From groundbreaking researchers to passionate educators, these scholars bring a wealth of knowledge, diverse perspectives, and fresh energy to our institution. Discover how their unique expertise and dedication will shape the future of our programs and enrich the student experience.
Dr. Jennifer Baumstark began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1990, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mennonite College of Nursing in 1993. After several years of clinical practice, she furthered her education by earning a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois in 2001. Her pursuit of excellence took her to Hawaii, where she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Hawaii Pacific University in 2020.
With over two decades of experience as a certified nurse-midwife, Dr. Baumstark has an extensive clinical background, having attended more than 800 births and supported hundreds more. Her experience spans both rural and urban settings, from a small 11-bed hospital with a single labor room on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, to a bustling urban hospital where 25 babies are born daily.
In academia, Dr. Baumstark has held significant leadership roles, including serving as the Department Chair for the online graduate nursing program and the MSN to DNP Program Coordinator at Hawaii Pacific University.
Dr. Baumstark is eager to collaborate with fellow faculty members on initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare for women and infants in South Carolina.
Dr. Carolyn S. Harmon is the Director of Healthcare Leadership, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing Education Programs at the College of Nursing.
She holds a PhD from the University of South Carolina, a DNP in Executive Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an MSN in Health Systems Management from Queens University of Charlotte. Dr. Harmon is an ANCC Board-Certified Informatics Nurse, a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, and a 2018 Palmetto Gold recipient. She is also a past president of the American Nursing Informatics Association and actively contributes to the Nursing Knowledge Big Data Science Initiative.
Dr. Harmon has extensive experience in healthcare systems leadership, nursing informatics, virtual simulation, and curriculum development. She has served in various academic leadership roles, including dean, chair, and director.
As a Core Faculty member of the ACORN Research Center, her research focuses on healthcare innovations such as AI, data science, and the unintended consequences of healthcare technology. In October 2023, her work on cognitive load and EHR's unintended consequences was featured by the AHRQ Patient Safety Network.
Previously, Dr. Harmon was the inaugural Dean of Nursing at Belmont Abbey College, where she led the development of nursing programs and oversaw a $2.5 million renovation of the nursing department.
Dr. Susan Newman is the newly appointed Health Sciences Endowed Professor, a role that honors her scholarly achievements.
She earned her BFA from Clemson University in 1991 and her BSN from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 1998, where she also completed her PhD in 2008 while teaching. Dr. Newman began her career as an RN at Roper Rehabilitation Hospital in Charleston and later became Assistant Dean of MUSC’s Nursing Science program during the pandemic.
Her research focuses on health equity for people with disabilities, particularly through peer support for those with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Dr. Newman collaborates with organizations like the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and has worked with partners in India. At the College of Nursing, she aims to promote disability-inclusive care and increase the employment of people with disabilities in healthcare. She looks forward to building new collaborations across the university and with advocacy groups to advance this research.
Dr. Kesheng Wang is a Biostatistics Professor at the College of Nursing. He earned his PhD in 2001 from Georg-August University of Göttingen, specializing in Population Genetics and Biostatistics. From 2002 to 2008, he completed advanced biostatistics training, focusing on Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children.
Before joining the University of South Carolina, Dr. Wang was a Professor of Biostatistics at West Virginia University’s School of Nursing. His research spans biostatistics, machine learning, epidemiology, bioinformatics, and genetic epidemiology. He is dedicated to teaching quantitative methods and supporting students and faculty in research design and statistical analysis.
Currently, Dr. Wang's research includes projects on health disparities in cancer, substance use and mental health, Alzheimer's disease, and the application of machine learning to multi-omics data.