Health Services

Jessica Ange, MD
Medical Director

Originally from Pensacola, Florida, Jessica Ange graduated from Wake Forest University with a BA in Religion (’98) followed by her Medical Doctorate (’02). She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (’05). Dr. Ange served in the US Air Force from 2002-2009, completing a residency in Family Medicine at Scott Air Force Base jointly with St. Louis University, followed by a deployment to Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. She spent the remainder of her military service in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota at Ellsworth Air Force Base.   In 2009 she returned to North Carolina, working with Sylva Family Practice until she joined the WCU Health Services team in 2018.  She considers working in college health one of the most fulfilling careers in medicine and loves helping students as they learn to navigate the health care system to advocate for their own health and wellbeing.  When not working, she enjoys camping and rock climbing with her family, playing her bass guitar in their family band, and caring for her backyard chickens.

Carmen Nations, MD
Assistant Medical Director

Dr. Nations grew up in Cherokee, NC and attended high school in Sylva, NC. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a BS in Preprofessional Sciences then attended the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT. After completing a Pediatrics Residency at East Tennessee State University, she returned home to practice Pediatrics in WNC for 20 years before joining WCU Health Services in the Fall of 2021.

Dr. Nations enjoys getting to know college students and providing care for them. She says it makes her feel young again! Other interests include photography, hiking, watching sports and movies, and spending time with her  family.

Kristy Hopkins, NP-C
Nurse Practitioner

Kristy grew up locally in Jackson County and continues to love this area. She stayed to continue her education here at Western Carolina University. First, she obtained her BSN in nursing in 2002. She then worked at Harris Regional hospital for several years and started her family and went back to Western Carolina to obtain her MSN as a family nurse practitioner, completing the program in 2010. She has always had a love for pediatrics and initially practiced at Sylva Pediatrics. In 2012 an opportunity arose at WCU Health Services and she was able to return to campus, this time to provide care for the campus community. She loves being able to care for students at Western Carolina. It really is her passion and she wants the best for the students, faculty, and staff she sees. When not providing care, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, including her daughter play softball, and just enjoying being outside in this beautiful area in which we are located.

Nancy Penff, NP-C
Nurse Practitioner

Nancy has been serving the students of WCU since Spring 2021.  She is a Catamount alumnus with both nursing degrees from WCU (BSN 2008, MSN 2012).  Previously, she worked at the Jackson County Department of Health with emphasis in women’s health and STIs.  She also worked at Harris Regional Hospital Wound Center, as an Advanced Practice Certified Wound Care Nurse (Emory University).  She holds a BS in Combined Sciences (Santa Clara University), and a MS Textile Engineering & Science (North Carolina State University).  Prior to Nursing, she was an Environmental Research Chemist at Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center and the Desert Research Institute.  On weekends, you can find her up high on a mountain ridge relaxing with her 2 dogs and husband of 28 years, or hiking, biking, and SUPing on the many trails and lakes of beautiful Western North Carolina.

Lauren Webb, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Originally from Montana, Lauren Webb graduated from Montana State University in 2008 with her bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. She then went on to work as a phlebotomist at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital until she moved to Albuquerque for graduate school. Lauren graduated in 2012 with her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and moved with her husband to North Carolina. She worked in a variety of positions at Cherokee Indian Hospital, including the emergency room, immediate care clinic, primary care and pediatrics for over nine years. In January 2022, she accepted a position at WCU Health Services and has enjoyed working with students to achieve physical and mental health for lifelong success.

Robin Foley, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

Robin joined Western Carolina University Health Services in the Spring of 2021.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from WCU in 2017, prior to that, she worked as a peri-operative registered nurse for 16 years. She then went on to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing degree through the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of South Alabama, graduation in December of 2020.  She resides in Franklin, NC and enjoys spending her free time assisting with productions at the local community theatre company.