In May 2020, members of the Clarkson College Alumni Association voted in the newest members of the Alumni Association Board. The nine members began their terms on June 1, and all are eager to continue building the relationship between alumni of all programs and their alma mater.
Trish Weber, MHA, R.T. (R)(CT)(ARRT), President
Trish earned her Associate’s degree in Radiologic Technology from Clarkson College in 1995 and returned to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Imaging in 2008 as well as a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration in 2011. She has worked in a variety of settings from small clinics to major trauma centers and currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Radiography and Medical Imaging programs.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
My interest in joining the Board was ignited when I became a faculty member in 2006. I have been a part of the Board off and on since then. I recognized the critical feedback loop to the alumni and leadership of the College from serving on the Board. From my experience of serving, I have increased my network of professionals, gleaned wisdom from seasoned health care providers and become an advocate for both alumni and students.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
This year, we have alumni that are serving for the first time on the Board. I am so excited to welcome and learn from them.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
My husband and I just welcomed our first grandson, so all hobbies have stopped, and he is the center of our world!
Kendra Croghan, B.S. R.T. (R)(MR)(CT), Vice President
Kendra graduated from Clarkson College in 2017 with her Associate’s degree in Radiologic Technology and Bachelor’s degree in Medical Imaging. She is currently enrolled in the Clarkson College Health Care Administration program and is working to obtain her Master’s degree by summer 2020. She works as an x-ray, CT and MRI technologist at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I wanted to join the Alumni Association Board because I wanted to assist in making changes to the Association to involve a variety of Clarkson College alumni. It is important to me that alumni can have an organization that helps bring everyone together.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
The thing I look forward to most while serving on the Board is making connections with Clarkson College alumni from every career path and multiple graduation years. I love hearing about everyone’s journeys through health care.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
In any spare time that I get, I enjoy working out, helping on the farm, and of course, hanging out with friends and family.
Carla Dirkschneider, M.S., RHIA, Secretary
Carla earned her Master of Science in Health Care Administration degree from Clarkson College in 2007 and currently serves as the Director of Health Care Business and Health Information Management programs at the College. She is extremely active in the Alumni Association since graduating from the institution and looks forward to continuing her support.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I love being a part of the Clarkson College family. I also like to get involved in activities around the community. Being a part of the Alumni Association Board allows me to do both—stay connected to Clarkson College and stay involved with something outside of work and family.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
I most look forward to connecting with the alumni. This includes networking opportunities, meeting new people, etc. I love to hear people’s stories about where they are in their career and how they achieved those goals.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
My favorite activity is probably spending time with friends and family. I also like to read, spend time at the lake, go on road trips, play card games and am a huge Husker volleyball and football fan.
Jeanette Kassmeier, BSN, RN, Treasurer
Jeanette (JJ) graduated from the diploma program at Bishop Clarkson Memorial School of Nursing in 1972 and returned to Clarkson College and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 1986. She retired after spending more than 40 years at Clarkson Hospital, now Nebraska Medicine, where she served as the Head Nurse and Case Manager for orthopedic, neurology and med-surg patients.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
All during my career, I wanted to mentor students. I did so as a manager by meeting with all the students as they rotated to my nursing unit. I offered to have students shadow me as a manager and as a case manager. Later during one of their rotations, they spent six to eight weeks with me. After I retired, I missed the student connection and hoped I could be of benefit in a different role to improve student education through the Alumni Association.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
When I was in school working toward my nursing career, the College was a School of Nursing and as I learned to appreciate all the disciplines I depended on in caring for my patients, I wanted to be more involved in the beginning. I am really enjoying working with all the disciplines on the Board and how we are collaborating toward improving the students’ education to improve patient care and outcomes and moving the College to the next level. The energy I have seen in the Board members is exciting, and I feel we will have a positive impact for today’s students.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
Since I have retired, I have and live leisure time. I enjoy planning our trips, vacations and winter getaways. Since I retired, we have traveled to Alaska (land and sea) and done a Panama Canal Cruise for 14 days. We are attempting to visit all 50 states, and we have nine left. Last year, we enjoyed a cruise around Scotland, Wales, England, Ireland, and the Netherlands for 14 days. We love our road trips. Besides visiting all the states, we are visiting as many of the National Parks as we can. We have two daughters who live in Texas and Arizona, which are perfect places to visit during our winters and other times also. When we are not traveling, which is more of the norm lately, I am a seasonal decorator. That keeps me busy taking down and putting up decorations in our home. I have also taken up reading for fun and not medical magazines, which has been rather enjoyable.
