She [Tracie] walked me through every step. Every time I felt like maybe I’m not good enough, maybe I don’t think I’ve got what it takes … she made me feel that if you want to do this, you can do this.”

It is a great program. The faculty are awesome. They are very supportive, they are very positive, just a good group of people that genuinely seem to care about the students.

You're not just a name, you're not just a number. There's a reason you're accepted, and there's a reason you choose the school.

The one thing I found very helpful about Spring Arbor University was how easy it was to attend the program. I went through the program with the same group of women all the way, and it was just a really great experience. Each class just followed the next so you were automatically enrolled as you progressed through the program. I found that very helpful. And I felt like I had all the resources available to me.”

In nursing, it is important to have a strong faith background. Faith gives patients peace of mind. Also, after a bad day, it helps to know that there is a higher power taking care of the patient and the family; knowing that God is there helps me leave some stuff at work.”

Dr. Dawn Day earned her Doctor of Higher Education and Adult Learning degree in May of 2014. With experience as a nursing professor for over 10 years, Dr. Day has taught in traditional and online programs at the Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master’s degree levels. She began teaching for Spring Arbor University in 2012 as an adjunct faculty in the Master of Science in Nursing program and now serves as the Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Dr. Day’s clinical background and interests in nursing include labor and delivery, mother/baby, psychiatric nursing, and community/global health. Her passion in education lies in curriculum development, student-centered focus, and effective collaboration in the online learning environment. Dr. Day is a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing (NLN) and holds a certificate as an online educator through the University of Wisconsin. She is a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the National League for Nursing (NLN). Dr. Day’s areas of research include postpartum patient education and engaging online learning environments. She has participated as a content reviewer for Pearson publications, and has presented for the SACS project selection committee, CIP, Grow Nurses- Emerging Trends, and AWHONN.

A native of Michigan, Dr. Day now lives in North Carolina with her husband. She has two children, an incredible son- and daughter-in-law, and three grandsons who completely own her heart! In her spare time she enjoys camping, hiking, reading, writing, and volunteering at her local church. Above all, Dr. Day is in love with Jesus Christ and seeks to give Him all glory through everything she does.

"I love the nursing profession and I love teaching in adult education. I believe that it is my responsibility to facilitate learning opportunities, but that we all bring amazing life experiences to the classroom that allow us to learn from one another. What an honor it is to give God all glory through our simple day-to-day encounters.

It's a program that's actually doable for full-time working moms ... There was A LOT of support from fellow students and faculty. I definitely used what I learned throughout the whole program. It made me more confident in my current role, and going into my new role as a provider.

From the recruitment to the admission, to really starting your classes, there was someone with you every step of the way.

I chose Spring Arbor University because it's got a great tradition and it's got a great reputation, not only here in Michigan, but throughout the United States and around the world. Its graduates have excelled, and they’re soaring, and they’re performing. The value of the MSN program online for me was that I didn't have to go on campus many times during the week and leave my work. I have the flexibility of doing my work and my projects around a schedule that fits my needs.

If I could say something to anyone who is even thinking about going to Spring Arbor, this is the place to be, because if I can do it, anyone can. And I firmly believe that. I’m an average Joe, and if you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”