Faculty and Staff

Jhaymie Cappiello earned his Bachelor of Science in Cardio-Respiratory Sciences in 1984 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and his Master of Science in Respiratory Care Leadership from Northeastern University in 2014. Jhaymie entered respiratory care as a clinician in 1980, spent his last 29 years at Duke University Hospital in various roles, and taught as adjunct faculty in degree advancement programs for the last seven. Jhaymie was awarded the AARC Practitioner of the Year- Acute Care Specialty Section in 2008 and the Gail Gane Educator of the Year from the NCSRC in 2020.Jhaymie is a strong believer in the high value of the Respiratory Care Practitioner within healthcare. “It is not without this fundamental specialty that a highly vulnerable population will be properly cared for”. Jhaymie lives with his wife in Raleigh, North Carolina and loves to cook!

CV available upon request

Brian Cayko earned his Bachelors of Science in 2002 from Montana State University, an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy in 2004, a Masters of Business Education (Healthcare Track) from the University of Mary in Bismark, ND, and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Montana in Educational Leadership. He has been teaching in Respiratory Care education since 2008 & has previously served as Director of Clinical Education for an entry-level RT program. Brian has been with the Boise State Degree Advancement Program since 2016. Brian has passionately served the profession at the state and national levels. His experience includes Chair of the AARC Bylaws & Social Media Committees, House of Delegates, and numerous other AARC, MSRC, & Montana Licensing Board Committees. His clinical background is in adult critical care. Brian received the esteemed Fellow of the AARC designation in 2018 in recognition of his service to the profession.

CV available upon request

Jessica Foreman-Starks has been a respiratory care practitioner since 2011. A lifelong Bronco, Jessica is an alumnus of all three BSU respiratory care programs, graduating from the on-campus program in May 2011, the degree-advancement program in December 2011, and the MSRC program in August 2020. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings including level IV NICU, chronic disease management and patient education, and even organ transplant coordination. She has lived and worked in the Bay Area of California since 2014, where she now resides with her partner, two sons, and her cat.

CV available upon request

Lanny Inabnit PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, RCP, FAARC earned his Associates of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy from Southern Illinois University in 1994, a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management from East Carolina University in 2009, a Master of Science in Respiratory Care Leadership from Northeastern University in 2014, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services Research from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2024. Lanny’s research interests are related to COPD outcomes in urban and rural populations. He currently serves on the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board and has served as a Delegate for North Carolina in the AARC House of Delegates. He has been an active member of the AARC since 1993. Lanny lives in Concord,
North Carolina with his wife. He has two children who are in college.

CV available upon request

Megan Koster is Department Chair and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Respiratory Care. She has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist since 2007, specializing in neonatal and pediatric intensive care. Koster earned a Master of Health Science with an emphasis in Health Promotion from Boise State University in 2011 and has been full time faculty since. Koster earned her Doctorate in Education from the University of New England in 2017, focusing primarily on innovative methods of identifying and assessing intellect in the undergraduate admissions process. The theory and assessment of both intellect and skill, specifically in clinically-based programs throughout higher education, continues to be a primary research interest.   More about Megan Koster

CV available upon request

Trevor Lee earned his Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care in 2018 from Boise State and is currently enrolled in the Master’s in Science of Respiratory Care (MSRC) here at Boise State University. For the last four years, Trevor has worked at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, with a clinical background primarily in the adult CTICU and Emergency Department. Advancing the profession of Respiratory Care has become one of Trevor’s passions, and he hopes to instill this in each student within the Respiratory Care department. Trevor, Mckenzie (wife), and Brady (son) have relocated back home to Boise and are excited to meet everyone within the department! Trevor will be joining our team in primary support of the on-campus BSRC program.

