LAC Staff

• Smith, Mary Kay, PhD, MSN, RN, CHSE, FSSH

  

  Smith, Mary Kay, PhD, MSN, RN, CHSE, FSSH 

  Director

  mksmith@msu.edu

  Dr. Smith currently serves as the Director of the Learning and Assessment Center (LAC) and Assistant Professor. She holds a doctorate in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education Administration.  Dr. Smith is the current Chair of Accreditation for the International Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), Accreditation Reviewer, Team Leader and member of the SSH Directors’ Committee and IPE Committee.  She is also the Quality Assurance Chair for the American Heart Association Great Lakes Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, member of the Association for Standardized Patient Educators, SimGhost and Sigma Theta Tau International. 

  She has integrated multiple simulation methodologies into healthcare professional learning for 27 years including immersive clinical simulations, computer-assisted instruction, virtual reality, augmented reality and hybrid models. She has disseminated simulation knowledge at statewide, national and international workshops and conferences.

  Dr. Smith has been active in higher adult and lifelong education for many years as an educator.  Her clinical expertise includes 19 years in the Emergency Department, 3 years in ICU/CCU, 10 years in Clinical Education in combination with charge, supervision and management responsibilities in hospital settings
• Dillivan, Carina, RN

  
  

  Dillivan, Carina, RN
  
  Simulation Operations Manager
  
  dilliva3@msu.edu

  Ms. Dillivan serves as Operations Manager at the MSU Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). She is responsible for planning, implementing, managing, supervising, and evaluating simulation activities in the center. She has worked at MSU for 20 years as a healthcare professional. She joined the LAC in 2021 as a Simulations Educator and AHA instructor. Carina completed her bachelor’s in business arts in Business Leadership. Carina has been a nurse since 1995 and is a graduate of Kettering College of Medical Arts. She has clinical experience in cardiology, endocrinology, internal medicine, and infectious disease.

• Dotson, Kathryn, BSN, RN

  

  Dotson, Kathryn, BSN, RN

  Simulation Event and AHA Training Center Coordinator

  kdotson@msu.edu

  Ms. Dotson serves as a Simulation Event and AHA Training Center Coordinator for the MSU Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). She is responsible for the coordination and implementation of simulation events in the center. In addition, Katie provides oversight of the American Heart Association (AHA) training courses in her capacity of Training Center Coordinator. She completed her BSN from Michigan State University and joined the Learning and Assessment Center in 2018. She has been a nurse for 11 years with multiple clinical experiences including Medical-Surgical, OB/GYN, Urgent Care, Public Health, and Pediatrics.

• McGoron, Chelsea, BSN, RN

  

  McGoron, Chelsea, BSN, RN
  
  Healthcare Simulation Educator

  mcgoronc@msu.edu

  Mrs. McGoron serves as a Simulation Educator at the MSU Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). She is responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of simulation events in the center including standardized patient encounters, immersive clinical simulation, off-site in situ simulation, and American Heart Association (AHA) training courses. She has worked at the LAC since 2018 as a healthcare professional and AHA instructor. Chelsea has been a nurse since 2015 and is a graduate of Lansing Community College and Ferris State University. She has clinical experience in cardiology, neonatology, and endoscopy.

• Frost, Ashley, BSN, RN, ONC

  

  Frost, Ashley, BSN, RN, ONC
  
  HEALTHCARE SIMULATION EDUCATOR
  
  samhat@msu.edu

   

  Ms. Frost serves as a Simulation Educator at the MSU Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). She is responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of simulation events in the center including standardized patient encounters, immersive clinical simulation, off-site in situ simulation, and American Heart Association (AHA) training courses. She has worked at the LAC since 2009 as a healthcare professional and AHA instructor. Ashley has been a nurse for 11 years and is a graduate of Lansing Community College and Grand Canyon University. She has clinical experience in Nursing Education, Medical Surgical Orthopedic and Rehabilitation.

• Polentas, Kate, RN, BSN, CPN
  Polentas, Kate
  
  HEALTHCARE SIMULATION EDUCATOR
  
  gaykatie@msu.edu
• Cherry, Michael

  
  
  Cherry, Michael

  Standardized Patient Coordinator

  Cherrym8@msu.edu

  Mr. Cherry serves as the Standardized Patient Coordinator. He is responsible for Coordination and Recruitment of Standardized Patients, Oversees and participates in coordination and scheduling of SPs at the LAC.  He began working at the Center as a Standardized Patient in 2016. He has 5 years of working K-12 education and 21 years of experience in the Connecticut Judicial Department. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Southern Connecticut State University.

• Rulison, Janet

  

  Rulison, Janet

  Simulation Event Coordinator II
  
  rulison@msu.edu

  Mrs. Rulison serves a Simulation Event Assistant.  She is responsible for assisting and fully implementing simulation events, including set up, check in, moulage injuries for training purposes, time sheets, clean up, inventory, and stocking in all areas of the Learning and Assessment Center.  She began working at MSU 16 years ago as a Registered Medical Assistant working in MSU Family Medicine, MSU Breslin Cancer Center, and the MSU Orthospine Clinic.  Previously, she also worked outside of MSU in healthcare bringing her total years of medical assistant experience to a little over 27 years. She completed her education through Ross Medical School here in Lansing, Michigan.

• Werner, Stacey

  Werner, Stacey

  Simulation Event Coordinator
  
  besseyst@msu.edu

• Deyarmond, Kendra

  Deyarmond, Kendra
  
  Office Assistant 
  
  deyarmk@msu.edu

   Ms. Deyarmond serves as the Office Assistant IV at the MSU Learning and Assessment Center, (LAC).  She is responsible for providing administrative support within the department in order to optimize functionality and to maintain overall operations of the unit.  Kendra has been at the university since 2008, and joined the LAC team in 2022.

• Furman, Bryce

  

  Furman, Bryce

  Simulation Technology Specialist

  Furmanb1@msu.edu

  Mr. Furman serves as a Simulations Operation Technologist at the MSU Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). He currently provides expertise related to simulation software integration and implementation, continuous customer support (e.g. students, faculty, staff) in addition to systems administration, hardware/software and network support. He began working at the LAC in 2021, bringing knowledge of simulation technology support he gained while working at Michigan State’s College of Nursing. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Information, where he gained 3 years of experience in desktop support while working as a student Info Tech Assistant. 

• Napier, Mackenzie

  

  Napier, Mackenzie
  

  Simulation Technology Specialist

  napierm1@msu.edu
  
  Ms. Napier serves as a Simulations Operation Technologist at the MSU Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). She currently provides expertise related to simulation software integration and implementation, continuous customer support (e.g. students, faculty, staff) in addition to systems administration, hardware/software and network support. She began working at the LAC in 2022, bringing knowledge of technology support she gained while working at the service desk for Michigan State and Spectrum Health. She graduated from Aquinas College with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Mathematics.

• Babcock, Dan

  Babcock, Dan
  

  Simulation Technology Specialist

  babco157@msu.edu