Nursing Faculty

Dr. Colleen J. Hewes, DC, MSN, RN

Dr. Colleen J. Hewes is the Director of the Nursing programs at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. She has 35 years of experience in the healthcare field, having held staff, management, administrative, faculty and consultant positions in a variety of health care settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park Maryland, a Master of Science in Nursing from Catholic University of America in Washington DC and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles California.

Colleen is a past member of the review panel for the Journal for Healthcare Quality. She has spoken and published in the areas of assessment of the geriatric patient, mobility issues with the older adult, and alternative health care.

Rebecca Cavanaugh RN, MN, NCSN

Rebecca has taught at Lake Washington Institute of Technology since 2008. She earned a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice Nursing – Nurse Educator Specialist Training from the University of Washington, along with her Master of Nursing in Community Health Nursing in 2009. In addition, she earned the National Certified School Nurse certification in 2006. Recently published in the Journal of School Nursing (June 2011), Rebecca is currently a tenure track candidate.

Suzy Dalgarn, RN, MSN, CNE

Suzy Dalgarn has been a full-time nursing instructor at Lake Washington Institute of Technology since 2000. She has taught in the LWIT nursing programs for 11 years specializing in Medical Surgical and Mental Health Nursing. She earned a Certified Nurse Educator certification in 2005 and recently completed a post graduate certification as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She is active in several college committees including the budget/finance and tenure committees.

Suzy has a passion for teaching and enjoys helping students learn the nursing role. She was the first in Washington state to earn the NLN Certified Nurse Educator credential. She serves on a variety of college committees and is active in the National League of Nursing. Suzy's interests are in Medical Surgical and Mental Health nursing. Suzy was recognized with the LWIT instructor excellence award for 2005.

Roxanne Olason

Roxanne is a nursing undergraduate from the University of Washington and board certified in advanced nursing administration.  She holds a master's degree in Health Services Administration from St. Joseph's College in Standish, Maine.

Roxanne has over fifteen years of experience in healthcare administration including positions as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services. She has delivered numerous speaking/teaching engagements including work with the University of Washington's Department of Continuing Nursing Education, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, the New Hampshire Hospital Association, NH Public Radio, Intermountain Healthcare, and various nursing professional organizations such as AAACN and AONE.

Paul L. Root, MN RN

Paul Root received his BSN from the University of Iowa and his MN from the University of Washington. He is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College and attended doctoral courses at Washington State University. Paul’s first career was as a US Army Nurse Corp Officer, working in critical care, ambulatory care, education, and administration. After retiring from the Army, he worked as a health care administrator for Washington State prior to coming to Lake Washington to teach. He was instrumental in developing the RN program and assisting the college in developing new Allied Health programs.

Susan Wilson

Susan Wilson walked into her first hospital volunteer position in 1981.  She became an RN in 1989, and earned her MSN and certification as a nurse-midwife in 1990.  Since that time, she has enjoyed the privilege of delivering hundreds of babies and nursing thousands of individuals and families. She has many years of reproductive health care experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, and has also served as a child care nurse consultant. She continues to serve her community as a volunteer for public schools and in other endeavors.  Susan loves to teach, adding an MAT to her credentials in 2008. She joined the nursing faculty of LWIT in March of 2010 initially on a part-time basis and became full-time in September 2011.