Jim Emerson, DNP, RN
- Diploma in Nursing - Danville Regional Medical Center School of Nursing, 2005
- BSN- Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009
- MSN- The University of Virginia- 2011
- DNP- Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2016
Dr. Jim Emerson is the Director of the ADN and LPN programs at Danville Community College. His clinical research specialization included abusive head trauma prevention in infants with an emphasis on increased self-efficacy utilizing various educational methods with new parents and caregivers. Dr. Emerson spent some years as a clinical nurse and charge nurse at UNC-Chapel Hill in a level I pediatric intensive care unit specializing in congenital heart defect repair, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and burn treatment. Dr. Emerson has also served in the U.S. Coast Guard for eight years, being stationed on both coasts of the U.S. and spending some time in Hawaii. Dr. Emerson is a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American Nurses Association (ANA), and Sigma Theta Tau International. He served on the ANA Code of Ethics Revision Advisory Committee for the 2015 edition.
Krystle Forlines, DNP, RN
- BSN- Lynchburg College, 2007
- MSN- Liberty University, 2011
- DNP- Liberty University, 2018
Dr. Krystle Forlines has a background in Med-Surg, palliative care, and hospice. Since she began teaching in 2011, she has taught in a variety of nursing programs including LPN, ADN, RN to BSN, and BSN. The focus of her doctoral scholarly project was increasing RN retention using a mentorship program. She currently resides in South Boston with her husband, four kids, and many dogs.
Alexandria Gauldin, MSN, RN
- BSN - Liberty University, 2016
Alexa Gauldin started her career as an RN at Roanoke Memorial Hospital working Postpartum. From there she has stuck close to her love of pediatrics in different roles at clinics in North Carolina including clinic lead nurse and clinical coordinator. Most recently she has expanded to nursing education while acting as a Health Consultant for Early Childhood Educators throughout North Carolina. Through her experience she has developed a passion for caring for and protecting children as well as educating others to do the same.
Shelby Rigsby, MSN, RN, CNE
- ADN - Danville Community College, 2012
- BSN - Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2016
- MSN - South University, 2024
- CNE - National League of Nursing, 2025
- Post Graduate Certificate - FNP, Estimated completion October 2027
Shelby Rigsby graduated from DCC in 2012 and began her nursing journey at SVMHI as a psychiatric nurse. This area of nursing taught her how to effectively communicate and has helped her with every aspect of life since. After her time there, she became a pediatric nurse. While working as a pediatric nurse, she also accepted a PRN position at SOVAH on 5A. There, she learned all about medical surgical nursing and found her passion for neurological nursing. With her new found passion, she went to work on a Neurological Intermediate Care Unit and cross trained on the Neurological Intensive Care Unit. While working on the Neuro Intermediate Unit, she was approached about becoming a clinical adjunct for Centra College of Nursing. She had always enjoyed precepting new hires and having students on the unit, so she jumped on the opportunity. She became an adjunct clinical instructor for Neuro Intermediate and ICU in January 2018 and then transitioned into a full-time faculty member of the LPN program at Centra College of Nursing in May 2018. She worked there in the LPN program until 2021 when she came to teach in the nursing department at Danville Community College.
Jennifer Bowen, MSN, RN
- BSN - Lynchburg College, 2002
- MSN - Walden University, 2016
Jennifer Bowen worked in Med Surg as a Certified Nursing Assistant and in the Emergency Department as a Technician while in nursing school.
From there, she worked at Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in Labor and Delivery, Newborn Nursery, Postpartum, and in IT as a Clinical Analyst.
Jennifer has also worked as an adjunct LPN and RN Clinical Instructor for Southside Virginia Community College and as an LPN full-time educator at Centra. Mrs. Bowen currently functions as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at DCC. Jennifer lives in Halifax with her husband, son, and three dogs.
Brian Woodson, BSN, RN
- ADN - Danville Community College, 2015
- BSN - Ashworth College 2020
Brian Woodson graduated from Danville Community College in 2015, where he received an award for being the Best Overall Nursing Student. After graduation, he began his nursing career on the Med-Surg floor at Sovah Medical Center. He has also worked in the Emergency Departments at both Centra Gretna Medical Center and Sovah Medical Center. In 2020, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ashworth College. Most recently, Brian worked in the Intensive Care Unit at Sovah Medical Center for several years. He has experience in oncology and vascular access as well. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University. Brian lives in Danville with his wife, Robin, their four sons—Brady, Noah, Isaiah, and Elias—and their dog, Lemmy.
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Karen Oaks, DHPE, FNP-BC, RN
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Diploma in Nursing - Danville Regional Medical Center School of Nursing 1997
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BSN - Old Dominion University, 2000
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MSN - Old Dominion University, 2007
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FNP - Post Certificate- East Tennessee University, 2014
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DHPE - Logan University, 2021
Dr. Oaks began her nursing career as a nursing assistant working in the surgical/trauma ICU and stepdown unit. She has worked in a variety of settings as an RN: Ortho/Neuro, Med Surg, Urology, and Cardiac. She began teaching in 2007, she has taught at a Diploma, BSN, and MSN- FNP program. She has had a variety of roles in nurse education including teaching didactic, clinical, simulation coordinator, and program director (Accelerated BSN and MSN). She specializes in advanced wound care -PRN as an FNP. She has a passion for teaching CPR and bringing awareness to others about the importance of knowing where AEDs are located and how to use the simple technique of Hands-only CPR. She recently has presented at the Virginia State Simulation Alliance 2024 and the Cardiac Arrest Survival Summit 2025. She serves on the board of Compress and Shock as a co-director of Cardiac Arrest Survivor Engagement. She is a member of VASSA, SSIH, VNA, and VCNP.
Robin Crawley
- Administrative Assistant | Nursing Department