We have so much to be proud of in 2023, including our students, faculty, staff, alumni, preceptors and donors. We invite you to reflect on this past year at Frontier Nursing University.
FNU President Dr. Susan Stone to Transition to Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing
FNU President Dr. Susan Stone announced that she will transition into the role of FNU’s Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing at or near the end of 2023. In that role, she will spend more of her time outside of the university as a national leader and advocate for the nursing and midwifery professions. Her experience, expertise, knowledge, passion, and well-earned reputation as a leader makes Dr. Stone a strong voice in the worlds of nursing, midwifery, healthcare, and education.
Frontier Nursing University Announced New Mission Statement
At the January 2023 Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a new mission statement for the university: “Our mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.”
FNU Held 13th Annual Diversity Impact Conference; Open to Other Universities for the First Time
On June 8-9, FNU held its 13th annual Diversity Impact Conference. The theme of this year’s conference was “Better Together: Advancing a Culture of Identity and Belonging in Healthcare.” The two-day conference featured keynote presentations from nationally recognized leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This year, for the first time, the conference was available for attendees outside of FNU.
FNU Awarded $4 Million Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant to FNU. Via the grant, FNU intends to increase the number and diversity of the nurse-midwifery workforce with a focus on increasing the Hispanic population of nurse-midwives.
Paula Alexander-Delpech Named First Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success
FNU's current Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, was selected as the university’s first Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. Dr. Alexander-Delpech was named the university’s CDIO in 2022. Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech was also name the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network's (DEILN) Chair-Elect in 2023.
Dr. Tanya Belcheff Named Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
FNU announced that Dr. Tanya Belcheff, DNP, CNM, was selected as the university’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Belcheff has been an assistant professor in FNU’s nurse-midwifery program since 2016.
Dr. Kevin Scalf Named Department Chair of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department
FNU announced that Dr. Kevin Scalf, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl, accepted the position of Department Chair of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department. Dr. Scalf had been serving as the interim Department Chair since October 8.
FNU Faculty Selected to Participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute
Assistant Professor Dr. Joanne Keefe, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CNE, and Associate Professor Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, were among 41 nurse educators and nurses in practice selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute.
FNU Employees Participate in Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs
Ten FNU faculty members participated in the University’s inaugural Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Fellowship program. Through this initiative, which is fully funded by FNU, the faculty members attended a 12-week DEI training. The 10 2023 Nurse Educator Faculty Fellows were Drs. Tia Andrighetti, Joshua Barnes, Joanne Keefe, Heidi Loomis, Rebecca Lopez, Doreen Thomas-Payne, Audrey Perry, April Phillips, Kevin Scalf, and Erin Tenney.
Like the Nurse Educator Fellowship program, the Staff DEI Ambassador program aims to promote the acquisition of DEI-related skills, build DEI capacity within the University, and evaluate a peer-to-peer education model to improve staff knowledge and engagement in anti-racism work. Fifteen staff members are participating in the program: Shelley Aldridge, Stephanie Boyd, Megan Caldwell, Lisa Colletti-Jones, Susan Copley, Kendra Danae-Harris, Chris Hall, Debi Howard, Brittney Kinison, Christi Orr, Janice Ponstein, Caitlin Rivard, Audrey Stewart, Chris Turley and Jamie Wheeler.
FNU Received INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions HEED Award for Sixth Consecutive Year
FNU received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for the sixth consecutive year. As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — FNU was featured, along with 64 other recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
FNU's 2023 Day of Giving
FNU raised $73,442 from 129 donors! Thank you to our alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff who answered the call to raise awareness and support for advanced education of nursing and midwifery students. Save the date for FNU's next Day of Giving which will be held from noon to noon, October 22-23, 2024.
FNU's Commencement Ceremony
FNU’s commencement ceremony honored the nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who have completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Master in Science of Nursing degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate. FNU, which awarded 1,001 degrees in 2021 and 1,040 in 2022, awarded more than 1,000 degrees again this year for master’s, doctoral, and post-graduate certificate graduates. FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, gave the keynote address. Graduates and their friends and families enjoyed a celebration event on our campus following the ceremony.
