Michelle Howard

Ms. Howard received her diploma in nursing from St. John’s School of Nursing, her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Southwest Baptist University in Springfield, MO, and her master’s degree in nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She has 23 years of experience in both adult critical care and pediatrics. In 2005, Michelle discovered her love for nursing education and began teaching in the Practical Nursing Program at OTC.

In 2010, Michelle brought the vision for a healthcare simulation center to the college. Through the Training for Tomorrow Grant, she began designing and creating the current space. Working with the OTC Foundation, monies were secured to complete the Simulation Center which opened in February 2013, and is a valuable resource for the college and community. The center currently hosts over 1500 learners per year.

Michelle is a member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), the National League for Nursing and the Missouri Community College Association.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband, three daughters, two granddaughters, and her dog, Jiffy. Michelle says, “My favorite thing about simulation is hearing the learners talk about how powerful their simulation experience was and how much they learned by going through the scenarios. Simulation is an amazing tool for students to ‘put-it-all-together’ and I am happy to have a role in it!”