Staff
Office of Nursing Workforce Staff
Wanda Jones, RN, MS – Executive Director
Wanda is responsible for the overall operations of ONW with major objectives of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating Mississippi nursing workforce data; implementing a strategic plan to diminish “Barriers to Completing Nursing Education”; implementing a high school nurse mentorship program; development and marketing of an organizational climate assessment survey; and, promotion and facilitation of academic/service partnerships. She has delivered numerous presentations on the research, data, and projects of ONW. In addition to consulting, Wanda’s career includes both academic and service in the southeast, holding positions of Assistant Vice President, and Director in hospitals, and administrator of home health agencies and hospices. She has taught nursing administration and community health nursing and is a certified facilitator of the Greatest Salesman, Inc. Success Training. Her research interests include leadership training and development, teambuilding, and workplace culture. Wanda holds a BSN from William Carey College, and a MSN from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a current member of American Organization of Nurse Executives, Mississippi Organization of Nurse Executives, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Mississippi Nurses Association, and American Nurses Association. She also serves on numerous boards and committees.
Debbie Logan, RN, BSN, MHA - Healthcare Workforce Specialist
Debbie has over 25 years experience in nursing with 14 years of healthcare administrative experience, holding positions of Administrative Director of Patient Care and Nursing Director in central Mississippi. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's in Health Care Administration from Mississippi College.
LaNelle Weems, MSN, RNC - Healthcare Workforce Specialist
LaNelle has over 20 years experience in nursing with 13 years of healthcare administrative experience, holding positions of Vice President of Patient Care Services and Nurse Manager in central Mississippi. Her research interests include leadership, healthcare career promotion and retention. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's in Executive Nursing from the University of Mississippi.
Rosalyn Howard, M.Ed. - Healthcare Workforce Specialist
Rosalyn’s career includes nine years of education, counseling and healthcare workforce recruiting. Over the last three years, she has worked as a Health Careers Recruiter; this position afforded her the opportunity to provide awareness, educational counseling and scholarship information for nursing and allied health careers to students within the state of Mississippi. She received her Bachelors of Science in Education and a Masters of Science in Guidance and Counseling from Alcorn State University.
Dawn Ard, BS – Project Manager
Dawn joined the office in October 2002. Prior to joining ONW, Dawn was the office manager at the North Mississippi Medical Center – Cancer Center in Tupelo, MS. Before moving to Tupelo, she was employed at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi in the Medicare, Financial Investigations and Internal Auditing departments for twelve years. She graduated from Belhaven College with a Bachleor of Science in Business Administration.