With a goal of providing comprehensive care for all patients, Kristin “Kris” Swanson, BSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. Set to graduate from Frontier Nursing University this year, Swanson serves as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for Birthmark Doula Collective/New Orleans Breastfeeding Center.
A Century of Stories: Leslie Copp, MSN, FNP, DNP (Class 57)
Frontier Nursing University alumni go on to do so many amazing things that it is sometimes easy to overlook the incredible accomplishments they achieved before graduating. Current DNP student Leslie Copp is a prime example. In the summer of 2023, Copp, whose husband Justin is a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army with 24 years of service, was one of 60 U.S. service members, veterans, and military spouses chosen as a Tillman Scholar.
Dr. Joan Slager Leaves Lasting Imprint on FNU
Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, announced last fall that she will retire as Dean of Nursing on February 28, 2025. Dr. Slager’s tenure as Dean began in 2018, but her dream of becoming a nurse-midwife and her connection to Frontier Nursing University started long before.
A Century of Stories: Breckinridge Capital Advisors
Founded in 1993 by Executive Chair Peter Coffin, Breckinridge Capital Advisors (BCA) is an independently owned asset manager based in Boston. Coffin, who is Chair of Frontier’s Foundation Board, served as BCA’s President for over 30 years before retiring on June 30, 2024. The relationship between BCA and Frontier Nursing University dates back to 2017, when BCA began its support of FNU’s Courier program. The FNU Courier program is an eight-week rural and public health-service learning program for college students interested in public health, healthcare, or a related field. BCA supports the Courier program as part of its own Ambassador Program, which is a charitable effort that includes five focused relationships, each led by a team of Breckinridge employees.
Courier Connection Leads to Physician Mentorship
For decades, the Frontier Nursing University’s Courier Program has drawn people from far beyond Appalachia to become immersed in public health through service. It also offers an opportunity to explore careers in healthcare and build connections. For Dr. Jonathan K. Allotey (Courier, 2016) and Dr. Elia R. Cole (Courier, 2009), the Courier Program offered a unique entry point into mentorship. Their first meeting was in 2016 when Dr. Cole (then a medical student) joined the Couriers virtually to share her experience as a courier. At the time, Dr. Allotey, an international student from Ghana, was taking a gap year after college while preparing to embark on a career in healthcare. For the next 8 years, they continued a series of conversations to support Dr. Allotey through his medical education. In 2024, Dr. Allotey graduated from Tulane University with a dual degree in Medicine and Public Health.
A Century of Stories: Patricia “Patsy” Lawrence
When Patricia “Patsy” Lawrence joined Frontier’s Courier program in 1946, little did she know it would be the start of a life-long relationship with Frontier. Her Courier experience was so impactful that, according to Patsy, her father said she “went away for six weeks and matured six years.” Patsy has been an instrumental figure in the Frontier Nursing Service and Frontier Nursing University through her efforts to share the mission and work of Frontier with colleagues and friends in Philadelphia and Boston.
Graduate Spotlight: Melody Mast, CNM, WHNP, shifts focus to women’s health as co-owner of Virginia clinic
After 15 years of clinical experience in a full-scope midwifery practice, FNU graduate Melody Mast, CNM, WHNP, has recently shifted her focus to women’s general health. And in this new chapter, she is partnering with a fellow FNU graduate.
A Century of Stories: Dr. Susan Stone
Dr. Susan Stone served as President of Frontier Nursing University from 2001-2024. During her tenure, Dr. Stone led the campus move from Hyden to Versailles, Kentucky. She championed prioritizing increasing enrollment and diversifying the student body to produce graduates prepared to address healthcare disparities nationwide. Under her leadership, FNU’s enrollment grew from 200 to more than 2,500. Enrollment of students of color grew from 9% in 2010 to 30% in 2024.
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