More {{ vm.segmentName}} News
View All {{ vm.segmentName }} News
Four new Southeast Missouri community members are joining Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences board of trustees.
Robbie Guard, Ann Sprengel, Angela Umfleet and Gayle Unverferth will each serve three-year terms on the college’s board of trustees, which meets quarterly. The board develops policies which:
- Maintain or build academic programs to prepare the next generation of medical professionals
- Support faculty and staff to maintain academic and professional standards
- Maintain the required national standards of accrediting bodies
The new members join chair Dr. Jim Dufek, vice chair Susan Hahs, Ben Lewis, Pete Poe and Dr. Loretta Prater, who are all continuing their service on the board.
Robbie Guard
Robbie Guard is the market president of MRV Banks in Cape Girardeau, where he’s worked since 2012. He also served two terms on the Cape Girardeau City Council and is currently on the SEMO-REDI economic development board. He is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Lions International and Order of the Elks. Guard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications from Southeast Missouri State University and a graduate degree from Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
“I’m honored to join the Board of Trustees for Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences,” Guard said. “Health care education is vital to the strength of our community, and I look forward to supporting its mission and impact.”
Ann Sprengel
Ann Sprengel is a retired professor emeritus of nursing from Southeast Missouri State University, where she taught nursing programs from 1981 to 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University, a Master of Science in Nursing from St. Louis University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Memphis.
“After 34 years as a nurse and retired university nurse educator, I believe I still have more to give to the nursing and health care community, so I am delighted to serve on the board,” Sprengel said.
Angela Umfleet
Angela Umfleet is the owner and executive producer of Arnold Insurance. She is a second-generation owner with multiple locations across several states and more than 80 employees. Umfleet holds a bachelor’s in education from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a master’s in administration from Southeast Missouri State University. She’s a resident of Scott City, Missouri.
“I’m eager to join the college’s board to collaboratively explore innovative growth strategies that enhance our educational programs and community outreach,” Umfleet said. “By focusing on the unique health care needs of the Southeast Missouri region, we can elevate the impact of our nursing graduates and improve patient care across our communities.”
Gayle Unverferth
Gayle Unverferth is a retired certified registered nurse from Mercy Hospital Southeast, where she served 41 years in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and nursery. Unverferth retired from the hospital in 2020. She holds a registered nurse degree from the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Memphis, Tennessee. She’s also a volunteer with the Lifehouse Crisis Maternity Home.
“After being in the health care field as a nurse for 40-plus years, I felt I wanted to contribute and give back to the profession that has given so much to me,” Unverferth said.
To learn more about Mercy’s Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Cape Girardeau, visit www.sehcollege.edu or call 573-334-6825.
