Online Student Support Team

DR. SHARON KOPIS

It is often said “It takes a village,” but to support the Liberty University Online Nursing Programs, it takes a dedicated team of professionals committed to the students, faculty, programs, and the mission of Liberty University to Train Champions for Christ Liberty University School of Nursing offers online programs from RN-BSN, master’s, DNP/APRN, and Ph.D. programs. Within these degree programs, there are specialties to support students’ interest and professional goals. Our skilled team of dedicated individuals supports students from admission to advising for practicum and the final scholarly project/dissertation to graduation. They also manage faculty assignments and all aspects of faculty support. Each team member brings unique gifts and talents. Please meet our support team:

Dr. Alex Boggs, Director of Graduate and Doctoral Studies

As Director of Graduate and Doctoral Studies, Dr. Boggs has the opportunity to work with talented students who are writing their final projects — either scholarly project or dissertation — to complete their degrees. Working with such gifted students keeps him in the loop of the latest research trends and where the literature stands for various aspects of clinical nursing and nursing education. He also supports the development of instructional materials for students and faculty mentors to help navigate scholarly projects and dissertations.

Dr. Boggs enjoys the blend of research and instructional design elements, which provide him an opportunity to share his gifts and talents. He is always looking to innovate the classroom and promote strategies for research development and transition of scholarship to practice for doctoral students.

In the Fall 2022 semester, we piloted a Deep Dive Webinar for Ph.D. students, which was a fun and successful experience. We are looking to build on that attempt and keep moving to bigger and better things!

Dr. Boggs was initially drawn to Liberty by Dr. Falwell’s oft-quoted sentiment that “if it’s Christian, it ought to be better.” He agrees with that mantra and strives to achieve excellence in all he does. He is pleased to work alongside both faculty and students to promote the mission and vision of Christ and the university.

Mr. John East, Director of Online Admissions

Mr. East has been with LUSON for 9 years in several capacities. Currently, he is the director of online admissions for the LUSON. While his positions have changed over the years, his excitement for the opportunity to encourage applicants and students with the love of Christ to further their education has not changed.

He enjoys seeing students that he meets at conferences or events walk across the stage at graduation. He appreciates the role each of the students, faculty, and staff have had in his life over the past 9 years, and looks forward to working with them in the future.

Mrs. Nicole Horsch, Online Student Support Coordinator

Mrs. Horsch has been an online student support coordinator with LUSON for just over a year. She has great experience in logistics, ghostwriting, and homeschool educational coaching and consulting. She also has a background in devotional writing and Bible teaching — she has a passion for helping people see how the Lord is at work in their lives.

Mrs. Horsch is currently pursuing a master’s in human services counseling with an emphasis on life coaching at Liberty University. She loves to work closely with students to plan their programs and cherishes the times she is able to pray with and for her students.

Mrs. Horsch’s favorite part about Liberty is the staff and faculty she works with each day because she sees their love for the Lord and passion to share Him with their students.

Mrs. Joanne Jones, Practicum and Clinical Coordinator

Mrs. Jones works as a practicum and clinical coordinator for doctoral programs. She has worked for Liberty University for two years and graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University. While working for LUSON, Mrs. Jones has enjoyed being able to communicate with students and assist them in any way for their practicums and believes it is truly a blessing to see how God can bless each and every one of them.

Mrs. Jennifer Jones, Preceptor Coordinator

Mrs. Jones has served Liberty University in couple positions, most recently as a preceptor coordinator. She works to find new practicum sites and preceptors, including physicians, family nurse practitioners, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. She reviews sites and preceptor qualifications against program and accreditation requirements for student placement. The student’s state, location, and preferences are all considered as she strives to find the best fit for the students. Students can also submit potential sites/preceptors, and these opportunities are also reviewed for approval.

Mrs. Jones is much appreciated as she supports the team.

Mrs. Shirley Lee, Director of Clinical Operations

As the Director of Clinical Operations, Mrs. Lee oversees the execution and operations of the InPlace Clinical Placement software. She collaborates with clinical partners to secure clinical space and practicum placements for our students.

Mrs. Lee enjoys the challenge of organizing and allocating our students to their clinical placements and working with the team at LUSON. She gets to know students and encourages them in their schoolwork and clinicals. She also loves seeing their excitement as they grow clinically into “top notch” registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Mrs. Jenny Luttrell, Director of Compliance and Accreditation

Mrs. Luttrell is our director of compliance and accreditation for Liberty University School of Nursing. She works with state approvals across the country to ensure curriculum requirements for licensure are met in each state. She also works to receive the necessary approvals for our students to complete their practicum experiences in those states and works with our accrediting bodies on program reporting.

Mrs. Luttrell supports the program serving as a liaison with our Contracts Team in securing affiliation agreements with new entities to allow our students to complete future practicums in those locations. She also currently assists our MSN and Post-MSN DNP students in finalizing their practicum plans to prepare for practicum course registration. She loves the opportunity to work with our students to help them finalize their placements and resolve practicum issues.

Mrs. Luttrell is married to Roger and has four grown children, two of whom currently attend Liberty University.

Ms. Wendy Phillips, Preceptor Coordinator

Ms. Phillips serves Liberty University as a preceptor coordinator. She works alongside Mrs. Jones to find new practicum sites and preceptors including physicians, family nurse practitioners, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. She also reviews sites and preceptor qualifications against program and accreditation requirements for student placement and works with processing preceptor stipends and certificates documenting preceptor hours, if requested.

Ms. Phillips always has a smile and is a joy to work with. She enjoys a good hockey game at Liberty University.

Ms. Josey Walton, Practicum and Clinical Coordinator

Ms. Walton recently joined the team as a practicum coordinator. She helps students ensure they are compliant and ready to start their practicum and works with the preceptor coordinators to assist students through the process of practicum placements. She finds great pleasure in meeting, working, and collaborating with her new team, co-workers, and students.

So far, she reports she has had “the best experience getting settled in here,” and is looking forward to her future with Liberty University and the community that surrounds it. She hopes to eventually become an alumna of the university’s Master of Social Work program.

Mrs. Cynthia Wright, Faculty Support Coordinator

Mrs. Cynthia Wright serves as a faculty support coordinator for online programs. She has served at Liberty University for nine years and currently works primarily with faculty in the online programs. Mrs. Wright maintains faculty files, supports scheduling faculty and course assignments, performs student support services, and works as a LUSON webmaster.

Mrs. Wright followed God’s plan for her life and joined the LUSON team. She enjoys the Christian environment and learning about others through their stories. Mrs. Wright prays for and enjoys her interactions with others. She consistently uses the skills developed through her degree in psychology (clinical/ministerial counseling) to engage with people as an encourager.

She is married and has three sons, a daughter-in-law, two cats, and a dog. She enjoys knitting by the fireplace with a good Hallmark movie. One of her favorite verses is 1 Chronicles 29:11-12.