College of Science, Technology, and Health
Meet Our Faculty
Nursing Faculty
Dr. Darrell DeMartino is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner (family, acute care), registered nurse, and paramedic. He has been practicing in healthcare for nearly 30 years. He started his career in emergency medical services, then became a nurse, then advanced to nurse practitioner. Dr. DeMartino has practiced paramedicine/nursing in urban and suburban areas of New York, Texas, Michigan, and Missouri. His most recent clinical experiences have been in the emergency department (RN) and as a critical care nurse practitioner in the ICU.
Dr. DeMartino has significant experience in curriculum development and instructional design. He has taught Paramedicine and Nursing in the community college and university settings. He routinely educates aspirating healthcare students in the clinical settings; and served as a clinical nurse educator for a large hospital system.
His areas of interest are using technology to teach in healthcare (e.g., VR), psychometrics, informatics, and interprofessional education. Professionally, Dr. DeMartino has served an item writer for a national licensing examination, serves as accreditation reviewer, and has been in leadership roles in several national organizations.
He joined Lindenwood University in 2017.
Jim Haran has been a registered nurse for over 15 years. He graduated from UMSL in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Jim received Magna Cum Laude at graduation and was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honors society. Jim is still a member to this day. After graduating from UMSL, Jim pursued a career path in critical care nursing. He received an offer upon graduation to work in a fast-paced stepdown unit at Mercy Hospital. At Mercy, Jim was a preceptor and charge nurse. This is where Jim’s passion for education began. While at Mercy, Jim obtained Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. After spending 5 years at Mercy, Jim moved to the BJC system at Barnes Jewish Hospital, where he worked on the Medical Intensive Care Unit as a registered nurse, preceptor, and charge nurse. During Jim’s time on the Medical Intensive Care Unit, he began to work as needed (PRN) on the inpatient psychiatric unit at Barnes Jewish Hospital. He wanted to switch gears and explore mental health nursing. Mental health has always been a passion of Jim’s. He feels this is a very underserved community of patients which deserve the upmost dignity and respect. The manager of inpatient psychiatry liked Jim’s work ethic, drive, and passion for mental health, so she hired Jim to be the Assistant Nurse Manager of inpatient psychiatry. Where Jim was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Adult, Acute, Geriatric, and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
After working on inpatient psychiatry, Jim was hired as an Assistant Nurse Manager on the Oncology Intensive Care Unit/Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Siteman Cancer Center. During his time there, Jim taught Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) on the unit and at the Center for Lifelong Learning. Jim also educated new physicians on ACLS during their orientation to BJC. Through teaching ACLS and Jim’s history of precepting, Jim naturally pursed education as a career pathway. Jim decided teaching was something he was passionate about and good at. While working at Siteman, Jim pursued a Master of Science in Nursing Education at Webster University, where he graduated in 2021. After graduation, Jim accepted a job as a nursing instructor at Saint Charles Community College, where he mainly taught mental health nursing, health assessment, and pharmacology. While at SCC, Jim obtained Certified Nurse Educator in 2022. After spending two years at SCC, Jim transitioned to Goldfarb School of Nursing, where he was the course lead for Upper Division mental health nursing and promoted to simulation coordinator. During his time as simulation coordinator, Jim developed a true passion for nursing simulation and curriculum development. Jim believes a well-built simulation can absolutely bridge theory to practice. Simulation can also teach valuable critical thinking skills which are applicable to practice. Jim joined Lindenwood Nursing in 2024, where he has been writing curriculum for the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Lindenwood University to debut Fall, 2025.
Amanda Schaub earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2011 and her Master of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in 2014. She brings extensive clinical and hospital-based education experience to the Lindenwood University Nursing faculty. Her clinical background spans acute cardiac care, emergency nursing, and cardiac procedures, complemented by years of experience in staff development and education. Amanda joined the Lindenwood Nursing program in August 2025, bringing with her a strong commitment to compassion, advocacy, and the promotion of lifelong learning in the next generation of nurses.
