From the moment Assistant Professor of Nursing Virginia Kobersteen walked into her school counselor’s office at age six and declared, “I’m going to be a nurse,” her path was set.
What she didn’t yet know was how far that dream would take her—from trauma centers to correctional facilities, to classrooms full of aspiring nurses.
Now a nursing instructor at Germanna, Professor Kobersteen teaches all three of the College’s fourth-semester nursing courses and oversees 12-hour clinical shifts at Mary Washington Hospital. Her impact reaches beyond the classroom—she also advises the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society and serves as a mentor to many of her students.
But for her, it’s all about sharing what she’s lived.
Professor Kobersteen’s journey into nursing began early. After graduating high school in 1988, she went straight into a five-semester associate degree program, earning her registered nurse licensure by the end of 1990. As a first-generation college student, she was determined to keep pushing forward—no matter what life threw her way.
“I went back to school in 1996, but then life happened,” she recalls. “I got married, had a baby, moved to Texas, took more classes, then moved back to Virginia before 9/11.” Her husband, a firefighter, was working in Washington, D.C. that day, and the experience left a lasting impact. “It was a really difficult time. It changes you.”
Professor Kobersteen returned to school and completed both her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2006 and master’s degree in nursing education in 2012 from George Mason University. She recently finished a second master’s degree in health sciences from The George Washington University and has been accepted into The Ohio State University’s Doctor of Nursing Education program, with plans to graduate in 2027.
Despite her impressive academic path, Professor Kobersteen has never forgotten her clinical roots—especially her love for emergency medicine. “I was the first candy striper allowed in the ER when I was 13,” she says. “I just knew I wanted to be there. I liked the pace, the unpredictability. I’ve seen it all.”
That background gives her a unique edge as an educator.
Outside of work, Professor Kobersteen’s commitment to care continues. For the past 20 years, she has volunteered as the medical director for a summer camp run by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, where children with muscular dystrophy enjoy a week of accessible fun while their caregivers get a break.
“We bring in physical therapists, nurses, EMTs—everyone we need to take care of the kids so they can just have a good time,” she shares. “We have adaptive zip lines, rock walls, swimming pools. It’s the highlight of my year.”
Her husband, who now runs the largest Fill the Boot campaign in the nation, shares her passion for service, and Professor Kobersteen is often helping behind the scenes. Their two sons have followed in their parents’ footsteps: one is a police officer, and the other is finishing his degree at Radford University with the hope of becoming a theater teacher or working in film.
With nearly 35 years in nursing behind her, Professor Kobersteen shows no signs of slowing down. For her, it’s always been about answering a calling—and helping others do the same.