NursingABC Faculty and Staff
Dr. Ken Hartman - Executive Director
After graduation in 1960 with a college degree in chemistry, I earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and began a 37 year teaching career at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. In the early 1970's, as a young college professor, a local nursing school asked me to teach high school chemistry to a group of 15 of their non-traditional chemistry-deficient applicants. That request was the beginning of what has now become NursingABC. I am privileged to have been involved with the creation of this program which provides basic education to students who will become some our nation's most critically needed health professionals.
Outside of my love of teaching, I have enjoyed many activities including stained-glass window crafting, sports (especially Steelers games) and more recently gardening. As a grandfather to seven wonderful grandchildren, I now enjoy watching Saturday soccer games, occasionally going to dance recitals, family summer vacations at the ocean and travelling with my wife Dee.
Dee Hartman - Accreditation Coordinator
As I watched Ken teach through the years I always marveled at his willingness to patiently explain difficult concepts to students … in his office, on the phone, at our dining room table. When he began to teach these non-traditional students who wanted to enter nursing school, I felt it was a perfect fit for his gifts. Then as the official organization of “NursingABC” began to develop, I saw where my years of experience as an administrative assistant and office manager could be a help.
Having worked at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, at Beaver County Christian School in Beaver Falls and for several years at Geneva College (most recently as the assistant to the Vice President for Student Development) I was able to be the support staff the organization needed. Currently, I also greatly enjoy 7 young grandchildren and working as our township supervisor.
It has been an incredible blessing to me to see how much these courses have helped students at a time when they most needed to be shown patience and to gain confidence. This curriculum truly has helped so many achieve their goals and realize their dreams and I love being a part of that!
Nate Hartman - Consultant
I graduated from Geneva College in 1995 with a double major in English Education and writing, married my wife, Kara, and we both accepted teaching jobs in Ft. Collins, Colorado. During that time just about every member of each of our families had settled down near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and we decided to move back out East before we began our own family.
While teaching part-time at two local schools, I also received a Master’s Degree from Geneva College in Higher Education. After that time I continued to teach and to serve as an Athletic Director. My lifelong interest in sports as a ministry grew even stronger and my wife and I decided it was time to take the risk of starting our own non-profit, the National Christian School Athletic Association. That was five years ago and the organization is still growing – and so is our family. Kara and I now have three girls and a boy.
At the same time I began to work with NursingABC, using my computer and writing skills when the vision for an online program was emerging. It has been very gratifying to see NursingABC grow and serve so many schools and their applicants.
Steve Michalik - Director of Operations; Instructor
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in both Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from Geneva College and pursued my Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. My interests went outside the scope of traditional engineering, and I spent six years working in new product development in environments ranging from a start-up biotechnology company to a global polymer producer.
My role at NursingABC allows me to continue with the aspects of development that I liked the most – starting with a good product, and finding ways to make it useful and available to more people. A great benefit of working for NursingABC is that I get to interact with people and see the impact that taking these courses can have in the lives of our students.
Outside of working I enjoy spending time with my family, being involved in our church, geeky games like fantasy sports and Nintendo Wii, watching the NFL (Go Steelers!), and attending various forms of auto racing events.
Libby Michalik - Registrar; Instructor
I graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA in 1999 as a Chemistry major. I enjoyed my major, but was not sure that I wanted to spend all my time in a lab. I gave it and try and began to work for an analytical chemistry lab in Pittsburgh. The experience there was positive, but I wanted to have more interaction with people. I moved on to work for a company that placed chemists in lab positions.
When my husband Steve and I had our first child, I decided to stay home with our little boy. Then, when the opportunity to work as a chemistry instructor with NursingABC came along it seemed like a perfect way to use my education and experience while sticking with the goal of being home with our children. I also serve NursingABC as the registrar and have responsibility in the hiring of staff and instructors. My previous experience with the placement agency has served me well in this position.
Elaine Frey - Instructor: Biology, Chemistry, & Help Line
My teaching experience began with high school science courses in Pennsylvania, also in Delaware, where I was on the faculty of an inner city high school which was undergoing court-ordered desegregation. When my husband and I relocated to the Midwest, I taught college math courses at a private university. After finishing graduate school I taught master’s level courses in health care finance and statistics, and then moved to a more challenging position – educating two children at home. My teaching experience includes working with diverse populations, both traditional students and returning adults, and includes a variety of cultural and academic backgrounds. I enjoyed the professional enrichment gained from working with a student group that represented everything from Native Americans to a Malaysian prince, first generation college students and professors’ children. I learned to appreciate and respect a student’s background, and the challenges he or she overcomes to be part of a program.
I am pleased to be part of NursingABC, where I blend my professional interests with my teaching experience, and work with a diverse student population. It seems I have come full circle with NursingABC, where I teach science courses to students who come from a variety of backgrounds, and are entering the health care field.
Kara Hartman - Instructor: Math
I've always wanted to teach, ever since I was a little kid. I love seeing the spark when someone is studying something and they finally get it, or get excited about something they are learning. So after graduating from highschool I pursued a degree in secondary education from Geneva College. I then spent four years teaching at both the junior and senior high levels. When I had my first child I wanted to be able to stay at home, but still be able to do a bit of work on the side. So I spent the next 5 years tutoring students in my home and actually teaching Algebra courses to several students who learned better in a one-on-one setting. As my oldest child came to school age we decided that I would begin homeschooling her which made tutoring schedules a little tougher. It was about this time that the position at NursingABC opened up.
The position allows me to continue to have one-on-one interaction with students but a much more flexible schedule. It has been a perfect fit! Unlike teaching, math has not always been my favorite subject, even though it came easily to me. But the more I've studied it the more amazing it becomes. I've come to view Math as one of the languages that God has given us to explore, discover, and create in this awe-inspiring world that He has placed us in.
Riley Hoselton - Instructor: Biology
After graduating from Geneva College in 1986 I taught science for eight years in private Christian schools. Having a biology degree and a chemistry minor helped me in my first job at Beaver County Christian School where I was hired as the ENTIRE secondary science department! Later my husband, Drew, and I moved to the west coast where I received my Masters degree in Teaching Biology from the University of Washington. In 1995 we moved to upstate New York where I currently home school our two teenage sons.
Dr. Hartman and his wife, Dee, have been my friends since 1983 when Ken taught me organic chemistry at Geneva. Later I enjoyed teaching both of their children at BCCS. Now I get to work with all four of them and consider myself to be blessed to be part of such a great team.
Dr. Stephanie Wilsey - Adjunct Instructor: Psychology
My Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh is in Applied Developmental Psychology. I have taught nursing, education, psychology and various other undergraduate majors in a variety of institutions in the Pittsburgh area. In addition to my work at NursingABC, I am a full-time professor at a liberal arts institution.
I get to enjoy human development from a more personal stance as I watch my young daughter and son grow and learn. In addition to academics, music is an additional passion, and I direct choirs, play piano, and perform vocally in various churches and local Pennsylvania venues.
Our classes are always available. Sign up and begin your classes today!
With this class I could concentrate on the lesson at night once I was settled, or I was able to take it with me as long as I had my laptop.
- From Student Survey
