Shelly Tannehill is a welcome addition to the Nursing faculty at CCCC, with over 21 years of experience as a nurse. She most recently served as a Professor of Nursing at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona.

Tannehill, who originally thought her chosen profession would be as a nurse practitioner, discovered a real passion for teaching. She served as a medic in the U.S. Air Force for 3 years, stationed at the same Air Force base in Germany her father served at 10 years earlier. A newlywed, Tannehill and her husband Chuck, a retired Marine, relocated to Ridgecrest when he accepted a job with a local defense contractor. The two have been together over 11 years and enjoy expeditions and adventures all over the world. From some of the most beautiful and exotic destinations like Germany, Los Cabos, Jamaica, Cozumel, and Hawaii, to more domestic locations like New York City, St. Louis, Wyoming, Colorado, and more, their experiences have allowed them to see life through a unique lens that challenges the conceptions of the conventional. During their honeymoon cruise, the two competed against three other couples in an Amazing Race through Cozumel, Mexico, completing more than 30 challenges and winning the bronze medal.

Tannehill grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and is not finding it difficult to acclimate to the small town feel of Ridgecrest. Their daughter Carla, a student at Arizona State University, will graduate in the spring and their son Chas is the father of their four adorable grandchildren. Tannehill holds an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, and a Bachelor’s in Nursing and a Master’s in Nursing Education from the University of Phoenix.