New faculty join UMMC academic ranks

The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing welcomes Treny Emison, an experienced, board certified pediatric nurse practitioner and educator with more than three decades of nursing experience. 

Emison joins UMMC with a passion for nursing education and a commitment to preparing the next generation of health care professionals. Most recently, she served as a pediatric nurse practitioner at North Mississippi Health Services Children’s Clinic. She previously held similar positions at Ivancic Pediatric Clinic and North Mississippi Pediatric PA and has extensive clinical experience in a variety of health care settings. 

In addition to her clinical work, Emison brings more than 10 years of experience in nursing education. She served as an instructor in the Associate Degree nursing program at Itawamba Community College and as director of its practical nursing program. She is also certified through the American Heart Association as an instructor in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic life support, pediatric advanced life support and neonatal advanced life support.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Emison is actively involved in community service. She volunteers with Catch Kids Free Clinic and Shine Foundation Mississippi and has served on the board of directors for the Northeast Mississippi Down Syndrome Society. 

Emison is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Kaitlyn Westcott Evans  

The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing is increasing their team of instructors for the growing school. Kaitlyn Evans is taking on that role after graduating from UMMC with her Master of Science in nursing in May.  

Evans has over seven years of experience serving as a registered nurse in labor and delivery, postpartum and medical-surgical nursing. She began her nursing career at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, before relocating to Baptist Hospital for Women in Memphis, Tennessee. Most recently, she served as a labor and delivery nurse at UMMC Grenada while pursuing her graduate education. 

Evans brings a set of skills including clinical instruction, simulation-based learning, learning management systems, maternal-newborn nursing and passion that she says will help prepare future nurses and foster a supportive, engaging learning environment. 

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Elise Lawler 

A registered nurse with more than 10 years of experience in the health care field is joining the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing as an instructor. 

Elise Lawler, a labor and delivery nurse, joins UMMC after completing her Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2025. 

Lawler earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Mississippi State University before transitioning into health care and earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2013. 

Following graduation, Lawler worked as a staff nurse at several hospitals in the Jackson metro area including UMMC. She also spent 12 years as a labor and delivery nurse and two years as a travel nurse in labor and delivery across multiple hospital settings before transitioning into nursing education in September 2025. 

Lawler holds certifications in advanced fetal monitoring from the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses as well as basic life support, advanced cardia life support and the neonatal resuscitation program through the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.