Sue Leutzinger, MSN, RN, Director
Sue graduated from the Clarkson College Bachelor’s degree in Nursing program in 1989 and returned to complete her Master’s degree in Nursing in 2009. She currently teaches at the College in the Undergraduate Nursing department as an Assistant Professor for first- and second-year students.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I have been on the Board several years now and truly enjoy it. I want to serve on the Board to foster and help make connections and network with everyone. I love to encourage the students to stay connected with their fellow alumni and speak to each graduating class (except this spring), about staying connected. It can be very beneficial in many ways throughout their career. It is also fun to have social gatherings or fun activities planned and see people you have not seen in a while.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
I’m looking forward to increasing our number of members. I would also like to try some new activities, maybe with some young people on the Board that will bring on a new perspective and youth to the group. I also would like to do more for the community and give back.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
My hobbies are all pretty much outdoor type things: camping, hiking, swimming, boating, and I love to bowl. Sewing and crafts are always fun, but it seems I don’t have the time to do those things like I used to.
Angela Felton-Coleman, DNP, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-BC, Director
Angela earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Clarkson College in 2006. Throughout her career, she has worked with med-surg, neurosurgery, neurology, urology and transplant patients while earning her Doctoral degree in Nursing Practice. She currently works as a Nurse Practitioner at Children’s Hospital & Medical Emergency Department and Nebraska Medicine Immediate Care Clinics.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I enjoyed my time at Clarkson College and have always wanted to be able to give back in a substantial way. I believe working with the Alumni Association will provide me the opportunity to give back to the College as well as make a difference in the lives of past, current and potential students.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
At this time, I am most looking forward to learning more about how the Board works and how I can be a productive member.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
Leisure time? What’s that?! My hobbies include traveling, attending plays/ballet/opera, reading, and just being with and enjoying my family (a lot of which I’m unable to do right now, of course, thanks to COVID-19). I am also a lifelong learner, so I’m sure I’ll be back in school at some point, despite attaining my Doctorate!
Stacie Ethington, MSN, RN-BC, Director
Stacie graduated from the Undergraduate Nursing program at Clarkson College in 2009 and from the Graduate Nursing program in 2015. She has worked at Nebraska Medicine for more than 10 years where she served as a staff nurse and unit educator. She currently works as a Medication Safety Nurse Specialist at the institution.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I value the time I spent at Clarkson College and still want to have a tie to the College. I think that participation on the Alumni Association Board will be a good way to do this.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
I’m looking forward to finding ways to network with other graduates. I recently needed to do outreach at a local hospital and encountered one of my fellow BSN graduates. I think it would be helpful to have a way to stay in touch with others, especially working in similar fields, so we can learn from each other and have each other as resources.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
I really enjoy finding new healthy recipes to prepare for my soon-to-be family of five, and we also enjoy staying active outdoors.
Jen Anderson, MHA, RHIA, Director
Jen is a 2010 Clarkson College alumna who earned her Master’s degree in Health Care Administration. She has worked in the Nebraska Methodist Health System for 18 years and currently serves as their Chief Compliance Officer.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I love the opportunity to give back, and I appreciate all the opportunities Clarkson College gave me as a student. I enjoy the opportunity to continue to network with fellow alumni.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
I am looking forward to developing a strategic plan with the Clarkson College Alumni Association Board that leads to future alumni participation growth.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
I am a mom of two young boys and enjoy spending my time with my family and friends and watching my boys participate in many activities.
Nicole Hardin, M.S., R.T. (R)(M)(CIIP), Director
Nicole (Nickki) earned her Associate’s degree in Radiologic Technology and Bachelor’s degree in Medical Imaging from Clarkson College in 1995. She also obtained her Master’s degree in Health Care Services Management in 1997. She currently provides consulting work as a Healthcare Director at the Huron Consulting Group.
What interested you in joining the Alumni Association Board?
I would like to help graduating students and alumni get involved in collaborating and leveraging their common educational background as they build their careers in health care.
What are you most looking forward to while serving on the Board?
I look forward to learning from the alumni, and I look forward to finding out what others have done that is unique in the health care arena.
What types of hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
I like to walk, watch movies and bake!
