A member of Sigma Theta Tau, International, Dr. Mitchell holds a Doctorate in Forensic Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Her Master’s Degree in Nursing has a focus in trauma and forensic nursing from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Mitchell also has a Master of Business in Administration degree and a Master in Education. Her bachelor’s degree is in Nursing from the Medical College of Virginia. Her nursing career spans over thirty years with experience in critical care, emergency nursing, forensic nursing, risk management, and patient safety.

In 1993, Dr. Mitchell began her forensic nursing career as the Coordinator of the Forensic Nurse Examiners of St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. In 2002, she relocated to Houston and held the position of Deputy Chief Forensic Nurse Investigator at the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office in Houston, Texas, for six years. From 2008 to 2017, she was the Administrative Director of Forensic Nursing Services and Risk Management and Patient Safety for Harris Health System. Currently, Dr. Mitchell is a Clinical Professor at Texas A&M University School of Nursing and Program Coordinator for the Forensic Health Care Program. She teaches in the Master of Science in Nursing in the Forensic Nursing track as well as provides SANE education for the state of Texas in collaboration with the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Dr. Mitchell is also the Director of the Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing at Texas A&M Health.

Dr. Mitchell has served as a Director at Large for two terms, Treasurer, President- Elect and President on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN). She is a founding Board Member of the Academy of Forensic Nursing and Past-President of the resurrected Forensic Nursing Certification Board. Since 2020, Dr. Mitchell serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for End Violence Against Women International.

Recently, Dr. Mitchell was honored an innovation in technology award by Texas A&M University for her work in virtual reality and forensic nursing education. She also received the Bronze medal from the Good Samaritan Foundation. She has also been named as one of the Top 20 Outstanding Nurses by the Texas Nurses Association District 9. In October 2017, she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She also received the Virginia Lynch Pioneer in Forensic Nursing award in 2015. Dr. Mitchell is a frequent invited speaker at domestic and international nursing conferences and training seminars. She is regularly called upon to provide expert testimony regarding forensic nursing issues, sexual assault, child abuse, child sexual abuse, and trauma.