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2023 Frontier Nursing University Diversity Impact Conference Open to Other Universities

On June 8-9, 2023, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will hold its annual Diversity Impact Conference. This year, for the first time, the conference will be available for attendees outside of FNU. The two-day conference will feature keynote presentations on both days from nationally recognized leaders. Additional sessions will include panel discussions, breakout sessions, and time for reflection.

Learn More Register Meet the Speakers Schedule

“We are extremely excited about the 2023 Diversity Impact Conference,” said Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “The Conference gets better each and every year, and we are putting the finishing touches on the plan for this year’s sessions. We are most excited, however, about being able to include more attendees this year. As we grow this important event, we want to invite leaders and students from some of our area universities to join us. This event is all about collaboration, learning, and growing, and I’m confident that it will benefit any university, department, or individual.”

Students attending any institution can register for the conference for free by visiting our registration page. All others can register with an early bird discount by May 5, 2023 or at our regular registration price starting May 6, 2023 until the day before the event. Reserve your spot now.

Interested in Sponsoring This Year’s Conference?

We invite you to consider sponsoring the conference as a way to share your business with attendees who are committed to excellence in healthcare. We will be hosting online sessions featuring speakers and healthcare professionals from across the country, discussing topics pertinent to all primary care health providers. Sponsorship is a great way to promote your business to this highly motivated and targeted audience that is dedicated to the advancement of healthcare.

If you are interested in sponsoring this incredible event, please contact Bobbi Silver, directly or sign up online. If your organization is unable to sponsor the event this year, we encourage your employees to register as a participant.

Become a Sponsor

April 19, 2023
Frontier Nursing University Faculty Selected to Participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute

Frontier Nursing University is proud to announce that Assistant Professor Dr. Joanne Keefe, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CNE, and Associate Professor Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, are among the 41 nurse educators and nurses in practice selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute.

Dr. Keefe joined FNU’s faculty in 2015 after obtaining both her MSN and DNP from FNU. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner in a frontier area of Southwest New Mexico, with more than 20 years of experience in nursing. Her current work focuses on rural health disparities and capacity building, with a focus on bringing home health and hospice to the area. She is a member of the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty, the New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. Stone-Gale, who has been at FNU since 2014, has practiced in primary care for 30 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner and maintains a practice in Plantation, Florida. She is a Fellow of both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Stone-Gale received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Florida Board of Nursing (BON), which she did for four years, serving as Chair of the BON for two years. She is currently the Chair of the North Florida probable cause panel and President of the South Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses, a local nurse practitioner organization, and first VP of Legislation for the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Keefe and Dr. Stone-Gale have been selected for this prestigious opportunity,” said FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN. “They are both outstanding nurses and educators who set a great example for fellow faculty and students alike.”

The NLN Leadership Institute, under the NLN Center for Transformational Leadership, offers a dual-track curriculum. LEAD is appropriate for nurses in education and practice who have recently been challenged with the rapid transition into leadership positions, those already in positions of leadership who want formal leadership development, and others who identify as emerging leaders or have leadership aspirations. The Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators is designed for the experienced simulation nurse educator who aspires to a leadership role in simulation. Sim Leadership track participants focus on maximizing their leadership potential to advance simulation initiatives in nursing education and practice.

These year-long programs represent a significant investment in professional leadership development. Participants on both tracks spend a calendar year engaged in activities to identify personal and professional goals; learn about what makes an effective leader; and strategize how to retool skill sets and experiences to achieve individual and institutional benchmarks. To that end, everyone receives intensive one-on-one executive coaching. In addition, they attend online group coaching sessions, a retreat, and webinars, where they study leadership theory and practices that include case study.

The 2023 Leadership Institute has already had its first meeting, an in-person orientation. The Intensive Leadership Retreat is scheduled for July 25-28 in Washington, D.C. The groups will later reconvene at the 2023 NLN Education Summit: Extraordinary Nurse Educators: Leading Extraordinary Times, September 28-30 in Washington, DC.

“The National League for Nursing Leadership Institute is among the most highly respected leadership development initiatives in the field,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. “We look forward to another year of rewarding and productive achievement, helping to boost the personal and professional standing of this exclusive cohort chosen for the Institute’s 2023 Lead and Sim Leadership programs.”

