Student Evaluation: Ethical and Legal Considerations
This session will explore ethical and legal considerations in the evaluation of student performance. Best practices in student evaluation will be discussed.
Sheryl K. Sommer, PhD, RN, CNE
Dr. Sommer is the Chief Nursing Officer at Assessment Technologies Institute. She joined ATI after 27 years in nursing education. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in curriculum, and a Masters in Nursing with an emphasis in Medical Surgical Nursing and Education. Dr. Sommer held numerous faculty positions included teaching in practical, associate and baccalaureate as well as graduate nursing programs. She played an active role in curriculum revisions, development of new programs, and preparation for accreditation. Dr. Sommer is also an experienced administrator and leader, having served as Associate Dean and Director of large nursing programs. The desire to create a positive future for nursing education drives Dr. Sommer’s passion to help nurse educators develop the necessary skills to effectively prepare future nurses. She has given numerous faculty development presentations and helps programs create and implement plans to establish quality nurse educators. Dr. Sommer’s passion for education includes developing strategies to promote critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. She engages with educators she works with to help them develop the skills necessary to prepare future nurses to function in an ever changing healthcare environment. Dr. Sommer’s passion for nursing education is evident in her work, helping faculty develop skill in areas such as active learning strategies, curriculum and program evaluation.Dr Sommer enjoys the challenges associated with helping educators develop contemporary curriculums that meet current healthcare needs. She has assisted many educators in the development of both traditional and concept based curriculums. Dr. Sommer is recognized for her expertise as a nurse educator. She serves as a reviewer for prominent nursing education journals including the Journal of Nursing Education and Teaching and Learning in Nursing. She makes frequent national and regional presentations, has published articles and consults with nursing programs across the country.
Christine Erickson, J.D.
Christine Erickson is an experienced corporate and public sector attorney and currently serves as Deputy General Counsel for Ascend Learning, LLC, as well as in-house counsel for ATI, where she provides valuable guidance to executives and staff on a broad range of legal and business matters. Her background includes serving as assistant attorney general for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, legal counsel for hospitals, human rights advocacy within the healthcare field, legislative work, and general corporate law. She has presented numerous trainings on regulatory compliance, hospital policies, business ethics, and intellectual property. Her legal practice focuses on reducing risk, conflict resolution, and upholding the standards of the law. Ms. Erickson earned her J.D. from Suffolk University School of Law and a B.A. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
