Faculty and Staff of the Nursing Department | Montgomery College, Maryland

Raquel Bertiz is a full-time faculty of the Nursing Program in Montgomery College. She is a nurse with various clinical experiences in Maternal-Child Health and medical-surgical nursing but her passion education eventually led her to a full time academic life. Raquel earned her BSN and PhD at the University of the Philippines and a Postmaster’s Certificate in Nursing Education at Georgetown University.

As a full time faculty member, Raquel is part of a team teaching Maternal Child Nursing. She is also currently involved in the ADN to BSN Pathway program to facilitate the academic progression of current students in the Associate Degree in Nursing to Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. She is passionate about continuously improving quality of nursing education and had taken interest in simulation as a means to do so. She had learned techniques in debriefing and currently applies it not just in simulation but in classroom settings as well.

Raquel envisions a lot of promise in the future of nursing education and its huge role in the direction of healthcare, and therefore, views today as the right time for nurse educators to position themselves as informed, evidenced-based drivers of nursing education.

Carla Best-Otubu

MSN, University of Phoenix

Email: carla.best-otubu@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5536

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 363

Office Hours: T 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; F 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Biography

Carla Best-Otubu started her career as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Montgomery College (MC) in 2014. Prior to coming to MC, she taught at Prince George’s Community College and Catholic University as an Adjunct Faculty for Psychiatric Nursing. Her clinical background includes Psychiatric Nursing and Maternal Infant Health Nursing, which she teaches at MC. She is a proud graduate of Prince George’s Community College (ADN), Stevenson University (BSN), and University of Phoenix (MSN-Ed). In addition to her teaching responsibilities at MC, she is an advocate and mentor to her students and is involved in various nursing program committees, such as the ADN to BSN Pathway.

Educational Background

ADN, Prince Georges Community College
BSN, Stevenson University
MSN, University of Phoenix

Sabrina Bielefeldt

MS, University of Maryland

Email: sabrina.bielefeldt@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5779

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 340A

Office Hours: W 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.; F 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Educational Background

BSN, University of Virginia
MS, Education, University of Maryland

Arneshuia Bilal

MSN, University of Phoenix

Email: arneshuia.bilal@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5550

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 355

Office Hours: T 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; W 7:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Educational Background

BS Health Care Administration, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
BSN, University of Maryland at Baltimore
MSN, Nursing Education, University of Phoenix

Lena Choudhary

JD, University of Maryland

Email: lena.choudhary@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5674

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 356

Biography

Lena Choudhary has focused her research and professional presentations on Incivility in Nursing, Nursing simulation and experiential learning. She has published articles, presented at various national conferences, and written and designed simulation activities.

Educational Background

BA, Loyola University
BS, Stevenson University
MS, University of Maryland
JD, University of Maryland

Alice Charitable

MSN

Email: alice.charitable@montgomerycollege.edu

Ching-Chuen Feng

Email: ching-chuen.feng@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5533

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 335

Educational Background

Diploma in Nursing, Hungkuang Junior College of Nursing, Taiwan
BSN, Northern Illinois University
MSN, University of Wisconsin-Madison
PhD, The Catholic University of America

Robin Flanary

Email: robin.flanary@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5525

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 331

Tim Fuss

MSN, Case Western Reserve University

Email: timothy.fuss@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5652

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 325C

Educational Background

BSN, University of Maryland Baltimore
MSN, Case Western Reserve University

Kunjamma George

Email: kunjamma.george@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5797

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 367

Lisa Hamilton-Service

Associate Professor

Email: Lisa.hamiltonservice@montegomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5724

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HS 339B

Michele Harrell

Ed.D. Education Leadership, Liberty University

Professor

Email: michele.harrell@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5680

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 353

Biography

Dr. Michele Harrell is a faculty member who believes in student empowerment and that every student can achieve academic success. As a clinician, she is experienced in critical care nursing with a focus on adult and pediatric patients. Dr. Harrell has experience working with the Department of Defense both as a critical care nurse caring for wounded warriors and as a Nurse Specialist in Leadership managing day to day nursing operations at the President's hospital - Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Additional accolades include developing a safe medication administration class for the CNTP (clinical nurse transition program) for newly commissioned military officers stationed at Walter Reed.

Dr. Harrell is dedicated to academic excellence and holds two doctoral level degrees in education: Doctor for Education in Education Leadership, (Ed.D.) and Education Specialist in Education Leadership (Ed.S) and both were achieved with honors and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration (MPA) and a Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a focus on Nursing Education (MSN, Ed.). Dr. Harrell is certified as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) and Critical Care Certified Nurse (CCRN). Most recently Dr. Harrell graduated as a fellow in the Scholarship of Teaching and Excellence at Montgomery College and graduated as a fellow for the Nurse Leadership Institute at University of Maryland.

