classes. She was a year out of Augustana and there was no such thing as online classes, so she commuted the majority of the time between Pierre and Brookings every week for a two or three credit class. Because of the flexibility in the health field, Pam worked a lot of weekends in order to make her class schedule possible. “I graduated with my Master’s when Brian was a year old… pre-kids was easier, it’s mostly giving up your social life to do it. Honestly, some of it is a blur. A lot of the work was done in the evenings and when the kids were asleep in bed. When I was teaching it was bit easier to do because there was a little more flexibility for preparation for teaching and college work.” Pam credits her husband during those hectic days for enabling her future successes, “to complete this much education, have four kids and work full-time… Jeff has always been a wonderfully supportive spouse. He’s always encouraged me with anything I wanted to do. I think we always found a way to make sure the kids were able to be in the activities they wanted to be involved in, even if Mom had homework. We always found a way to work around it.” Pam’s husband of thirty one years; Jeff VanMeeteren, is no stranger to a non-traditional college experience as well. He is the regional park supervisor for the South Dakota State Department of Game, Fish and Parks in Yankton SD. When he was in his forties, he returned to college to receive his Master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Pam was already a family nurse practitioner when she worked at the Human Services Center in 1996. She later became their clinical director, where she was primarily in charge of the supervision of all clinical services and administration for seventeen years. Pam had many valuable experiences and had grown to love her work in mental health, but knew she really wanted to go back to college to get her second Post Master’s degree. Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services has been Pam’s current employer since 2013, and Dr. Tom Stanage has been incredibly supportive of her continuing education goals from the beginning. “I can’t speak highly enough about Dr. Stanage, and all the work he has done and continues to do to help the community. For example, Lewis and Clark is currently offering a program to provide mental health support for farmers and families affected by the flooding this past spring.” Pam has also has been blessed to work in varying capacities throughout the years with her first supervising physician, Dr. Alan Brevik. This was after she graduated from South Dakota State University as a Family Nurse Practitioner program in 1996. “We have worked side by side, and he has come to be a very good friend. He’s the smartest man I know! Besides my family, he has been one of the most influential and encouraging persons in my professional development.” Dr. Brevik also currently works at Lewis and Clark Behavioral Services. Pam has many interests outside of her nursing career, but the main ones include church, travel, golfing, and time spent with family. Pam effortlessly appears to weave them altogether with love. She says it perfectly: “I feel like I make it a priority to make time for the things I enjoy doing.” The family’s spiritual life has always been especially important to them. They have been very involved in Calvary Baptist Church in Yankton, and through the years have participated in vLIFELONG LEARNING continued on page 14 Proudly Serving You Since 1948! “Your Single Source” •HVAC • Plumbing • Electrical 808 W. 23rd, Yankton, SD | 605.665.2895 HERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2019v13