JBU Names Dr. Ellen Odell Director of Nursing
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (December 23, 2013) - John Brown University has named veteran nursing educator Dr. Ellen Odell as director of JBU’s new nursing program. Dr. Odell will be initially responsible for developing curriculum and recruiting instructors for the university’s nursing program, which will begin admitting pre-nursing students Fall 2014.
Dr. Odell has nearly three decades of clinical experience and 15 years of experience as a nurse educator. Most recently, Dr. Odell taught nursing at the University of Arkansas, and previously was director of the Har-Ber School of Nursing. Dr. Odell and her husband Dan live in Springdale. They have three daughters.
“Dr. Odell has the Christian commitment, administrative and teaching experience, and entrepreneurial spirit required to launch JBU’s nursing program,” said Dr. Chip Pollard, JBU president. “I am pleased to have Dr. Odell leading our nursing effort because I know that she will help us educate quality nurses who will serve others for the glory of God.”
“John Brown University’s head, heart and hand philosophy of education is a great platform for nursing education,” said Dr. Odell. “The profession of nursing is a true fusion of the academic, vocational and spiritual — nurses need all three to holistically care for patients.”
JBU announced in September that it had begun steps towards creating a nursing program after receiving unanimous prerequisite approval from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing in Little Rock. JBU’s nursing program will offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
The prerequisite approval is the first step in a three-step approval process for new nursing programs. Board approval allows JBU to advertise the nursing program and begin recruiting pre-nursing students for the Fall 2014 semester.
In October, JBU announced a $6 million lead gift for a new nursing education facility and endowment for JBU’s new nursing program. The gift is part of the approximately $10 million amount that will be raised to launch the nursing program, including $6 million in construction costs and $4 million to endow operations and facility maintenance.
For more information on JBU’s nursing program, visit JBU.edu/nursing.
John Brown University is a private Christian university, ranked No. 2 overall and No. 1 Best Value among Southern regional colleges by U.S. News and World Report. JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 42 states and 44 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, degree completion and concurrent education programs. JBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
