Signaling a new era in local nursing education, LLCC in partnership with Memorial Health System opened a state-of-the-art facility on Aug. 20 aimed at addressing the regional nursing shortage.
The new Nursing Education Center on the LLCC campus will allow 90 additional students to enroll in LLCC’s nursing program each year, for a total of 215 new nursing students annually.
“We are thrilled to open the doors of this new center with our Memorial Health System partners, just in time for the start of the fall semester,” said Ken Elmore, chair of the LLCC Board of Trustees. “The LLCC/Memorial Health System partnership addresses the need for more students to graduate from our nursing program and live and work in our communities, and aligns with both of our missions, to improve lives and serve our communities.”
“This facility marks a new era as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LLCC nursing program, which has produced nearly 4,000 nursing graduates,” added Dr. Charlotte Warren, president of LLCC. “Our nursing students will have access to the latest technology and equipment in this new center as they prepare for lifesaving and rewarding careers.”
A $6.1 million gift from Memorial Health System allowed LLCC to renovate the west wing of Montgomery Hall for the new center, purchase high-tech simulation equipment and hire additional faculty and staff. The partnership was announced in February of 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Throughout the last 18 months, the public has come to appreciate more than ever the incredible dedication, expertise and heroism of the nursing profession. Unfortunately, our region continues to experience a nursing shortage that has made the last few months incredibly more challenging,” said Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health System. “The formal opening of this new LLCC Nursing Education Center is visible proof of the ongoing collaboration between LLCC and Memorial Health System to address the nursing shortage in this region. This state-of-the-art facility creates expanded learning opportunities for LLCC students and enables LLCC to continue to increase its nursing enrollment over the next few years.”
“Having been a nurse for over 40 years, I am thrilled to see the caliber of this learning environment and the tremendous support it will provide for the next generation of nurses in our region,” said Marsha Prater, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. “Memorial is proud to employ so many LLCC nursing graduates here in Springfield and at our hospitals and clinics across the region. Like the students who are educated here at LLCC, we are deeply committed to meeting the health care needs of the people in the communities we serve. Supporting the future generation of nursing professionals is one way to do that. When we hire these LLCC graduates, we are confident they’ve developed strong knowledge and skills in the fundamentals of nursing, and that they reflect our organization’s values of safety, integrity, quality and stewardship.”
Tracy Madonia is entering her fourth semester of the LLCC Associate Degree Nursing Program.
“I chose LLCC to pursue my nursing degree for several reasons. When I began researching schools and meeting with advisors, LLCC stood out because of their affordable tuition and their impressive statistics, including the success of LLCC students on the NCLEX,” said Madonia. “I was excited to learn that Memorial, a four-time recipient of a Magnet designation, was partnering with LLCC to expand on their already stellar program. This allows more nursing hopefuls the opportunity to pursue their RN and fill a much-needed demand in the field of nursing. LLCC has provided us with the tools and supplies necessary to perfect our nursing skills.”
The Nursing Education Center includes:
- 1,900-square-foot nursing skills lab
- Simulation labs, including a labor/delivery lab
- Practice lab
- Classrooms
- Office space for nursing program staff
A celebration of the new facility and the LLCC nursing program’s 50th anniversary will be scheduled in the future.
Julie Brennan has been an adjunct instructor at LLCC since 2019 and is now our new assistant professor of computer science. She is the owner of J Mank Design and previously worked at SOI Dept. of Innovation and Technology, King Technology Inc. and State Farm. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education/computer science at Butler University and a master’s degree in computer science form University of Illinois Springfield. Julie can be reached at 
Dr. Justin Cobb has joined LLCC as assistant professor of anatomy & physiology. He previously served as an instructor of natural sciences at John Wood Community College, taught at Frank High School and worked as a researcher at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences as well as a Ph.D. in neuroscience from University of Mississippi Medical Center. Justin can be reached at 
Kimberly Conover, instructor of nursing, comes to the college with experience working in multiple units at Passavant Area Hospital, including ICCU, Med-Surg. and PACU. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from MacMurray and her master’s degree in nursing with a nurse educator specialization from Benedictine University.
Marcie Leonard is an alum of LLCC’s ADN program and now an assistant professor of nursing at the college. She completed a bachelor’s degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing with a nurse executive focus and a master’s in business administration from Benedictine University. She is board certified as a nurse executive leader. Marcie recently worked as director of nursing operations for Hope Learning Academy, as a nurse manager in cardiology at Memorial Medical Center and as a critical care/post anesthesia care registered nurse. She also worked as adjunct faculty at Blackburn College and as a nursing tutor at LLCC. Marcie can be reached at 
Derek Matlock is the new air conditioning, refrigeration and heating instructor in LLCC’s Workforce Institute. After 16 years as a cabinet, countertop and furniture maker, he went to night school at Lake Land College to become an HVACR technician. He is a certified HVAC professional with over 12 years of experience in the field. Derek reached the rank of journeyman in Local 317.
Ann Neilson has joined LLCC as an assistant professor of diagnostic medical sonography. She has a master’s degree in health services administration. The past 10 years she has worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur and for a local company providing ultrasound services to the women in Lincoln Correctional Facility. Prior to that, she developed and taught in a hospital-based diagnostic medical sonography program in Jacksonville, Florida. Ann can be reached at 
Dr. David Park, assistant professor of microbiology, comes to LLCC with experience as a faculty member at Ferrum College. He completed his undergraduate work at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a major in molecular and cellular biology, and earned Ph.D. in biophysics and computational biology from Ferrum College.
Travis Rath joins the college as an instructor of nursing. He started out as an LPN and then earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from MacMurray College and graduated from McKendree University with a master’s degree in nursing education. He worked as a school nurse for Chatham Elementary School, and prior to that, worked on a med-surg floor at Memorial Medical Center. He also has nursing experience in longterm care and in a doctor’s office. Travis can be reached at 
Angie Hardesty-Smith is also a new nursing instructor at LLCC. She started her career at Memorial Medical Center in the ICU and has worked at Mason District Hospital in Havana for the last 30 years in a variety of roles — ICU, ED, case management, community health and employee health. She earn an associate degree from Spoon River Community College, an RN through Graham Hospital School Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from SIU-Edwardsville, Springfield Campus. Angie can be reached at 
Deborah Tomko, assistant professor of nursing, is joining LLCC after earning a master’s degree in education. She served many years in nurse anesthesia, providing anesthesia services for all specialties of surgery and obstetrics. Deborah can be reached at 
Daymon Kiliman, academic support specialist for TRIO, has written Chapter 10, “Space and Place,” and the instructors guide in the newly published Kendall Hunt textbook, “Digitally Mediated Composing and You: A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Rhetoric and Writing in an Interconnected World.” The chapter focuses on writing skills development through encouraging critical reflection on the spaces and places we move from, through and within (physically, virtually and socially) and how those spaces impact our goals and strategies for written and multimodal communication.
The annual Convocation to kick off the 2021-22 academic year is being held today, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m. in Cass Gym. Seating will be spaced and masks will be required. There will not be a breakfast this year, but bottled water will be available. If unable to attend in person, Convocation is being livestreamed so that you can still participate (link sent in email from LLCC News).
LLCC’s fall competitive seasons for volleyball, women’s soccer and esports will be kicking off in the next few weeks. Women’s soccer kicks off today at 2 p.m. against East Central College. The first home volleyball game will be on Wednesday, Sept. 15 versus Spoon River College. Come on out and cheer on the Loggers! Entrance to home games is free to students and college employees!