College of Nursing adds new employees for fall 2026

The South Dakota State University College of Nursing added eight new employees to its rolls over the summer, with the new faces spread out between the college’s sites in Brookings, Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Coming on board to kick off the fall semester were:

Anastasia Barber, instructor, Sioux Falls

Barber, a Colorado Springs, Colorado, native, started as an instructor for the College of Nursing in August and is based at the SDSU Metro Center in Sioux Falls.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in psychology from Northern State University in 2016 before completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South Dakota State University in 2017. She went on to earn a Master of Science in nursing education from Liberty University in 2023.

Barber has three years of prior experience at Dakota Wesleyan University lecturing, performing simulations, labs and teaching clinicals. At SDSU, she’ll teach courses in nursing assessment, pathophysiology, clinical judgement, pediatrics and women’s health, in addition to facilitating laboratory experiences and simulation-based learning activities.

“I chose South Dakota State University because of its outstanding reputation for academic excellence and its commitment to student success. As one of the leading universities in South Dakota, SDSU offers a rigorous curriculum, highly educated faculty and valuable learning opportunities that will help me achieve my professional goals. I also did the accelerated nursing program at SDSU, so it is nice to get back to my roots,” Barber said.

Barber and her husband, Zachery, have three young daughters, and she likes staying active, working out, going on runs or walks and enjoying activities with her family.

Hailey Caldwell, program assistant I, Brookings

Caldwell, an Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native, has been working as a program assistant I for the College of Nursing since Aug. 24.

Caldwell earned her Bachelor of Science in marketing education in 2011 from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she was a Division 1 volleyball player for four years, followed by working with the Concordia St. Paul volleyball team for two seasons.

She has experience as an SDSU employee dating back to 2014, when she worked as an assistant volleyball coach for the Jackrabbits until 2019. She has also worked as an SDSU admissions counselor from August 2021 to January 2023, with administrative and executive assistant experience in between.

Before coming here to be an assistant coach, Caldwell and her family would visit relatives in Volga during the holidays and make stops in Brookings. “When the opportunity came up to join the SDSU volleyball staff, I knew I would be joining an amazing community and be close to family.”

In her new position at SDSU, she’ll provide advanced administrative and operational support to the dean’s office, the Population Health Evaluation Center, Office of Nursing Research and the Healthcare Simulation Center.

Caldwell’s husband is an assistant wrestling coach for the Jackrabbits, and the couple has two young sons and a black lab. In her spare time, she enjoys doing outdoor activities with their boys and watching sporting events.

Devin Constant, lecturer, Rapid City

Constant has been serving as a lecturer for the College of Nursing in her hometown of Rapid City since August. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2020 and her master’s in nursing education from Northern Kentucky University in 2022.

Constant has past experience working as an emergency department registered nurse, a nursing instructor in the practical nursing program at Western Dakota Technical College, and as an assistant professor in the registered nursing associate degree program at Dakota Wesleyan University. In her new role, she’ll educate undergraduate nursing students in the Rapid City site’s standard and accelerated programs in lecture, lab and simulation.

Constant and her husband have two children and live on a hobby farm just outside Rapid City. She likes to spend her evenings outside, petting their goats and taking their donkeys for walks. “As a family, we love to spend our summer weekends on the water at Angostura Reservoir.”

Constant was a mom through her undergraduate and graduate education. “I have tremendous respect for my students who are navigating juggling nursing school and raising children.”

Melissa Coull, instructor, Brookings and Sioux Falls

Coull, a Brookings native, came on board as an instructor for the College of Nursing in August, teaching undergraduate students in Brookings, Sioux Falls and online.

Coull has spent her career working in hospitals, population health and nursing education. She earned her diploma in practical nursing from Lake Area Technical College in 2004 and her Associate of Science in nursing from the University of South Dakota in 2006. She followed that with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2017 and a Master of Science of Nursing, with a nurse educator specialization, in 2023, both from South Dakota State University.

She’s a certified nurse educator and a certified clinical nurse educator.

