Campus: West Palm Beach

Jeanne Colia earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Suffolk Community College and her BSN Degree from SUNY Stony Brook University, Long Island, New York, all while working as a Certified Operating Room Nurse in SUNY Stony Brook Medical Center, a teaching hospital. From the beginning of her nursing career, she knew that she wanted to teach Nursing.

In 1991, she was recruited by St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida to assist in coordinating the operating room with the emergency room to develop the Trauma Center. Following her responsibilities at the Trauma Center, she moved on to develop and teach a Surgical Technology operating room course for the Palm Beach School Board.

During the development of the Surgical Technology program, she pursued a master’s degree in nursing education from Barry University in North Miami, Florida. This master’s degree opened up opportunities for her to teach Nursing in Palm Beach County universities, colleges, and technical schools. She joined HCI College in September 2016 and has been enjoying teaching there ever since.

Nursing instructors and colleagues who combined genuine passion for nursing with caring attitudes significantly influenced her career development as a nurse educator. She emphasizes the importance of forming a team of caring and nurturing faculty members, staff, and administrators who work together to guide the students and mentor new faculty. She often shares the saying “it takes a village” with her students and peers, and she feels a strong sense of camaraderie at HCI College.

She takes great pride in being able to give back to her profession. She finds it especially rewarding when she sees one of her graduates at a hospital or clinic, their faces beaming with pride, and they are always eager to share their stories of their career accomplishments.

Barbara Beal, EdD, MSN, RN, LNHA, CDONA/LTC is originally from the PA/NJ region. She plans on using her expertise to support the student body and faculty to achieve their goals at HCI College.

Dr. Beal has received her AS at Camden County Community College, her BSN at Widener University, her MSN at Wilmington University and her EdD at Wilmington University. Dr. Beal’s EdD also encompasses Innovative and Organizational Leadership.  Dr. Beal has her Nursing Home Administrator’s License and she is a Certified Director of Nursing, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Infection Preventionist.

Dr. Beal is a nurse with 30 years-experience and has served in a variety of roles. Dr. Beal’s executive management experience includes:  Vice President of Operations, Director of Nursing, and Corporate Quality/Compliance Manager.  Her experience in Academia includes 17 years as an Associate/Adjunct/Clinical Coordinator at Wilmington University; with additional experience in clinical and didactic instruction for a NJ LPN program. Other areas of expertise include: Long Term Care/Rehabilitation, Hospice, Home Care, Concierge Care Management, Regulatory Compliance/Quality, Nursing and Administration Consultation, and MCH/Med-surg.

Dr. Beal’s dissertation was about Compassion Fatigue (“The Cost of Caring”) with a focus on the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team. Dr. Beal’s Internship was served in St. Albans, Britain at The Grove House Hospice and Palliative Care Center.

Dr. Beal enjoys recharging at the beach, snorkeling and boating. She also enjoys the performing audio-visual arts and she can be found in many art museums and musical festivals.  Dr. Beal also enjoys international and cross-country travel.  Dr. Beal is excited to be a part of the innovative implementation of concept-based learning and is looking forward to meeting all of the students and faculty.

Elizabeth Young is a fervent, knowledgeable educator with nine years of education experience.  She has served as a higher education Dean for many years and strongly agrees with Nelson Mandela that education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world!   Throughout Elizabeth’s career, she has made it her mission to support staff development and prepare students for employment in their chosen field that serves the community.

Elizabeth’s high expectations of herself and everyone, have been evident in her collaborative teamwork and mentorship.  She strongly believes that everyone can excel, given the right tools.

MICO Teachers College provided the foundation for a lifetime career in education.   She continued her education journey by earning a Bachelor of Science and later, a master’s degree in Higher Education – College Leadership and Administration.  

Elizabeth will continue to positively impact the community as she undertakes the role as Dean of Academic Affairs.  Her role specifically involves supporting the education department in its quests to build careers, foster professional growth, and overall campus effectiveness.

Alecia Dennis has been a member of the HCI Nursing faculty since 2018. She is a Registered Nurse, Administrator and Public Health Educator with a passion for transforming lives through nursing education.

