managing patients with acute coronary syndrome" (Heart & Lung, 2024) with John R. Blakeman and others; "Response to a Letter to the Editor: ‘Student satisfaction with high-fidelity simulation’" (Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 54(5), 226-232, 2023) with Patricia Pence; and contributions to Illinois State University Redbird Scholar (4(2), 24-25, 2019) alongside colleagues. She supports community efforts, including volunteering time for student support through rural health funds from CoBank and Compeer Financial, and participates in health screenings at local homeless shelters.