JOIN US FOR THE 19th ANNUAL SENSES SYMPOSIUM!
Pre-Conference: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Conference: Thursday - Friday, October 23 - 24, 2025
Join us for the 19th Annual South Eastern Nurse Educator Symposium (SENSES), held at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville, NC. This event offers educational sessions tailored for nurse educators at every level—whether you teach at the bedside or in the classroom. Explore 20 evidencebased e-posters on display throughout Thursday and Friday, and connect with colleagues from across North Carolina during our networking reception. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with exhibitors showcasing innovative products and services to support your role as an educator. Come expand your teaching strategies and build lasting professional connections at SENSES!
This event is proudly hosted by Southern Regional AHEC in collaboration with Duke AHEC.
Conference Location / Hotel Information
Crowne Plaza Tennis and Golf Resort, One Resort Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
Reservations can be made online click here or by calling (828) 285-2635 or toll free (844) 330-0296.
Reservation Code: “SEN” or group name “19th Annual SENSES” when reserving your room online or by phone.
Pre-Conference Featured Speakers
Katie Neligan, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN
Katie is a registered Nurse with certifications in Clinical Nurse Leadership (CNL) and Progressive Care Nursing (PCCN). She has a passion for teaching nurses and other healthcare professionals of all experience levels. With a background in medical-surgical nursing, surgical-trauma intensive care at a level 1 trauma center, and cardiovascular surgery, Katie brings a vast array of clinical knowledge and expertise to her classes. She has worked in simulation education at MAHEC in Asheville, NC since 2021 and is an adjunct nursing instructor at Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She is currently the Program Director of NeighborCare, a free health care clinic for residents of the Swannanoa Valley.
Tonja Schroder, MSN, RN, CPN
Tonja Schroder is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of clinical experience. She graduated from Gardner Webb University with a Master of Science in Nursing and is a Certified Pediatric Nurse. She served on the Mountain Child Advocacy Center board for 14 years and continues to volunteer through medical missions and other community outreach opportunities. Additionally, she has worked alongside local EMS departments providing medical education training in rural areas of WNC as well as local schools. She was accepted for publication in the Journal for Nurses in Staff Development for developing a Pediatric Resource Nurse Program for Nonpediatric Nurses. She has presented at several conferences including the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation Learning. Since 2012 she has developed and implemented simulation-based education and training programs for healthcare providers, students, and allied health care providers. She joined Mountain Area Health and Education Center (MAHEC) in January 2022 where she serves as the Director of Simulation.
SENSES Featured Speakers
Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN,
Ernest is an Associate Professor and Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Duke University School of Nursing. He is also the immediate past president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the nation’s largest nurse’s organization representing the interests of the nation’s 4.3 million registered nurses. He is the first man to be elected to the office of president of the ANA in its 128 years of existence. A distinguished leader, Dr. Grant is an internationally recognized burn-care and firesafety expert. For the past four years in a row, Dr. Grant has been recognized by Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of 50 Influential Clinical Executives in Healthcare and as one of 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. He has been nationally recognized for his work addressing racism, equity, and inclusion within the nursing profession. Modern Healthcare named him one of the 2023 Top Diversity Leaders. In 2002, President George W. Bush presented Dr. Grant with a Nurse of the Year Award for his work treating burn victims from the World Trade Center site. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Grant holds a BSN degree from NCCU and MSN and PhD degrees from UNCGreensboro.
Lillie A. Hill, MSN, RN, ACUE, BC-HC
Lillie is an accomplished nurse educator and healthcare leader with expertise in academic teaching, curriculum development, and holistic nursing. She holds certification in Effective College Instruction from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and is board certified in holistic nursing (BC-HC). With a strong background in mentoring, student support, and evidence-based practice, Lillie is dedicated to creating inclusive, person-centered learning environments. Her professional experience spans clinical nursing, academic instruction, and promoting wellness through integrative approaches to care. Lillie is passionate about advancing nursing education and fostering the next generation of compassionate, practice-ready nurses.
Mary Holtschneider, MEd, MPA, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, NREMT-P, CPTD
Mary has been a Nursing Professional Development Specialist for over 25 years and has previous roles directing simulation programs in both academic and practice settings. She actively teaches group exercise classes, including Pilates, Yoga, and Barre, and is committed to helping nurses optimize their health and wellness through movement by integrating body, mind, and spirit so that they can bring their best selves to interprofessional learners and teams.
Melissa Godwin Overton, RN, BSN
Melissa is an award-winning educator, speaker, nurse, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in high-stress, community-based healthcare and leadership environments, including 14 years in emergency and critical care nursing. She is the founder and CEO of MedicalTraining.me and Illuminated Training, organizations that provide leadership development and continuing education for healthcare professionals, businesses, and communities. A certified John Maxwell trainer and proud East Carolina University graduate, Melissa blends her clinical expertise with entrepreneurial roots to address burnout, toxic work cultures, and leadership gaps. Her dynamic approach has earned her numerous accolades, including the ATHENA International Leadership Award and Triangle East Chamber’s Small Businessperson of the Year. In 2022, she was selected to redesign and lead the county-wide Leadership Johnston program, impacting leaders across more than a dozen communities. Known for her energy, compassion, and networking talent, Melissa continues to uplift others while staying grounded in family, community, and her love of old-school hip hop.
Teresa Gaston, RN, MSN, DNP, CNE, BC
Teresa is an Associate Nursing Professor at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) with an earned DNP from Duke University. She loves teaching Healthcare Nursing Informatics to online RN to BSN students and has recently revised the 10 course curriculum to align with the new AACN Essentials including AI integration. She is nationally board certified in Nursing Education and Nursing Informatics. Recently she completed the Teaching and Learning Graduate Certificate from UMGC.