About Us
   What We Do
   Who We Are

The Edvantage Team

“A great team can move
mountains. Our staff, students,
and clients work as one
integrated, highly effective
team.”

Who We Are

Pamela C. Smith has been a registered nurse for 29 years and a nurse practitioner for eleven. She graduated from the University of Rochester, School of Nursing with a BS (Magna Cum Laude), and an MS, as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. She is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in Leadership in Higher Education at the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development, at the University of Rochester. Pamela has worked as a staff nurse, a charge nurse, an operating room nurse, a clinical research nurse, a nurse practitioner, and a nurse educator. Much of her practical nursing experience was in orthopaedics.

Pamela is a recognized consultant on leadership and continuing education. Her areas of interest and expertise include leadership, professional development and entrepreneurship. As Director of Edvantage, she coordinates the development, facilitation, and marketing of innovative courses and programs and teaches many of them. She has long been committed to the development and growth of nurses and prospective nurses, as a mentor and friend.

Joanna Daeschner is Associate Director of Edvantage and is a PhD candidate in neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Joanna develops and coordinates new educational offerings and continuously improves the existing ones, with emphasis on application of new Web-based technologies like online "live" lecturing and podcasting. She teaches several courses, including Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology, and Genetics. Her strong research background helps in writing grant applications to grow existing programs and incorporate new learning technologies into the curricula. Joanna is a consultant, mentor, coach, and role model to current and prospective nursing students. She enjoys helping students develop opportunities and strategies for success.

Joanna graduated Summa Cum Laude with BS in Nursing from the University of Rochester in 2004, winning several honors and awards. She has an MS in anatomy from Palmer University, and a BS in Medical Sciences (Cum Laude) from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Nadine Brooks Taylor is currently the Coordinator of Edvantage. She joined the Center for Lifelong Learning, now known as Edvantage, in 2005. Nadine is the frontline contact for students, coordinating all classes, and processing course registrations and evaluations. She collaborates with the many Edvantage instructors to plan and implement classes, including the provision of books and course materials.

Nadine graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Theatre Arts and English Literature from Nazareth College of Rochester. She joined the University of Rochester in 2001, as Program Assistant for the College Office of Special Programs, where she coordinated registration and administrative functions for over 400 students in various high school, adult education, and English as a Second Language programs.