About the National League for Nursing
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to nearly 45,000 individual and over 1,000 institutional members, including nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and healthcare organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.

Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, faculty and staff!

April 17, 2023
Precepting: More Impactful Than You Know and Easier Than You Think
A Message from Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager

The Winter 2023 issue of the Frontier Quarterly Bulletin celebrates preceptors and the essential role they play for our students. It included a special message from Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, who explains the importance of preceptors and lists the main reasons to be a preceptor. Read Dr. Slager’s message below.

Dean of Nursing
Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN
Bio

Each of us has our own reasons for why we chose a career in healthcare, but common amongst us is a shared desire to serve others. We are heartened by the mission of Frontier Nursing University to care for underserved people and provide care to all those in need. We all chose to answer the call to serve. It is not an easy road to travel, and all of us relied on the support of others – friends, family, classmates, instructors, and preceptors – to achieve our goal of becoming nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives.

How can we thank all the people who helped us achieve our goals? We can thank them by being devoted and skilled professionals, yes, but also by paying it forward to those who come after us. Even with our more than 8,700 alumni, Frontier Nursing University cannot meet the needs of all of the healthcare deserts in our country. That is why we continue to educate and prepare 2,500 students per year to answer the same call we did. Those are 2,500 students who are reliant upon the support of their friends, family, instructors, and, yes, preceptors.

Frontier’s Clinical Outreach and Placement Services team is ready to answer your questions and guide you through the process. That process begins by simply registering to be a potential preceptor. You are eligible to do so one year after you have graduated from your educational program.

Registering as a potential preceptor comes with no commitment other than being open to a student contacting you about possibly having you as their preceptor. As you know, FNU students come into the clinical setting highly trained and well-prepared, which is supported by our preceptor survey results. Precepting comes with an honorarium and free CEs, but mostly it comes with the satisfaction of giving back to those who supported you by paying it forward. It is a rewarding experience and one that is vital to each and every FNU student.

Even if every FNU alumnus precepted just one FNU student, think of the impact that would have on our communities across the country. So, we are asking you to once again answer the call to serve, this time as a preceptor sharing your knowledge, expertise, experience, and dedication to students so that they, too, might provide excellent and compassionate care in their own communities.

Thank you for representing FNU every day through your passion and commitment to your patients. Thank you also, in advance, for registering as a potential preceptor for FNU students. I assure you that you won’t regret it.

With gratitude,
Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN Dean of Nursing

Dr. Slager’s Top Reasons to Precept
1. Seeing a student’s “light bulb” come on is so exciting.
2. You get to evaluate potential new hires.
3. Someone needs YOU as badly as you needed your preceptor.
4. Taking a student is an inexpensive investment in your practice’s future.
5. Opportunity to be a role model.
6. Students bring the most up-to-date information to your practice.
7. Students’ enthusiasm breathes energy into a practice.
8. Your patients love the added attention – they get two for the price of one!
9. Having trouble finding the perfect partner for your practice? Take a student (or three) and see if there is a match.
To learn more about becoming a preceptor for Frontier Nursing University, visit our website.
April 13, 2023
Observing Black Maternal Health Week

One of the most troubling trends in American healthcare within the last few years has been the steady rise of maternal mortality rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1,205 women died of maternal causes in 2021, compared to 861 in 2020 and 754 in 2019. The maternal mortality rate for 2021 was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019.

These numbers become even more dismal when considering the rate of maternal mortality among Black women in the U.S. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women (26.6).¹

To bring awareness to this issue affecting Black mothers, Black Maternal Health Week is observed each year from April 11 to 17. Intentionally held during National Minority Health Month, Black Maternal Health Week was founded and is led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), and is designed to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black mothers and birthing people. This year, the theme for the week is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!”

According to a statistical brief from BMMA, Black women are more likely to experience preterm birth, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes than women of other races. They are also more likely to experience postpartum depression and other mental health issues.

The brief also highlights the systemic factors that contribute to these disparities. These include structural racism, economic stability, lack of access to healthcare, and implicit bias within the healthcare system. For example, Black women are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care than women of other races, and they are more likely to experience discrimination and mistreatment during childbirth.²

BMMA is working to address these issues by advocating for policy change and community-led solutions. The organization believes that community-led solutions are critical to improving Black maternal health, as they center the voices and experiences of Black women and their families.

