Deborah Wittig-Wells, PhD, RN
Curriculum
Vitae
Gardner-Webb University
Professor of Sociology
Social Science Department
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
Chapel 105
(704) 406-3915
dwittig@gardner-webb.edu
EDUCATION
1998 Ph.D. Mississippi State University, Mississippi
State, Mississippi.
Dissertation Title: “Transitions in the Life Course and Gender Role Ideology:
Stability and Change from Adolescence to Adulthood.”
2004 M.S.N.
Gardner-Webb University,
Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
Thesis Title: "Lived Experience of Hope for Individuals who Endured
Childhood Sexual
Abuse."
1995 M.S.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi
State, Mississippi.
Thesis Title “Gender and the Journey-To-Work: Commuting Behavior and Reward Systems
in the American Work Place.”
1993 B.S.
University of North Alabama,
Florence, Alabama.
Majors: Sociology and Psychology (Summa Cum Laude)
1983 A.D.N. Northwest Junior College, Phil Campbell, Alabama. Major:
Nursing
SUBSTANTIVE AREAS OF STUDY AND EXPERTISE
Sociology of the Family: cultural issues facing
family formation, history of family structure, developmental stages and
interactions, gender issues, aging in the family.
Stratification: process of socioeconomic achievement and social organization
involving racial/ethnic and gender stratification as cultural constructs
Social Psychology: social structure and personality, attitudes and behavior
Gender Inequality: gender as a process and consequences for females in family
formation and inequitable distribution of goods and services
RECENT POSITIONS
Title: Associate Professor of
Sociology,
Gardner-Webb University (2000-present)
Courses Taught Introduction to Sociology, Social Psychology, Sociology of
Deviance, Sociology of Gender, Social Change and Sociological Theory
Title: Coordinator of Research and
Continuing Nursing Education,
South Dakota State
University (1998-2001)
Developed and promoted research activities within the College of Nursing.
Mentored faculty in the process of seeking supplemental resources from
organizations for health-related programming and served as an advocate for the
provision of culturally sensitive curriculum.
Title Research Associate– Social Science
Research Center, Mississippi
State University
(1997-1998)
Projects:
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Education Matrix
• Evaluation of NASA’s Tri-State Education Initiative
• Spatial Information Technology Demands Survey
Title Research Assistant–
Social Science Research Center, Mississippi
State University
(1993-1997) under the direction of James Landrum.
• Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program: Mississippi Seat Belt and Motorcycle
Helmet Survey for Division of Public Safety Planning Office (annually for 3
years).
• Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program: Mississippi Child Restraint for
Division of Public safety Planning Office (annually for 3 years).
My contributions included, but were not limited to, data collection and
processing, file manipulation, statistical analysis and interpretation of the
results
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Title: Registered Nurse
1991-1993: Obstetrics and Pediatrics staff nurse performing maternal and child
care, and Psychiatric Nursing, Eliza Coffee Memorial
Hospital, Florence Alabama.
Director of Nurses
1988-1990: In-Service Educator and Staffing Coordinator. Adult
Education for State Training Program, West
Morgan Health
Care Center,
Decatur, Alabama.
Intensive and Cardiac Care Charge Nurse
1983-1987: Charge Nurse ICU/CCU, Relief Supervisor, Emergency Room; hemodynamic Support Team,
Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, Florence, Northwest Regional Hospital, Russellvile, Al
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES/ HONORS
Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology Honor Society)
Secretary 1995-96
Delta Tau Kappa (International Sociology Honor
Society)
Phi Kappa Phi (Interdisciplinary Honor Society)
Sigma Xi (ResearchSociety)
Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing Honor Society American
Sociological Association
Midwest Sociological Society
North Carolina Sociological Association
Transcultural Nursing Society
Gerontological Society of America
American Nurses’ Association
South Dakota’s Nurses’ Association
Council for Professional Nursing Education and Development
Chair of the Northeast District of the South Dakota’s
Nurses’ Association 1999-2001
Sigma Xi Graduate Student Research Award by the Mississippi State Chapter 1997
Mississippi State University Women’s Club Scholarship
1995
Mississippi State Faculty and Professional Women’s
Club Scholarship 1994
FUNDED GRANTS AND PENDING PROPOSALS
Native American Elders Health Care Series II ($180, 644.00/ 24 months, funded
June 1999). Funded by SmithKline Beecham
and administered through the University
of Pennsylvania, Institute of Aging.
