Missouri Baptist University is filled with faculty who believe our students have the potential to change the world for the better. Meet some of the MBU Online faculty that will challenge you to realize your potential and clarify your path in life—online. This post introuduces Dr. Amber Pyatt, DNP, RN, our Founding Dean of Nursing, Associate Professor of Nursing.
1) How can an online degree be helpful to a student?
A MBU Online degree allows working adults to obtain an education while juggling the everyday stressors of work and family. Many times it is difficult to attend class face-to-face. Those who may not have had the opportunity to attend college traditionally after high school could achieve a dream of walking across the stage and receiving a diploma.
2) How do you develop relationships with your online students? How do you promote students to build relationships with each other?
Relationships with online students can be fostered through active learning and engaging teaching methods. Having students in the class introduce themselves with a video versus a discussion post is one way to put a face to a name. Using online video conferencing such as Zoom allows for all students to have live discussions and interact with each other like in a face-to-face classroom. Students will be able to interact with each other through group projects and online discussion forums.
3) How do you foster learning in online courses?
Learning in an online environment takes place in different formats. MBU Online students can expect to experience learning through discussion forums, papers, presentations, case studies, live discussions with peers, videos and podcasts. There may be other available ways to interact with students and to foster learning depending on the class.
4) Why do you teach online?
I teach online because I know how important it is to have flexibility in educational offerings. I obtained my masters and doctoral degree online. With a job and a family, I knew it was the only way that I would be able to complete the degrees. It brings me joy to see other students achieving their dreams! I love being able to be a mentor to nurses who are wanting to continue their education. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to share my knowledge and learn alongside the students that I teach.
Amber Pyatt, DNP, RN
Founding Dean of Nursing, Associate Professor of Nursing
Dr. Amber Pyatt is the founding dean of MBU’s nursing program and an associate professor of nursing. Pyatt is graduate of SEMO (‘06), Newman University (‘10), University of Cincinnati (‘14) and American Sentinel University (‘16) where she earned her DNP. She is a licensed RN in Kansas, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and Illinois. Pyatt was the Director of Nursing at Southwestern College from 2014 until coming to MBU. She also taught at Chamberlain College of Nursing and Davenport University. Pyatt earned the Award for Academic Excellence at American Sentinel University. She is a Scholar of the Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy that is administered by Sigma Theta Tau International and funded by the Elsevier Foundation as well as a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, National League for Nursing, Graduate Student Nurses Association and the Kansas Organization of Nursing Leaders.
Our nursing program includes a BSN (pre-licensure) and RN-BSN (online) degrees.
