Faculty Emeriti

Faculty Emeriti are members of our faculty who have retired and retain an honorary title due to their outstanding contributions to the Nursing program and Bemidji State University.

Rochelle (Riki) Scheela, PhD, RN, CNS

Professor Emerita of Nursing

Riki holds a master’s degree in psychiatric/mental health nursing from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the College of St. Thomas and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. Riki is ANA Certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and works part-time as a therapist for sex offenders. Her research focuses on the treatment of sex offenders, their victims and families and the therapists who work with the offenders. She has published her research and presented at national and international conferences. Now retired, Riki has also worked as a medical/surgical nurse, school nurse, public health nurse and hospital in-service director. She was chair of the department from 1999-2006.

Ranae Womack, PhD, MS, RN

Professor Emerita of Nursing

Ranae holds a master’s degree in rural health nursing and a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Administration from the University of North Dakota.

Her clinical areas include operating room, emergency department, community health and chemical dependency. As a graduate of BSU’s RN-BS completion program, she has enjoyed being a faculty member in the Department of Nursing since 1992. Her research and publications are related to Native American health, leadership and management in nursing and university strategic planning. Ranae served as chair of the Department of Nursing from 1995-1999 and as dean of the College of Social and Natural Sciences from 1999-2007.

Joelyn Scriba, RN, MN, ABD

Professor Emerita of Nursing

The BSU Department of Nursing was established in 1983 under Joelyn’s leadership, and she served as chair of the department until 1995. She was instrumental in the development of both the Itasca Nursing Education Consortium and the Aggasiz Region Nursing Education Consortium. Her efforts to promote access to quality baccalaureate nursing education in rural northern Minnesota have been widely recognized. Her service on numerous statewide task forces and committees has been commendable. Joelyn served as acting dean of the Center for Extended Learning from 1997 to 2000. Joelyn retired from BSU in May 2005, and passed away on June 13, 2016.

Diane Rose, PhD, RN

Professor Emerita of Nursing

Diane was one of the original faculty members of the RN to Baccalaureate program in the Department of Nursing. She served students and the department from 1983 until her retirement in 2007. Diane brought Family Nursing expertise to the curriculum. She holds a master’s degree in pediatric nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a PhD in nursing from the University of Minnesota. She taught Transcultural Nursing, Family Health Nursing, Nursing Practicum: Family and Issues in Adolescent Health.