About the Star

Joanne Dupuis is the Director of Nursing Simulation and Skills Laboratories arriving at UMass Lowell in August, 2008. She is an experienced nurse educator with several specialty certifications and expertise in teaching with clinical simulation. At UML, she teaches undergraduate nursing students in Physical Assessment and Fundamentals of Nursing and is also an adjunct faculty member of the Nursing Department at MassBay Community College. She is currently expanding the Nursing Simulation program as part of the Nursing Laboratories.

She has some past experience in dancing and has competed in several competitions with a former dance partner. Several people have asked her if Sim Man was going to be her partner in for the competition. Unfortunately, Sim Man has many talents but dancing is not one of them. In UML Dancing With the Stars, she will be performing disco hustle with her partner, Anshuman. She would like to thank Anshuman for his extreme patience in working with her to develop the routine they will be performing as well as the rest of the UML Ballroom Dance Club for such a fun experience.

About her Partner

Anshuman Shrivastava is a PhD candidate in Plastics Engineering Department. He joined the UMass Lowell Ballroom Dance Club during the Spring of 2008 and has been speaking the language of ballroom music through his feet since then. During the past year of his Ballroom club involvement he has assisted with teaching the beginners ballroom classes and supported new members learning advanced moves quickly. He has been an enthusiastic club member and represented UMass Lowell at various dance meets as a Bronze level couple. Often you can find him answering the question "Can Engineers Dance?"

Beginning Interview

This interview was taken during week 2 of 10 of Joanne's preparation.