FNU
Earned “Great College to Work For” Designation for Third Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, FNU was named one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The designation is based on data and information collected from our faculty and staff, whose responses verify that we have established a proven culture of caring, fairness, and belonging. In turn, that allows Frontier to perform at the highest level in service to our students and our mission.
FNU Student Veterans of America Group Gained National Chapter Status
FNU's Student Veterans Group, one of six Student Interest Groups at FNU, was accepted into the Student Veterans of America (SVA) national network.With a focused mission on empowering student veterans, SVA is committed to providing an educational experience that goes beyond the classroom. Through a dedicated network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters in all 50 states and four countries representing more than 750,000 student veterans, SVA aims to inspire yesterday’s warriors by connecting student veterans with a community of like-minded chapter leaders.
Frontier Nursing University Held Preceptor Celebration Week
FNU's first Preceptor Celebration Week was held August 14-18, 2023, to honor the important role that preceptors play in advanced practice nursing education. Preceptor Celebration Week also marked the beginning of FNU’s preceptor contest, with the three winning preceptors each receiving $500 gift vouchers. Nominations for outstanding FNU-credentialed preceptors will be accepted through June 1, 2024, at frontier.edu/preceptorweek.
FNU held first Homecoming on Versailles Campus
FNU held its first Homecoming event held on the Versailles campus. The event included the presentation of FNU’s annual service awards. Homecoming 2023 also included campus tours, a buffet lunch, a state-of-the-university address from Dr. Stone, and a Continuing Education course titled “Identification and Treatment of Mood Disorders” delivered by Dr. Kevin Scalf, DNP, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl. Plans are already underway for Homecoming 2024 on March 23.
FNU Community Members Recognized at 2023 AANP Conference
FNU faculty, staff, students, alumni and preceptors attended the 2023 AANP National Conference from June 20 to June 25 in New Orleans, LA. The AANP National Conference is the largest nurse practitioner conference in the United States. With a focus on "Restoring, Recharging and Renewing the Nurse Practitioner Community," the conference offered something for every nurse practitioner. Many FNU community members presented, received scholarships, and were recognized during this year’s conference. We commend all of these individuals for their excellent work as nurse practitioner leaders!
FNU Community Members Recognized at 2023 ACNM Conference
FNU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and preceptors had the opportunity to attend the 68th Annual American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Meeting and Exhibition in Orlando, Fl. FNU is excited to highlight many of our community members who presented or were recognized during this year’s ACNM Conference. We commend all of these individuals for their excellent work as nurse-midwifery leaders!
FNU Relaunched Summer Courier program
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, one of Frontier Nursing University’s oldest programs relaunched this summer behind the leadership of the Director of Annual Giving and Courier Program, Lisa Colletti-Jones. The Courier Program, which was operated from the Versailles campus for the first time, provided an opportunity for two college students to participate in an eight-week service learning internship within Woodford County, which is home to the city of Versailles and the FNU campus.
Frontier Personnel Active in Local Community
As FNU has settled into its campus in Versailles, Ky., the university has become an active entity within the local community, from leadership programs to Go Red Luncheons to 5Ks. Staff members Te’sia Carter, Jelena Djuricic, Quincy Fuehne, Kendra-Danaē Harris and Rosalie Seitz graduated from the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce’s Woodford Leadership Academy in 2023. Staff members Eileen Frazier, Erica Schroeder, Megan Cadwell and Brittany Bachman are currently participating in a separate program called Leadership Woodford County. FNU is also a sponsor of and frequent presenter in the monthly Woodford County Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Round Table. Brittney Kinison graduated from Leadership Central Kentucky, a regional leadership program offered by Commerce Lexington, and Amanda Revely is currently participating.
Employees enjoyed making memories at the summer bash and with a Couch to 5K group. The Kentucky affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives hosted its first Miles for Midwives 5K on September 2 in Lexington, Ky. The event, which was sponsored by FNU, included several members of the Frontier community.
We are so proud of the FNU community and look forward to 2024!
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