Coull said she was drawn to SDSU by its high-quality rigorous academic programs and its focus on community. In the College of Nursing, she’ll teach a variety of courses focused on clinical judgement, population health and client-centered care.

She and her husband, Kelly, have one daughter and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, playing board games, hiking, biking and decorating cakes, and she is a certified Zumba and Aqua Zumba instructor.

Samantha Fischer, project assistant, Brookings

Fischer started working as a project assistant for the College of Nursing after serving as a student project assistant for the college’s Population Health Evaluation Center since 2023.

The Pierce, Nebraska, native came to South Dakota State University in August 2022 and earned her bachelor’s degree in consumer affairs earlier this year. She said she was drawn to the university for the community.
In her new full-time role, Fischer helps with grant-funded projects across South Dakota and other states to keep communities healthy.

Fischer’s family includes her parents, two brothers, one sister and her dog. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, thrifting and traveling.

Rebecca Hruby, clinical assistant professor, Sioux Falls

Hruby is in her first role as an educator with SDSU after earning two degrees from the university: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, in 2014.

She worked for a decade for Avera Medical Group Neurology and since 2024 has worked as a hospitalist at the Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital and in specialty medicine neurology for Veterans Affairs.

The Spearfish native is a clinical assistant professor for the graduate nursing program, but she’ll also spend some time teaching undergraduate courses such as pathophysiology and research.

“I am a twice over graduate from SDSU, so I have firsthand experience in the wonderful nursing program through the state,” she said. “I received my undergraduate degree West River and my graduate degree through the Sioux Falls program. Across the board, it was a great experience. I love my job as a nurse practitioner, but I really enjoy my time with students. Coming back to SDSU to teach in the graduate nursing program feels like coming full circle.”

Hruby and her husband, an elementary school teacher in Harrisburg, have two daughters and a recently rescued rabbit. Their daughters keep the couple busy with skating, dance and tennis, and Hruby is also one of their Girl Scout troop co-leaders and enjoys making sourdough bread and exercise.

Hussien Hussien, assistant professor, Sioux Falls

Hussien, a native of Amman, Jordan, joined the College of Nursing as an assistant professor in August.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Jordan University in 2006 and a BSN-to-Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2025. He has previously served as a clinical assistant professor and instructional academic staff in the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well as a teaching assistant while pursuing his doctorate.

Hussien has extensive clinical nursing experience in oncology and bone marrow transplant care, holding nursing positions in that specialty and other areas in Milwaukee, Chicago, Jordan and Dubai. In his new SDSU role, Hussien will teach and support nursing students across didactic and clinical learning environments, including classroom and clinical instruction, student mentorship and evaluation, and integrating evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning into nursing education.

“I was drawn to South Dakota State University because of its strong commitment to nursing education and its focus on preparing competent, compassionate and evidence-based nursing professionals,” he said. “With my background in oncology and bone marrow transplant nursing, as well as my experience in nursing education, I saw an opportunity at SDSU to integrate clinical practice with academic instruction and help prepare nursing students for the complex healthcare needs of a variety of patient populations. I was also attracted to SDSU’s collaborative academic environment and its commitment to student learning, clinical excellence and service to the community.”

Hussien and his wife have four children, and he enjoys spending time with his family, being involved in his kids’ activities, traveling, learning, exploring new places, staying active and spending time outdoors.

Alesse Widtfeldt, instructor, Rapid City

A McLeansboro, Illinois, native, Widtfeldt started as an instructor at the College of Nursing’s Rapid City site in August. She earned her master’s in nursing education from Western Governors University in 2025.

Widtfeldt is a nurse educator with six years of emergency nursing experience and a background in hospital-based education. As a first-time faculty member, she teaches traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN and accelerated BSN students. Her teaching emphasizes clinical judgment, critical thinking, patient safety and confidence through evidence-based, student-centered learning.

“I integrate real-world clinical experiences, case-based learning, simulation and individualized feedback to prepare students for safe and effective nursing practice,” she said.

Widtfeldt is married and enjoys reading and sitting outside on her deck. She is the youngest of five children and has twin sister.