CV available upon request

Dr. Amanda Leightner PhD, RRT, RRT-SDS, CCSH, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, FAARC earned her Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care in 2000, Master of Health and Human Services in 2013 and a PhD of Health Sciences in 2022, all from Youngstown State University. Her previous work experience includes critical care, trauma, NICU, and Polysomnography. Areas of research interest include cultural competencies; respiratory care fundamentals, and Polysomnography with a focus on Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) adherence. Her most recent research focused on PAP adherence, disruptive behavior in the respiratory workforce and a neuro-accounting study. She currently serves on the National Board Respiratory Care (NBRC) board of directors, serves as the AARC sleep section chair, President- elect Lambda Beta Board of Directors and the OSRC program planning committee. She is one of only five in the United States that holds every Polysomnography credential.

CV available upon request

Kristen McHenry earned her Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science in 2005, Master of Science in Allied Health Education in 2013, and Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis in 2017, all from East Tennessee State University. She holds a specialty credential in adult critical care (ACCS) which is where she spent most of her career practicing in Bristol, TN. McHenry has served as the co-chair of the Education Committee for the Tennessee Society for Respiratory Care and been an active member of the AARC since 2013. She has a genuine interest in the areas of respiratory compromise in neuromuscular diseases such as ALS and RTs as telehealth providers. Research endeavors also include mentoring and curriculum development within Interprofessional Education and Practice.

CV available upon request

Camille Stover earned her Bachelors of Science in Respiratory Care from Boise State in 2014 and a Master of Education Technology from Boise State in 2018. Camille joined the department in 2017 as a Graduate Assistant and joined the department full time in 2019 as a Clinical Assistant Professor. As of 2021 Camille is now the On Campus Program Director.

CV available upon request

TJ Wing earned his Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy in 2002, a Masters of Health Science with a Leadership emphasis in 2008 and a Doctorate in Educational Technology in 2018 from Boise State University. He has been teaching adult critical care and neonatal/pediatric emergency medicine in the Respiratory Care Program since 2003. TJ helped develop the BSRC DAP from the ground up, creating and delivering many of the foundational courses that are offered today. He has taught online courses since 2007 while completely dedicating his teaching workload to 100% online since 2015. TJ is passionate about online education with his dissertation focusing on formative versus summative assessment within online health care courses. More about TJ Wing.

CV available upon request

Alyssa Zemke is the Director of Clinical Education for the Department of Respiratory Care. She has been a respiratory therapist in the valley since 2006 with adult critical care as her area of expertise.  Alyssa graduated from Boise State’s on-campus Respiratory Care Program in 2006 and earned her Masters of Science in Respiratory Care in 2020 with an emphasis on the development and implementation of a chest trauma pathway. Her research interests include tracheostomy and laryngectomy management and care, tobacco cessation and prevention, as well as the use of esophageal pressure monitoring to find optimal PEEP levels. Alyssa has been an adjunct faculty at Boise State since 2010.  She and her husband have two kids and enjoy spending time together outdoors.

CV available upon request

Mandy Hart is an alumna of Boise State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies.  She earned her Master of Science in Academic Advising from Kansas State University in 2016.  Mandy has worked at Boise State University off and on for the last 10 years.  She joined the Respiratory Care team at the beginning of this year.  Mandy grew up in Idaho and loves everything about Boise and Boise State University.  She enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her dogs.

Daniel Lemus earned his Masters in Public Administration degree through Boise State University in 2021. He started his career at the College of Western Idaho and moved to Boise State University in 2018. Daniel joined the Respiratory Care team in August of 2022 and couldn’t be happier. The quality of the program, the great people he works with, and the community around the program all continue to impress him. Both he and his wife are Boise natives and love taking advantage of the diverse landscape the Treasure Valley holds.

Tina Stryker is the Management Assistant for the Department of Respiratory Care. A recent addition to the Boise State University community, she brings a wealth of administrative experience and a sociology degree from California State University, Stanislaus, to the department. When away from the office, she enjoys adventurous outings with her husband and two daughters, discovering new events, activities, and culinary delights around town.

Murphy is a loveable three year old Giant Schnauzer Poodle whose mom Camille Stover, Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor, brings to work with her to brighten our days.