Neysa Stacey, MSN, RN, LNHA, is no stranger to Siena Heights University (SHU). Therefore, it is only fitting that her first year as an instructor takes place at the same location where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. However, Stacey’s story extends far beyond the “traditional” idea of college education and serves as a true testament to the accessibility and community that takes place within Siena Heights University.

At eight years old, Neysa Stacey moved from Michigan to Colorado, and then to Utah. She left behind her grandmother but made the promise to one day return to Michigan to help take care of her. At eighteen years old, Stacey enrolled in a Utah state college. She was there for two weeks before she dropped out, discouraged by the lack of engagement presented to her by both her professors and peers. She took up work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and then went on to receive her associate degree from Jackson Community College. After becoming a registered nurse (RN), Stacey decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She found a program that did not fit her needs as a learner and did not finish that degree through that institution. However, her passion was still for nursing, and so she continued to seek out nursing programs. During this search, she found Siena Heights University.

Stacey received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SHU and was amazed at the attentiveness and engagement of her instructors. She would frequently receive check-in calls from her professors that were concerned about both her personal and academic affairs. When she walked across the stage at graduation, Stacey fully intended on receiving her Master’s in Nursing from Michigan State University. However, she was alluded to the possibility of Siena offering a master’s program and decided to take a leap of faith as the first cohort of the new program.

Throughout the duration of her professional life, Stacey has served as a Director of Nursing, Nursing Home Administrator, and Corporate Consultant. Of these roles, Stacey notes: “I’ve done a lot of different things, and it always comes back to teaching.” Her passion lies with not just healthcare but specifically teaching people how to be great leaders in healthcare—even if the roles are not entirely authoritative. These interpersonal skills were a critical part of Siena Heights nursing program, and Stacey found that throughout the duration of her degrees that she was able to take and apply the lessons in class to her current job roles.

Following the completion of her master’s on the heels of a global pandemic, Stacey is stepping into her first year of teaching at Siena Heights University. She feels well-prepared for the new journey because of her practicum, which allowed her to gain hands-on teaching experience. Additionally, Stacey has worked as a clinical lab instructor for SHU, including a simulation lab. She is excited to teach her students with the same themes that she was taught; that is, focusing on all the holistic components that go into nursing in a way that is more than just checking boxes and completing tasks.

When asked about what the Siena Heights University Nursing program has to offer, Neysa Stacey said: “To be the nurse that other people look to, you need to come to Siena.”