To learn more about Black Maternal Health Week and the work of BMMA, visit their website.

At Frontier Nursing University (FNU), helping to address this issue is critical as we work each day to provide education for ethical, compassionate, innovative, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

“It is imperative that our students, faculty and staff have cultural awareness and competency to help overcome racial disparities in health care,” said FNU president Dr. Susan Stone. “Many of us can grasp, empathize and even identify with the constant and persistent stress families face when a loved one is sick. Our hope is a renewed focus on social injustices will allow people to open their hearts in the same way when it comes to racism.”

At FNU, we are proud of the fact that many of our graduates are currently working to address inequities in healthcare and are providing compassionate care for underserved populations. In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, let us introduce you to two of them.

Dr. Stephanie Mitchell, DNP, CNM, CPM

To the casual observer, opening Birth Sanctuary Gainesville might not make a lot of sense. First, Gainesville is a rural town in Alabama with a population of less than 200. Second, because of state regulations that severely restrict the scope of care nurse-midwives can provide, there are no birth centers in the entire state. That is about to change because FNU alumni Dr. Stephanie Mitchell, DNP, CNM, CPM, plans to open Birth Sanctuary Gainesville later this year. While the uncertainties are many, Mitchell insists, “It will get done.”

Mitchell is the sort of person who finds ways to get things done. Barriers represent an opportunity rather than a permanent roadblock. Even her road to becoming a nurse-midwife was a circuitous one. Where others might have given up and changed course, Mitchell never wavered from her plan.

Read more in Boston Midwife Prepares to Open Alabama’s First Birth Center.

Dr. Jeanine Valrie-Logan, CNM, MSN, MPH

Growing up, Jeanine Valrie-Logan, CNM (FNU Class 146), MSN, MPH, wanted to be an opera singer or a doctor. Today, she’s neither one, but she’s putting both her medical and communications talents to good use. She is in the process of opening the Chicago Southside Birth Center and is spreading the word throughout the community, which currently has no other birth centers nearby.

“Geographically, there’s nothing there,” said Valrie-Logan, who currently works part-time as a certified nurse-midwife at the Birth Center PCC in Berwyn, Illinois. When PCC Community Wellness Center (PCC) opened the birth center in 2014, it was the state’s first freestanding birth center. “For me, going to work from the south side of Chicago takes about an hour, and that’s when you get to a first birth center. People are traveling from everywhere to come see us at PCC because there’s nothing in between.”

Read more in Dr. Jeanine Valrie-Logan Prepares to Open Birth Center in Chicago’s Urban Underserved South Side.

Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, faculty and staff!

^{1 Hoyert, Donna L. “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021.” CDC, 16 March 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.htm. Accessed 30 March 2023.}

^{2 Robinson, Ayanna. “BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH.” Black Mamas Matter Alliance, 2020, https://blackmamasmatter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/0322_BMHStatisticalBrief_Final.pdf. Accessed 30 March 2023.}

April 11, 2023
Major Announcements and a Celebration of Preceptors Make the FNU Winter Quarterly Bulletin A Must-Read

The Winter 2023 issue of the Frontier Quarterly Bulletin celebrates preceptors and the essential role they play for our students. A special message from Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, explains the importance of preceptors and lists the main reasons to be a preceptor. The special preceptor section includes a story about a current Frontier student who won a national precepting award. We provide answers to common questions about precepting and take a look at survey data from past preceptors that demonstrate the ease and reward of precepting.

FNU student Ebonique Shanks with preceptor team of FNU faculty and alumni from El Rio Birth Center at the AABC Conference.

Prior to the preceptor information, however, we share the latest news from FNU, the biggest of which comes from Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. President of FNU since 2001, Dr. Stone announced she will transition into a new role as the university’s appointed Distinguished Chair of Midwifery. Dr. Stone’s transition into this role will tentatively occur at the end of 2023, pending the identification of her successor.

Other highlights of this issue include news about the ten FNU faculty members participating in the University’s inaugural Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Fellowship program. We profile an alumnus who took “answering the call” to a new level when she answered a call from the White House, and we highlight another alumnus who has found her calling at a VA medical center in Idaho. Additional content includes a reminder about Homecoming, which will be held on March 25, as well as the latest news and notes on career changes, awards, and publications.

