Seasoned Physician Assistant, Journalism Scholar Join MC Faculty

Katryna Horton and Nicholas R. Buzzelli have joined the Mississippi College faculty.

Katryna Horton, M.P.A.S.

Katryna Horton, a physician assistant with practice experience in orthopedics, primary care, urgent care, and internal medicine in Marion and West Memphis, Arkansas, and a captain in the Arkansas Army National Guard, has joined the Mississippi College faculty as an assistant professor of physician assistant studies.

Dr. Steve Martin, professor and program director in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, said Horton comes from a family of teachers and, as she adjusts to academic life, has already begun lecturing at MC.

“We’re finding that she has a confident and effective teaching style, loves our students, and has already been a big asset to our department,” Martin said. “She is taking the lead in setting up our new Medical Simulation Center, which will be operational in the spring.”

Horton received her B.A. in general studies magna cum laude from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, with a minor in healthcare missions that was earned through a semester spent in Zambia, Africa. During her undergraduate studies, she served as a platoon leader in the 213th Area Medical Support Company while earning her commission as an army officer from Arkansas State University, Beebe ROTC program.

She completed the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, obtaining her B.S. in physician assistant studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and from the Army Medical Department Center and School, Academy of Health Sciences, San Antonio, Texas. Horton had clinical rotations at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and earned her M.P.A.S. at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Horton has been a physician assistant in the Arkansas Army National Guard since 2016 while concurrently working as an orthopedic physician assistant for Samuel G. Meredith, M.D. Orthopedics in Marion, Arkansas; as a physician assistant at Community Family Medical in Marion; and as a physician assistant at Hashmi Medical Associates.

During her military career, Horton has received the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Arkansas Service Ribbon. She served on a State Active Duty deployment in response to Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Horton is an active member of the Society of Army Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and has served as a Young Life Committee Member in Crittenden County, Arkansas, for three years. She has been married to her husband, Ethan Horton, for eight years and has three young children: Jonah, Jacob, and JoleAnne.

Nicholas R. Buzzelli, M.A.

Nicholas R. Buzzelli, a journalism scholar working to obtain his Ph.D. in communication and information sciences from the University of Alabama, has joined the Mississippi College faculty as an instructor in communication.

Dr. Reid Vance, assistant professor and chair of communication at MC, said Buzzelli brings a significant track record of scholarly excellence and experience in student media to the Christian University, especially for someone still early in his teaching career.

“He’ll be our primary journalism professor, advising ‘The Collegian’ and helping to reshape our department’s student media offerings over the coming year,” Vance said. “I’ve already heard many comments from Dr. Buzzelli’s students about how much they’re enjoying his classes.

“He connects easily with students and is already investing in their success.”

After receiving his B.A. in communication from Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, Buzzelli earned his M.A. in journalism at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, before pursuing his Ph.D. He is the author or coauthor of nine articles in peer-reviewed professional publications, two book chapters, and 11 conference papers or presentations.

A peer reviewer for “Sport in Society” and the “Howard Journal of Communications,” Buzzelli received the 2020 Top Student Paper Award, Communication and Sport Division, from the National Communication Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, and the 2019 Top Student Paper Award, Open Division, at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s 44th annual Southeast Colloquium in Columbia, South Carolina.