A Perfect Fit For Her Career
By Pete Rosenbery
Southern Illinois University and the College of Applied Sciences and Arts have proven to be a perfect fit for Sandy Collins.
She spent 17 years in the health care field before becoming an assistant professor in the Health Care Management Program in 2006. Collins describes her time at SIU Carbondale as “the highlight of my professional career.”
“It has given me a playground to be creative and research things that I am passionate about,” said Collins, the 2014 E.J. and Mary C. Simon Distinguished Faculty Award recipient. “I’m very thankful to SIU because it has provided me the opportunity to work with some truly exceptional students and colleagues.”
E.J. Simon was dean of the college from its inception in 1951 until his retirement in 1970, and both he and his wife, Mary C. Simon, remained strong supporters of the university and CASA. E.J. Simon died in 1989; Mary Simon passed away in 2011.
Former students who wrote letters of support for Collins to receive the college’s highest faculty honor – even after experiencing her “rigid” classroom expectations – said her dedication to helping them succeed left a strong impression. One former student wrote that Collins “always made time for any concern whether it was something class related or career related. She has left an imprint on my life and has empowered me to be a better director.” Another former student wrote that Collins “held you accountable for your actions and always reminded us that professionalism is a vital part of the workplace.”
Collins, an associate professor and director of the School of Allied Health’s Health Care Management program, created several of health care management’s online courses for delivery to six off-campus locations, and initiated the program’s 100 percent online delivery option. Her proposals for a Master’s of Health Administration (MHA) and a Master’s in Health Informatics (MHI), are under consideration at various levels on campus.
Collins said the changing needs within the health care field continue to inspire new educational approaches. The passage of new legislation means there is a need to make sure the health care management program has the right pieces in place “to adequately train students so they are able to enter the health care industry and be of immediate value to it,” she said.
“Health care is one of the biggest growing industries right now. We have a lot of opportunity to expand the program in a variety of different ways,” Collins said. “The proposed master’s degrees are an exciting part of our future growth. I’m excited and hopeful that these degrees will be approved and offered soon. They were specifically created health care professionals in mind who are looking for educational opportunities that academically prepare them to advance into higher levels of management within the health care industry.”
Collins started at SIU in 2000. She was a visiting instructor in the health care management program in 2003 before becoming an assistant professor in 2006 and an associate professor in 2010. Collins and her husband, Scott, who live in Carterville, have four children: Kari, Nathan, Savanah and Courtney.
Collins said the students’ letters supporting her nomination were “very heartwarming.” As a way to “pay something forward” to the university and honor student achievement, Collins rolled the $5,000 that goes with the Simon award into five $1,000 scholarships for students in the Health Care Management program.
“Students comments are a big reason I received the award so I felt the monetary stipend was theirs rather than mine. It was an emotional experience for me to read all their comments. Their letters were worth more than the monetary stipend and I will treasure them for years to come. It is very overwhelming to have received the award and I feel very privileged to be here,” Collins said.