Dr. Harrell is a transplant from Kenya and prior to migrating to the United States volunteered to help Refugees with the Red Cross Kenya office. In this capacity, she helped impoverished victims of war from Zaire and Ethiopia. Other volunteer work included work with World Vision International as a grassroots speaker against the spread of HIV/AIDs among youth by providing education to spread facts not fear. Dr. Harrell's passions include mentorship of young students by teaching accountability, character development and human resource utilization. Most recently, as a fellow of the Nurse Leadership Institute, University of Maryland, Dr. Harrell presented at the Nurse Education Research Institute 2018: Self – Awareness of Civility Among Nursing Faculty in Creating a Positive Learning Environment.

Educational Background

Ed.D., Doctor of Education, Education Leadership – Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.
Ed.S., Education Specialist, Education Leadership – Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.
MPA, Master of Arts in Public Administration – American University, Washington, D.C.
MSN, Ed., Master of Science in Nursing, Education – Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.
BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.
ADN, Associates Degree of Nursing – Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia.
BSBA, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Financial Systems – Columbia Union College, Takoma Park, Maryland.

Professional Certifications

CNE, Certified Nurse Educator
CCRN, Critical Care Registered Nurse

Carol Holness

DNP, Grand Canyon University

Email: carol.holness@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5538

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 355

Office Hours: M 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; W 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Educational Background

BSN, Columbia Union College
MSN Nursing Education, Washington Adventist University
DNP Nursing, Grand Canyon University

Geetha Kada

PhD, Capella University

Email: geetha.kada@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5658

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 337

Educational Background

BSN, Omayla Achi College of Nursing, India
MA, Public Administration, University of Chennai, India
MSN, Omayla Achi College of Nursing, India
PhD, Nursing, Capella University

Dianna K. Matthews

MSN-Ed, Bowie State University

Email: dianna.matthews@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5552

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 142

Office Hours: M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Send email to confirm/schedule appointment.

Educational Background

BSN, American University
MSN-Ed, Bowie State University

Patience Mbulu

EdD, Higher Education, Walden University

Email: patience.mbulu@montgomerycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-5664

Office Location: Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, HC 336

Office Hours: M 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; W 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; R 11:00 a.m.; F as needed

Biography

I am originally from Nigeria, born and raised in a small village by two very loving parents, who were uneducated and could not read or write. Although they were uneducated, they were determined to ensure that I receive some education. I migrated to the United States immediately after high school. I obtained an Associate's Degree in Nursing from Montgomery College nursing program (2000). Upon passing the NCLEX Exam, I worked for a year as an Oncology nurse with Washington Adventist Hospital. In 2001, the National Institute of Health (NIH) hired me as a Clinical Research Nurse after a successful completion of the Oncology Nurse Fellowship Program. In 2005, I went on to obtain BSN and Masters of Science in 2008 (with focus on Nursing Administration), from the University of Maryland while working at the NIH and raising two children.

My Masters of Science degree was accompanied by two post graduate certificates in the areas of nursing administration and teaching in nursing and health professions. I left the NIH in 2009 to pursue a career in nursing education at Montgomery College. I served as the Course Coordinator for the First Medical-Surgical Nursing 2013-2018. I am the current chair of Student Success Committee in Montgomery College Nursing Program.

I received a doctoral degree in education with focus in higher education and adult learning in July of 2015 from Walden University. My research work was on "Retention in Nursing Programs: Factors Contributing to the Success of English as Second Language Students." The purpose of this research study was to gain insight into the factors that contribute to the academic success of English as second language students like us from other countries in a nursing program. My inspiration to carry out this study was the hope that my research could contribute to the retention of ESL students, and increase the number of minority nurses that will provide care for a diverse population.

From 2015 to 2016, I attended University of Maryland School of Nursing Leadership Institute (NLI), Development Program. I am now a mentoring some of my fellow faculty who are accepted into the NLI program. I completed the National League of Nursing Leadership (LEAD) Program from 2017 to 2018.

I have been featured in several newsletters in both the National Institutes of Health and Montgomery College. I have also been featured in my community newspaper back home in Nigeria as the personality of the week.

I have been a presenter at the 2016 Developmental Education Association of Maryland (DEAM), Spring Conference in Maryland; poster presentation at University of Maryland School of Nursing in August 2016; and at the National Association of Medical Minority Educators (NAMME), September 14, 2016.

The National Institute of Health awarded me the nurse of the year in 2005, and the nurse preceptor of the year in 2008. I have been a guest speaker to foreign students on academic success strategies in a new learning environment, a topic I explored in my doctoral dissertation.

Current Project: Proactive Approach to Student Success (PASS) program is an initiative created out of my doctoral dissertation (https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/590/). PASS Program aims at improving student retention rate in the nursing program. The PASS program begins with a transitional workshop for the incoming first-semester nursing students followed by an independent course. The Holy Cross Health Foundation Grant funded this project for three semesters. Because of the success of PASS, Dr. Davis has decided to incorporate learning strategies from PASS into the first learning activities to benefit all students starting the nursing program.

Educational Background