This project is based on Madeline Leininger’s Theory
of Cultural Diversity and Universality. It uses sophisticated computer
based Internet delivery along with self-directed video modules. It is
approved by the ANCC for continuing education hours and may be viewed online athttp://learn.sdstate.edu/share
RN
to B.S.N.: Access for Native American and Rural Nurses ($615,000.00/ 36 months,
funded August 2000). Submitted under the Nursing Basic Education and Practice
Act authorized under Title VIII, Section 8231 (d). This project provides
baccalaureate nursing education to rural and minority nurses through the
Registered Nurses Upward Mobility program in the College of Nursing at South
Dakota State University. It includes intense recruitment effort of minority
students with mentoring relationships designed to facilitate the baccalaureate
education of registered nurses from rural/reservation areas using distance
learning methodologies.
RECENT
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Summer
2005
Research
project in progress – “Perceptions of Native St. Thomas Residents
Regarding Older Women Who Drink too Much.” The purpose of this study is to examine the
perceptions of native residents in terms of the characteristics, incidence and
help available for older women with excessive drinking behavior. Data is
currently being collected for analysis.
2005
The
Shelby Crime Survey. The survey, modeled after the Wilmington Police Department
Crime Survey, explored four areas of crime: 1) fear of crime, 2) public
disorder, 3) crime victimization, 4) and perceptions of the Shelby Police
Department. Studies regarding the fear of crime and perceptions of the police
are useful tools to determine what crime-related issues citizens are most
concerned about, and to obtain their appraisal of local law enforcement
efforts. The findings of the survey revealed a substantial concern of fear of
crime and victimization. When asked for an overall evaluation—most of the
citizens of Shelby indicated satisfaction with the Shelby Police Department.
2003
“The
Lived Experience of Truth for Individuals who have Survived Childhood Sexual
Abuse” My thesis answered the question, “What is the lived
experience of truth in the context of living with childhood sexual abuse?”
The seeking of truth, knowledge, and wisdom, as well as to be present in
the experience for others is the essence of Parse’s theory and was the essence
of my study. The three purposes of the research were (a) to explicate the
meaning of truth for persons who have endured childhood sexual abuse, (b) to
generate a theoretical structure of the lived experience of truth within the
theory of human becoming, and (c) to contribute to the expansion of Nursing knowledge
by relating study findings to the human becoming theory. Describing and
identifying the fundamental structure of the lived experience of truth in the
context of living with childhood sexual abuse, the aim of this study, may serve
as a starting point for other research. More importantly, it may help
clinicians provide better nursing care for clients who have like experiences.
2002
"Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Student Nurses Regarding Culturally
Congruent Care of Native Americans." The purpose of this survey was to
determine the knowledge, skills and attitudes students deem essential to
provide culturally competent healthcare for Native American clients. An
open-ended survey was administered to associate degree nursing students and
conceptual analysis was used to interpret the data. The students identified
four knowledge themes, two skill themes and two attitude themes. These themes
were interrelated and connected to each other. This study provided assurance
that the current nursing curriculum supports the development of cultural
competence among the newest nurses who will practice in a multicultural
climate. Practice implications include the use of a cultural assessment tool by
the students.
2000
"Living and Growing Old on the Reservation: Native American Elders Share
Their Experiences." The purpose of this project was to gain an
understanding of the lifeways and worldviews of elderly Native Americans living
on a reservation in South Dakota. A final goal was to identify meanings and
cultural values critical to the health and well being of the elders given the
environmental and social context of growing old on the reservation. This
project utilized socio-historical data collection, ethnonursing and qualitative
research methods.
1998
"The Lived Experiences of Southern African Americans: Care, Health and
Beliefs about Organ Donation." The purpose of the research was to gain an
understanding regarding African Americans’ perceptions of health, care and
organ donation. The goal of the study was to identify general and specific
themes that need to be understood in context to develop and implement congruent
care patterns. This summer project utilized ethnonursing methods to obtain data
from a group of African American women in a small, southern community.
