Faculty Bios

interior impact
Jessyca Maddox

Jessyca Maddox

Jessyca Maddox joined National Park College in 2019 as full-time faculty in the practical nursing program. Jessyca started her nursing career as an RN graduate from National Park College in 2012. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Arkansas Tech University in 2014 and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing Education/Administration (MSN) from The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her nursing career began on a medical-surgical unit, but the majority of her experience has been spent as an oncology nurse. Over the last 7 years, she worked diligently to care for vulnerable patient populations and found a love for mentoring and teaching new nurses. Jessyca believes that delivering nursing care to a person is an honor and teaching future nurses of tomorrow is a blessing. She is excited to apply this principle to her teaching role to help shape the next generation of National Park College nurses. Outside of work, Jessyca enjoys spending time with her husband, Dustin, and two children, Hayden and Olivia. When not on campus or in clinical, you may find Jessyca exploring the beauty of Hot Springs’ lakes, bingeing Netflix, or adding items to her amazon cart!

Karen Parker

Karen Parker

I have lived in Hot Springs most of my life. I graduated from UAMS in 1995 with a BSN degree. I have worked Oncology, Mother/baby, Med/Surg, Home Health, Rehab, and most recently, Clinical Adjunct for NPC. I am now Full-time Clinical Instructor in the ADN program. I love working as a nurse with patients at the bedside, but my real passion is working with student nurses. Nursing has been life changing for me, and I hope to impart my appreciation for this vocation to those who are entering the profession.

Janet Smith

Janet Smith

Janet Smith graduated from National Park Community College in 2008. She has worked in the acute care and intensive care settings. She has also worked as House Supervisor and in the home hospice environment. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Arkansas Tech University in 2011. She started as adjunct clinical instructor for National Park Community College in Spring 2012, and became a fulltime faculty member Fall of 2012. She received her Master’s of Science in Nursing from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in December 2014. She currently continues to work in the intensive care setting and is working on her Doctorate of Education. Middle Content 1 Right Content

Katina Ennis

Katina Ennis

As an adult I became a dislocated worker and was given the opportunity to return to school to learn a new trade. I was a wife and the mother of 2 young children, I was the epitome of a nontraditional student! When I started back to college I was not sure what kind of nursing degree that I would be able to obtain because the amount of school paid for was limited, but I knew I wanted to become a RN. I searched and found other programs that would assist me in obtaining my Associate Degree in Nursing. While taking my prerequisites my husband was informed that we were being transferred to Hot Springs in June of 2000, I had just been accepted to another nursing program close to our home. I was fortunate enough to be able to transfer all my credits and start the RN program at Garland County Community College (now National Park College) the following August. I graduated with my Associates Degree in Nursing in May of 2002. During my time as a RN have I worked in the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital, in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and with a local hospice company. From the time I was a small child I knew I wanted to teach, I just never knew what, that was until I found nursing! I completed my Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) from Walden University in the fall of 2013, I completed my MSN while my kids were in high school, and I did not let it interfere with any of their activities or my family life, I worked on papers on band buses, a cruise ship, and in Disney World on another band trip! I finally made it back “home” and started teaching at National Park College in the Registered Nurse program in the fall of 2014.

Janice Ivers Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences

Janice Ivers

I am the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at National Park College—I graduated a long time ago—let’s just say I have been a nurse for over 36 years and I have loved every minute of it! I received my Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and my Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Central Arkansas and I hold a national certification as a Nurse Educator known as the CNE. Nursing is a blend of science and technology with the art of caring and compassion. There are so many different things you can do as a nurse—the list is really endless! Nursing is an honorable profession and is a career filled with endless personal and professional rewards. If you choose nursing, you are choosing to spend your life helping others, using skills that blend scientific knowledge with compassion and caring. Come visit with me if you are interested in pursuing a career in nursing!

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