VIA Times Filipino American Lifestyle and Culture in the Greater Chicago Area
Mary Jane Evangelista is the Director of Nursing Program and Vice-President of US Nursing Review. She is a professor at DeVry University–Chamberlain College of Nursing and the lead instructor for nursing review, lecture professor teaching medical surgical, pharmacology and clinical instructor at ATS Institute downtown Chicago. She is also the lead instructor at Allied Health Care Training Center. Her continuous scholarly pursuits and her passion for helping others is diverse and far-reaching.
Mary Jane graduated high school with honors and was the winner of Miss San Carlos Mariveles Bataan. In 2001 she received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Medical Technology at Centro Escolar University, Manila. She was also featured in Miss Immigration Magazine Philippines as model student. She finished Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing at De Ocampo Memorial College in Manila and later pursued her Masters of Arts in Nursing at Philippine College of Health Sciences. Her love for learning and teaching was greatly influenced by her sister who was a teacher, Florence Sangayab, who would regularly take Mary Jane to sit in her class while she was teaching.
Mary Jane’s first job was as an educator for foreign students in Lih Yuh, Philippines. It was during this time that she was chosen to muse for the Filipino Air Force Platoon. After her work with foreign students, she began working in Manila at Saint Mary’s College of San Juan as a nurse educator, specializing in thesis consultation and nursing research. She received recognition for her outstanding work as Best Nurse Educator. Subsequently, Mary Jane began to branch into philanthropic endeavors engaging in outreach for the prevention of diabetes and hypertension and in programs for hunger and nutrition. She continued as a nurse educator in medical surgery ward at Manila Doctors College in Pasay City and at Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila.
In 2007 Mary Jane moved to the United States where she immediately earned her certification as a nursing instructor and evaluator at Triton College in River Grove, Illinois. She also earned both the Illinois Department of Public Health Certificate and approval from Illinois State Board of Education to train and educate Certified Nurse Assistants, License Practitioner Nurse and Registered Nurses.
Mary Jane was a Care Plan Coordinator, Restorative and Rehabilitation Director and Nurse Manager and Quality Assurance Nurse at Ridgeview Nursing Center. She also worked at Brightview as a nursing supervisor, nurse educator for CNA/LPN and RN. During this time she was also consulting for long-term care and training of specialist nurses. She was also a lecturer and clinical instructor at Samland Institute of Allied Health and Technology for Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program. In 2010, she also worked as Dean of a vocational school. She also worked at Ridge View Home Care Facility as nurse supervisor. She she is always loved by her students everywhere she goes.
Her life cannot be summed up only by her academic achievements or her career as an educator.
Her humanitarian efforts include sponsoring several certified nurse assistants in school to help them acquire their Illinois certificate and graduate nurses to pass the state board. Her husband, Brian Evangelista, an entrepreneur and a U.S. certified educatpr, has supported her through challenging times to keep striving for excellence, as well as helping others in any way they can. They contribute to charitable organizations in the Philippines and U.S. for education and research on disease prevention, and continuously extend free nursing review program to selected students.
Mary Jane Evangelista has dedicated her life to the education and well-being of others. She is sincere in her efforts and always seeks to better herself in order to better help her students. As a life-long learner and teacher, the next step for Mary Jane is to get her doctorate degree and finish her book (NCLEX Review) before the year ends.
