 Kristin Possehl, RN, MSN, MED, BSNNursing Program Director
605.367.4753
Kristin began teaching at Southeast Tech in April, 2001, when she was hired as the LPN Program Director. Since that time, she has led the nursing program through tremendous growth, the addition of the LPN to RN AAS degree, and national accreditation for the RN program. Kristin’s job now is administering the program and supervising the large nursing staff. Kristin was appointed to the SD Board of Nursing in 2010, and currently serves as president. Prior to working at Southeast Tech, she taught high school courses in Brookings, for students interested in health careers. She has also worked as an RN in school nursing, pediatrics, and pediatric oncology. Kristin received a MSN from University of Phoenix, a MEd from South Dakota State University, and a BSN from Vanderbilt University.
She lives in Brookings and enjoys flower gardening, quilting and other crafts and spending time with family.
Education: RN, MSN, University of Phoenix; MEd, South Dakota State University; BSN, Vanderbilt University
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 Elise Derry, RN, BAN
Instructor
605.367.4730
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Elise Derry began teaching at Southeast Tech in fall 2013. Elise has a Bachelor’s Degree in the Art of Nursing from Augustana College. She is a Registered Nurse and has Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
She has gained experience in the field having: worked in Pediatrics/Neonatal Intensive Care, Clinical Float Pool, Urogynecology Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Elise continues to work in industry on an as needed bases at Dermatology, Obstetrics and Urogynecology Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.
Elise has always had a passion for teaching, and finds being with students in the nursing field is the best of both worlds. She believes that any student can achieve if they put in the time and effort. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr. Suess
Education: RN, BAN, Augustana College
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 Amanda Dvanajscak, RN, MSN, MHA
Instructor
605.367.5871
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Amanda graduated from South Dakota State University with her Bachelors in the Science of Nursing and a Minor in Health Science in 2010. She graduated from University of Phoenix in 2013 with a Masters in Nursing and a Masters in Health Administration. In 2014 she completed a post-masters certification in nursing education, also through the University of Phoenix.
Amanda is a registered nurse with a background in cardio-pulmonary and hospice care. She has a passion for caring for patients in the end of life and continues to work as a hospice nurse outside of being an instructor for Southeast Tech. In regards to her teaching philosophy, Amanda believes in challenging and encouraging students to be successful by taking an active part in their learning. She enjoys watching the transition of students throughout their time in the nursing program. She finds it to be so rewarding to watch students evolve and become successful and confident nurses.
Education: RN, MSN, University of Phoenix, MHA, University of Phoenix, BSN, South Dakota State University
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 Dustin Pepper, RN, BSN
Instructor
605.367.5686
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Dustin began teaching at Southeast Tech in 2010.
He has certifications in American Heart Association CPR instructor, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and a postsecondary instructor credential. He currently serves as the president of the safety committee at Southeast Tech, mentors newly hired nursing staff, coordinates online curriculum, and works as a nursing student advisor.
Accruing extensive industry training working in three different large health systems in two states Dustin says, “By working in multiple health systems I have learned so much from both peers in nursing and physicians. The hospitals provided great additional training and evidenced based practice that I reference often during lectures/clinical so students stay up to date with the ever-changing health care industry.” He started his career working in cardiology/telemetry and step down units, and then moved to the Intensive Care Unit and considers medical surgical nursing his specialty.
“I really love teaching, especially interacting with students. I believe all students can be successful and consider my role as facilitating student learning. I use examples from my experience to aid students understanding of the nursing profession.”
Education: RN, BSN, South Dakota State University
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 Jeanette Saugstad, RN, BAN
Instructor
605.367.5693
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Mrs. Jeanette Saugstad has been teaching at Southeast Tech since 2004. She brings a wide range of various clinical experience to the academic world. Mrs. Saugstad has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
Mrs. Saugstad’s teaching philosophy focuses on the individuality in learning and she has had the opportunity to meet and teach many great students. “I am honored to teach future nurses who can make a difference in our health care system.” “Being a nurse is an exciting career.”
