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Teresa McClain, R.N., M.S., SANE-RN, Provider Long Term CE State of Kansas, CLC (Certified Life Coach in progress)

Adjunct Faculty

Teresa is a veteran instructor at Avila having taught in the Adult Education Program for the past 21 years. She started her career with Avila as an adjunct and went on to become the first full-time instructor for the Avila Advantage School of Professional Studies. She’s also taught for the traditional undergraduate and graduate psychology departments. She was an instructor for the Upward Bound program serving underprivileged youth. She has written as well as taught several classes for the Adult Program including Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Managed Healthcare, and Diversity in the Workplace.


Teresa is a registered nurse in the states of Missouri and Kansas, and also holds a Master’s Degree in Community Mental Health Psychology. She has a small private practice serving clients via e-health services. Teresa recently became a published author, having contributed her psychotherapy expertise in the book- The Girl Who Cried Forgiveness, by Vivia Leigh. She has presented for local conferences in the State of Missouri and was once a featured guest on a PBS television program discussing the state of mental health services in the KC metro area. She was featured in the Kansas City Star during her tenure as the Director of Community Clinical Services for a non-profit agency in Kansas City, Kansas. She was a member of the Advisory Board acting as a consultant and trainer for the nursing program at a local allied health business school. She was awarded the Avila Advantage Faculty Member of the Year award for 2004-2005.


Teresa has been a nurse for the past 23 years, with experience in telemetry, orthopedics, urgent care, and ICU. However, her first love and the bulk of her experience were in the ER. Prior to going full-time status with Avila, she was a Forensic Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE-RN) in a busy KCMO inner-city hospital. She is a certified provider of continuing education credits with the Kansas State Board of Nursing.
Teresa has many hobbies including writing short stories and poetry, video gaming, and nature photography. One of her prints was selected in 2019 to be displayed in New York’s Grand Central Station Terminal as part of the 2019 FUJIFILM Printlife Photo Exhibit. She speaks fluent Spanish.


Teresa is dedicated to her students and tells each one that crosses her path- “My philosophy of teaching is that we are on a journey together! To every class, you bring your unique viewpoint and life experiences, and I’ll bring mine. Together, we’ll be able to use those resources to help you achieve your academic goals here at Avila. The ‘secret ingredient to any great class is YOU, and what you choose to put into it! So let’s get busy, we’ve got some work to do!”

Diversity in the Workplace, Field Experience, Senior Seminar, General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Personality Development, Cognitive Psychology, Current Trends in Psychotherapy, Psychology of Gender, Human Behavior and Addictions, Human Growth and Development, Managed Health Care, Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology.
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Associate Degree in Nursing
Contributing Author- The Girl Who Cried Forgiveness, Advantage Faculty Member of the Year 2004-2005
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