Interviews, field notes and participant observation were employed. Data was
coded and themes were identified. A final outcome involved the identification
of similarities and differences in human needs that must be considered to
provide quality care to all individuals.
PUBLICATIONS,
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND DOCUMENTS
Wittig,
Deborah
2004 “Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Student Nurses Regarding Culturally
Congruent Care of Native Americans.” Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 2004
(15) (1), 54-61.
Wittig,
Deborah
2001 “Organ Donations Beliefs of African American Women Residing in a Small Southern
Community.” Journal of Transcultural Nursing, July 2001. (12) 3, 203-210
Wittig,
Deborah and Timothy A. Wittig
1999 “The Influence of Factual Data and Critical Reflective Thinking on the Attitudes
of Nursing Students toward Organ Donation.” SDSU Research Notes, College of
Nursing.
Wittig,
Deborah Richey, Terri Earnest, Stephen A. Barlow, and Liesel A. Ritchie
1998 “Spatial Information Technology Survey Report” Report to NASA Stennis
Space Center. Number NAS13-5464 DO. Mississippi State: Social Science Research
Center. March 1998.
Howell,
Frank M. and Deborah Richey (Bronson) Wittig
1996 “The Journey to Work and Gender Inequality in Earnings: A Cross-Validation
Study for the United States.” The Sociological Quarterly, Summer (3) 429-447.
Ritchie,
Liesel A., Deborah Richey Wittig, Stephen A. Barlow, Elizabeth D. Morris,
Robert M. Sims and Tan H. Sai
1997 “Evolution Report: Tri-State Education Initiative.” Report to NASA Stennis
Space Center. No. NAS13-5464 DO#112. Mississppi State: Social Science Research
Center. December 1997.
Ritchie,
Liesel A., Deborah Richey Wittig, Stephen A. Barlow, Elizabeth D. Morris,
Robert M. Sims and Tan H. Sai
1997 “K-12 Education Programs Framework.” Report to NASA Stennis Space Center.
No. NAS13-5464 DO#120. Mississippi State: Social Science Research Center.
September 1997.
Wiitig,
D. Richey, Anna E. Netterville and James W. Landrum
1997 “Child Restraint Survey.” Final Report to the Division of Public Safety
Planning, Mississippi Office of Safety, Project No. 6-0P-401-1. Mississippi
State: Social Science Research Center. October 1997.
Wittig,
D. Richey and James W. Landrum
1996 “Child Restraint Survey.” Final Report to the Division of Public Safety
Planning, Mississippi Office of Safety, Project No. 6-0P-410-1. Mississippi
State: Social Science Research Center. October 1996.
Bronson-Wittig,
Deborah Richey and James W. Landrum
1995 “Child Restraint Survey.” Final report to the Division of Public Safety
Planning, Mississippi Office of Safety, Project No. 95-030304-05. Mississippi
State: Social Science Research Center. October 1995.
Landrum,
James W. and Deborah Richey Bronson-Wittig
1995 “Mississippi Seat Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use: 1995." Prepared for
the Mississippi Office of Safety, Project No. 95-030304-05. Mississippi State:
Social Science Research Center. October 1995.
Landrum,
James W., Timothy A. Wittig and Deborah Richey Bronson-Wittig
1995 “Vehicle Occupancy Survey: 1995.” Prepared for the Mississippi Department
of Transportation, Project No. 95-030304-05. Mississippi State: Social Science
Research Center. October 1994.
PROFESSIONAL
PRESENTATIONS
Wittig,
Deborah
Richey
2003 “Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Student Nurses Regarding Culturally
Congruent Care of Native Americans.” Presented at Southern Regional Conference
of Transcultural Nursing Society. Savannah, GA,
February.
Wittig,
Deborah Richey and Kay Foland
2001 “Partnering to Improve Health Care for Native American Elders.” Presented
at the Gerontology in Higher Education Meeting. San Jose, CA. February.
Wittig,
Deborah Richey and Kay Foland
2000 “Using the Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality to Improve Health
Care for Native American Elders.” Poster presented at the Gerontological
Society of American 53rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Washington, DC. November.
Wittig,
Deborah Richey
2000 “The Lived Experiences of African American Women: Care, Health and Beliefs
about Organ Donation.” Paper presented at the Eleventh Annual Nursing Research
Symposium. Sioux Falls, SD. March