Education: RN, BAN, Augustana College
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 Britney Mower, RN
Instructor
605.367.5552
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Britney began teaching with the Southeast Tech Nursing Department in 2014. She is an alumna of the Southeast Tech LPN program and holds an Associate Degree in Nursing from Western Iowa Tech.
Britney has experience as a Registered Nurse in Critical Care, Women’s Health/Postpartum and Pediatric Nursing. Her teaching philosophy encompasses “a measure of success in teaching is how effectively an instructor prepares the students for professional nursing practice.” She enjoys incorporating her industry experience with hands on learning in the lab and clinical settings. She states “witnessing each student progress from a novice nursing student to obtaining a professional career as a Licensed Practical Nurse is very rewarding.”
Britney lives in Lennox with her husband and children. She enjoys camping, reading, watching sports and spending time with family.
Education: BSN, University of Texas, RN, ASN, Western Iowa Tech, LPN, Southeast Tech
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 Sarah Lang, RN
Instructor, TAACCCT Grant
605.367.7676
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Sarah Lang is an LPN instructor for the TAACCCT Grant, rural healthcare initiative and has been with the program since October 2014. She has worked for five years in the obstetrics and gynecology clinical setting, along with two years in family practice clinical setting. Sarah also ran the All Women Count program in both clinical settings. She states that, “I really enjoy watching the students learn and succeed. I believe that everyone can succeed with hard work and perseverance.”Sarah’s interests are reading, gardening and spending time with her family.
Education: RN, AA Southeast Tech; LPN, Southeast Tech; AAS Temple College
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 Michelle Osborn, BSN
Instructor
605.367.5795
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Michelle has nine years of nursing experience and previously worked in Pediatrics, Acute Care and Family Medicine. She has worked the last three years teaching health core coursework at Southeast Tech. This included lab assisting in the CNA program and teaching lecture/lab for Anatomy and Physiology.
Michelle has a passion for education and is excited to have the opportunity to share her nursing knowledge and have an impact on a student’s nursing education.
Education: BSN, Presentation College; AS, Presentation College; LPN Diploma, Southeast Tech
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 Colette Schwartz, BSN
Instructor 605.367.5710
Colette has 14 years of nursing experience. She started out her career in MedSurg trama then in orthopedics and lastly in labor and delivery/high-risk antepartum as a maternal flight nurse. Colette has been teaching students for the past six years as a clinical adjunct instructor for Southeast Tech. Prior to that, she taught clinical adjunct for the Registered Nurse program in Vermillion, SD. Colette believes that learning is a life-long process and she enjoys helping students succeed. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from the University of South Dakota in 2004. Colette completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2017 also from the University of South Dakota. Colette will be assisting with the LPN nursing program.
Education: BSN, University of South Dakota; ADN, University of South Dakota
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 Bernadette Willuweit, LPN
Lab Specialist
605.367.4713
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Bernadette Willuweit is a Licensed Practical Nurse who is currently the Nursing Lab Specialist for Southeast Tech Nursing Program. She specializes with the “hands on” skills needed to work in the field of Nursing. She has worked with Southeast Tech Nursing students for more than seven years in a full-time position as well as 25 years of nursing experience in the clinic and hospital industries.
Bernadette is a certified CPR/First Aid Instructor,
has been active with the South Dakota LPN Association and is also the founding and active member of the Southeast Tech LPN Student Nurse Association. She is a member of the Sanford CPR Instructor network.
Education: AAS, Southeast Tech
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 Katie Farrell
Nursing Program Secretary
605.367.5728
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Katie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Health Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014, and has worked in health care since 2011. She has worked in Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, and as a yoga and Pilates instructor. She strives to make the lives of nursing students a little easier, and supports the students and faculty of the Southeast Tech Nursing Program in any way she can.
Katie lives in Sioux Falls and enjoys traveling, coffee, and camping and hiking with her family.
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