Corrections_Today_November_December_2020_Vol.82_No.6

Title Here

Commission on Accreditation for Corrections

2020 Election

Diana Severson (NE) Director of Nursing Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS)

Diana Severson, BSN, RN, SANE graduated from Bryan School of Nursing in 1979 and gradu - ated cum laude with a BSN from Bryan College of Health Sciences in May 2014. She spent 15 years as a staff nurse at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and achieved clinical expertise in several divisions, including ICU/ CCU/ Pediatric ICU, hemodialysis, and as a quality analyst. Severson’s employment for the NDCS began in 1994 as a clinic nurse at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. She was later promoted to the associate director of Nursing in 1995 and later to director of Nursing 2009. During her NDCS tenure, she implemented many programs, including staff nurses receiving certification from ONS (Oncology Nurses Society) and the ability to administer chemotherapy at NDCS facilities; as well as programs for inmates to become certi - fied nursing assistants. Severson also completed Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training in 2004 and worked part-time for Bryan Regional Medical Center completing interviews and collecting forensic examinations with sexual assault victims. She is considered an expert witness with the role of a SANE and demonstrated the ability to give testi - mony during these hearings.

Kenneth Williams (TN) Chief Medical Officer Tennessee Department of Correction

Dr. Kenneth Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at Xavier University of Louisiana. He went on to complete his Doctorate of Philosophy in microbiology at Meharry Medical College. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences for biomedical sciences in - cluding the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Microbiology, and the American So - ciety for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He presently serves as the chief medical officer for the Tennessee Department of Correction. His area is responsible for clinical case management, medical services, pharmacy services and clinical quality assurance. He serves on ACA’s Health Care Committee, Behavioral Health Committee, as well as the subcom - mittee on Dentistry.

Corrections Today November/December 2020 — 55