Joyce Gentry was raised in Mercer County and graduated from Princeton High School. Her dad was a farmer, and her mother owned and operated Gentry’s Flower Shop.
While attending Truman State University (NMSU), she was a member of the Student Nurses Association. She was active on campus with Delta Zeta Sorority, serving as vice president for new member education. She was also a member of the Rhythmettes squad.
After graduating from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she moved to Columbia, Mo. and has been employed as a staff nurse at Columbia Regional Hospital, HST Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital and University of Missouri Health Care. Her specialty areas include critical care and trauma, cardiovascular and oncology. She has spent several years performing research at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center – specifically research related to HIV-AIDS, oncology and hematology and tumor markers.
She received a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, School, and Counseling Psychology focusing on health education and promotion from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
For 15 years she was full-time faculty at the Columbia Public Schools program of practical nursing. Since 2004, she has been a full-time faculty in the nursing program at Columbia College, having been promoted to tenured professor and serving as department chair and director 2017-2019. She is currently serving as the CC Faculty Association President. She has had the honor of working with Dr. Terry Smith at Columbia College for many years.
She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honorary. In addition, she is currently serving as a member of the Missouri State Board of Nursing Minimum Standards Task Force. She is active in the Columbia community as a member of the Mid-Missouri Truman State Alumni Association, an auxiliary member of the VFW, Mizzou Alumni Association and a local, district, state, and national officer of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
She is the proud mother of Aaron (and wife Visky) Coleman and Chris and (wife Taylor) Coleman, and grandmother of Charlotte and Talia.