Tag December 2023

SSC Named Certified Healthy Campus

Josh Hutton
Pictured, Community Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator Zane Winters (left) presents the Certified Healthy Campus award to SSC Wellness Committee Chair Mechell Downey (right) on Dec. 1.

Seminole State College has been recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Health as a Certified Healthy Campus. Community Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator Zane Winters (left) presented the award to SSC Wellness Committee Chair Mechell Downey (right) on Dec. 1.

Certified Healthy Campus was created in 2011 to recognize both public and private post-secondary campuses and career technology centers that promote health and wellness for their faculty, staff, students, and even visitors. Promotion of health and wellness can be done in a variety of ways including passing policies that encourage healthy lifestyles and making facilities available for physical activities.

Newly appointed Seminole State College Nursing Director Dr. Misty Gray (seated center) hosted area nursing professional for a meeting with the college’s nursing faculty last week. Seated left to right are faculty members: Ann Benson, Jessica Shelburne, Gray, Damaila Lester and Miranda Stewart. Advisory Board members (standing left to right) are: Dr. Darcy Duncan, Holly Kirkland, Alma Raegan, Brandi Ray, Ashley Fichtner, Cathy Broome, Molley Delaney, Megan Moore, Christa Williams and Rhonda Dalluge.

SSC Welcomes New Nursing Program Director

Josh Hutton

Seminole State College has named Dr. Misty Gray to the position of Acting Nursing Director. Gray replaces Crystal Bray who is leaving the college to accept a position as the Nursing Education Consultant with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.

Gray has 16 years of experience in home health and hospice, orthopedics, surgery, NICU, nursery, post-partum and emergency nursing. She has also spent seven years as a nursing instructor.

She graduated with her associate degree in nursing from SSC and holds a bachelor’s, a master’s and her doctorate from St. Gregory’s University, Oklahoma Baptist University and Grand Canyon University, respectively.

She also has extensive experience working with state and national accrediting bodies.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Gray at the college and appreciate her willingness to take on this critical role on campus,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said.

During her first week as Director, Gray hosted area nursing and health care professionals serving as an advisory board for the program for a luncheon on campus. Those in attendance

included: Cathy Broome, Shawnee CNO, SSM Health; Holly Kirkland, Hospice Coordinator, SSM Health; Christa Williams, AHEC/Student Coordinator, McAlester Regional Health Center; Megan Moore, Nurse Educator, McAlester Regional Health Center; Dr. Darcy Duncan, Director/Associate Professor, School of Nursing, East Central University; Ashley Fichtner, Director of Partner School Outreach, Gordon Cooper Technology Center; Molly Delaney, Instructor, Wes Watkins Technology Center; Alma Reagan, Emergency Department Director, SSM Health; Brandi Ray, Director of Nursing, Creek Nation Community Hospital in Okemah; and Leah Burns, Education Manager, Bethany Children’s Health Center.

Reynolds said the College was appreciative of Bray’s long-time service as an instructor and recently as director of the program.

“We want to thank Ms. Bray for her tireless efforts to carry this important program out of the dark days of the COVID pandemic and to lead a great team in producing knowledgeable and caring nurses,” President Reynolds said.

Earlier in the fall semester, SSC’s nursing program was awarded a congressionally directed grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration in the amount of $1,050,000. The grant is set to bring transformative changes to the department, focusing on the development and expansion of simulation labs.

Gray previously served as a Simulation Lab Coordinator at East Central University and is certified in Simulation Instruction and Management from Robert Morris University.

“We believe her expertise will be instrumental in utilizing new technologies in the classroom and preparing the next generation of nurses,” President Reynolds said.