A St. Charles native, Amanda is excited to be part of the Lindenwood community. The welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere of the university immediately resonated with her, and she knew from her first visit that Lindenwood was the right place to continue her work supporting the next generation of nurses.
Amanda has a deep passion for nursing and believes strongly in the profession’s ability to transform patient experiences. She values the privilege nurses have to change the trajectory of a patient’s day simply by being present, listening, and offering support. Connecting with patients and families – especially during their most difficult moments – has been one of the most meaningful aspects of her career. She looks forward to helping new nurses develop the skills and confidence to make that same impact.
In the classroom, Amanda focuses on helping students build the critical-thinking skills essential for safe and effective practice. She emphasizes understanding the “why” behind clinical decisions and strives to create a learning environment that is supportive and engaging. She is dedicated to guiding students as they transition into their professional roles and ensuring they feel equipped with the knowledge and resources needed for success both at Lindenwood and in the future.
Meridith Vogeler joined the Department of Health Sciences in the College of Science, Technology, and Health at Lindenwood University in 2023. Mer is passionate about nursing education, the human sciences, and creating a dynamic, engaging, and supportive learning environment for students. She is an accomplished nurse educator and registered nurse with experience in classroom instruction, laboratory education, simulation, and patient care. Her clinical background includes emergency and critical care nursing, and she also serves as an NCLEX preparation expert, facilitating review sessions for nursing graduates preparing for licensure.
In addition to her role at Lindenwood, Mer proudly serves as a member of the Missouri State Board of Nursing, where she contributes to advancing nursing education, supporting public safety, and upholding professional standards for nursing practice across the state. She brings leadership, mentorship, innovation, and enthusiasm to nursing education and is deeply committed to preparing the next generation of professional nurses.
Mer often shares that she entered nursing later in life after spending many years focused on raising her family. She and her husband, Brian, have seven children and understand the challenges and rewards of balancing family, education, and career goals. Over the past several years, she has built a career centered on mentoring and developing future nurses.
Mer earned her nursing degree from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes–Jewish College, her Master of Science in Nursing from Northwest Missouri State University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Arkansas State University. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, she has proudly called St. Louis home since 1992. In her spare time, Mer enjoys playing pickleball, crafting, and spending time with her family.
Public Health Faculty
Amy Estlund earned a B.S. in biomedical sciences from Marquette University and an M.P.H. in behavioral science from Emory University. She worked in health education, youth development, and program management in the nonprofit sector for eight years in Atlanta and rural Georgia. She then transitioned to community-based participatory research at Saint Louis University, followed by clinical research at Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine. She completed her Ph.D. in public health from Saint Louis University. Her research interests focus on sexual and reproductive health, school health and culture, health policy, and dissemination and implementation. Estlund looks forward to engaging students in research and bringing relevant experiences from her nonprofit work to the classroom to enhance student learning.
Amanda Harrod earned her undergraduate biology degree from Washington University. She completed her master’s degree in public health and doctorate in public health studies at Saint Louis University. Her research interests include social determinants of health and maternal and child health. Harrod has worked with various public health programs across the country. Her previous experience includes working with the Congressional Hunger Center, Fremont Public Association, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, Obesity Prevention Center, and March of Dimes. She was also the project director for the National Children’s Study Gateway Study Center based at Saint Louis University. She provided fiscal and administrative oversight for multiple subcontracts and four Study locations in both Missouri and Illinois. Harrod is a member of Generate Health, a coalition that mobilizes and inspires the St. Louis region to advance racial equity in pregnancy outcomes, family well-being, and community health. She enjoys sharing her passion for public health with students at Lindenwood University.
Catherine Shoff earned her Ph.D. in public health studies and M.P.H. in behavioral science/epidemiology from Saint Louis University. Prior to that, she completed a B.S. in combined sciences from Santa Clara University. Catherine’s work aims to reduce health inequalities in the Saint Louis region through community-academic partnerships. Specifically, her research explores food insecurity, social determinants of health, child health, and community engagement. She enjoys creating an active learning environment for students through community projects and engaging students in research.