She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and holds a certification as a Public Health Nurse. Prior to her academic career, Alecia held a variety of clinical and administrative roles including surgical nurse, nurse consultant, program director and has presented both nationally and internationally on a variety of topics. 

Alecia is committed to ensuring that her students receive a quality education that not only equips them to function as highly skilled healthcare providers but also prepares them to serve as trusted members of the South Florida community.

Since 2005, Brian Brown’s journey in admissions has been nothing short of extensive. Over the years, he has immersed himself in nearly every facet of the admissions process across institutions of varying sizes. Witnessing students surpass his own expectations fuels his passion. Mr. Brown firmly believes in cultivating a nurturing and collaborative atmosphere, enabling his admissions teams to realize their utmost potential.

Originally hailing from the vibrant city of Chicago and a dedicated Cubs enthusiast, Mr. Brown’s path led him to South Florida, with stops in Indianapolis, Nashville, Shreveport, Augusta, and Pensacola along the way. He currently calls downtown Ft. Lauderdale home, relishing in the hustle and bustle of urban life alongside his wife, Cathy.

Among life’s greatest joys is his 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter, who effortlessly has him wrapped around her little finger. Embarking on this new opportunity fills him with immense enthusiasm and anticipation.

Crystal Fletcher is an Animal Control Officer bringing with her a wealth of experience and exceptional capabilities to her role as the Director of VA at HCI College. With a dedicated career spanning 17 years, she has immersed herself in diverse areas of expertise including animal care, veterinary medicine, humane law enforcement, field laboratory investigations, and both exotic and domestic animal handling, alongside her proficiency in forensics science.

Throughout her journey, Crystal has achieved significant milestones, including the acquisition of certifications such as CVT, ICD, and ACO. These accomplishments were nurtured through comprehensive training at esteemed institutions like Camden County College and Post University. Her professional path has led her through a dynamic range of experiences, collaborating with various municipalities and contributing her skills to organizations like the ASPCA.

Crystal is humbled and privileged to have embarked on this new chapter at HCI College. She considers it an honor to bring her expertise to this institution, and is enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead as she continues to make meaningful contributions to the animal care and veterinary sciences field.

Yvette Evans has worked as a Firefighter Paramedic for the last 18 years and is retiring soon. She enrolled at Walden University as a doctoral candidate in her capstone stage for Healthcare Administration. Yvette holds a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Florida Atlantic University, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management from St. Thomas University, and an Associate of Science Fire Science Technology from Broward College.

The State of Florida certified her as a Firefighter, Paramedic, Fire Safety Inspector, and Fire Instructor Ill. She holds a certificate as an EKG Technician (Broward College) – Six Sigma Green Belt for Healthcare (Florida Atlantic University) – Certified Medical Business Management (Florida Atlantic University) – Teaching Students with Disabilities (Broward School Board) – CAT Ill ESOL Issues & Strategies for Teaching (Broward School Board).

Yvette Evans is a member with Florida Atlantic University Alumni Association – Upsilon Phi Delta Society-Florida Atlantic Chapter – International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO-CLC – Florida Firefighters Union 3080, National Society of Leadership and Success (Walden University) – Golden Key International Honor Society (Walden University) and St. Thomas University Alumni Association. She volunteers with Tamarac Fire Rescue Benevolent Committee and Commission For Independent Education Occupational Specialists.

Yvette recently received a scholarship to study abroad in Sorrento, Italy where she enjoyed working with people, fishing, golfing, and traveling.

Laurie Bernat is the Medical Assisting Program Director at our West Palm Beach campus. Laurie joins us with a plethora of experience. Having been in the Allied Health field for 40 years; as a medical biller, medical assistant, and office manager.

In addition, she has over 20 years’ experience working in career institutes; as an instructor, corporate trainer, and program manager. She was most recently with a large college school group in South Florida. She comes highly recommended as an expert in her field and with a lot of higher education experience.

On a personal note, she is married, with 3 grown children, 3 granddaughters and a grandson on the way, one very large Siberian Husky and two stray cats. She shared that she is very excited to become part of the HCI family!

We are very excited to bring her expertise to HCI College!