This issue also takes a look at the relaunch of FNU’s Courier program, which is being led by FNU Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs Lisa Colletti-Jones. The Courier program is a prime example of FNU’s involvement in the local community, but we also explore some of the other ways in which Frontier is connecting to Versailles and Woodford County. Community service was also on display on the MLK Day of Service, in which several FNU faculty and staff members participated.

Perhaps most important of all, we share several thank you messages from our scholarship recipients. Their inspiring words are reminders of the important roles each member of the Frontier community plays in helping these students achieve their goals.

All of this and more is included in this issue of the Quarterly Bulletin. Simply click here to view or download the Winter 2023 Quarterly Bulletin today!

April 6, 2023
Student Spotlight: Emily Tubbs hopes to help others improve quality of life as an FNP

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality healthcare to underserved and rural populations.

Through her role as a registered nurse, FNU student Emily Tubbs works every day to help underserved patients in her community. A resident of Hooper, Utah, Tubbs works as a referral triage nurse for a local Rheumatology clinic.

The specialty clinic is in the Intermountain healthcare system, where Tubbs has worked since 2009. She started as a patient service representative in Radiation Therapy and then as a CNA while attending nursing school. She also worked with Applegate HomeCare & Hospice and Heritage Park Care Center. She has served as a registered nurse with Intermountain for six years now.

Intermountain is made up of nearly 60,000 caregivers who serve the healthcare needs of people across the Intermountain West, primarily in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Kansas. It is a not-for-profit organization providing care to all individuals in the community regardless of their ability to pay, including low-income, uninsured, and minority populations.

Inspired by her own experience as a patient

Tubbs said her decision to pursue a career in healthcare was inspired by her own experiences as a patient. She said she experiences symptoms that affect her daily life, but has not yet been diagnosed with any condition.

“I know a lot of people in the same boat as me, where our lab work and assessment findings leave us undiagnosed,” she said. “I want to help anyone looking for the underlying cause of their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.”

Tubbs is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at FNU to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She said she was inspired to enroll at FNU due to the flexibility afforded by online courses and the university’s highly-reputable Nurse Practitioner program.

A member of FNU Class 205, Tubbs is set to graduate in 2025.

Outside of her work and studies, Tubbs enjoys spending time with her family, friends and pets; spending time outside on walks, runs and hikes; going to the gym and going out to eat. She is married and has three children, along with eight horses, 15 cattle, a goat, a dog and three cats.

Thank you, Emily, for choosing FNU in your healthcare journey and for providing quality care to underserved populations in your community.

Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University, including our Family Nurse Practitioner program. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, faculty and staff!

March 31, 2023
Celebrating Women’s History Month with FNU Staff
March is Women’s History Month. During this time, we aim to celebrate and recognize women’s achievements in history, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality. To celebrate, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) will highlight some of our female staff members. We asked them who they look up to and for advice and encouragement.

Read Last Years Women’s History Month Blogs:
Megan Cadwell with her family

Megan Cadwell, Assistant Director of Clinical Credentialing

Read Megan’s spotlight story

1. Who is a woman you look up to and why?
My grandmother was the cornerstone in my life. The values I hold to this day come from her and the barriers she overcame to have an opportunity for her 3 girls to have a better life. I want to also say I look up to all women I work with, not only in our Credentialing Unit but each colleague at FNU. I feel any woman at FNU has been a pioneer for their department, unit, and our students; They are leading the way for a better tomorrow for healthcare in the United States. It’s a blessing to see every member, faculty and staff, who work to make a better tomorrow for our students and the communities across the U.S.

2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

How we treat one another impacts someone else’s experiences. Strive to do your best. For each genuine ounce of compassion and positivity, you provide, you are making the world a better place one interaction at a time. A little compassion goes a long way.

3. Is there anything you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

Look at what we’ve overcome. Even when something feels unattainable or mistakes or made, we can always learn from the experience and reach for another goal. Reflecting on the progress you’ve made and what work is ahead is key to helping achieve your goals. Never give up, just pivot.

Samana Upadhyaya

Samana Upadhyaya, Process & Application Developer

Read Samana’s spotlight story

1. Who is a woman you look up to and why?

I always look up to my mom. She is my role model. I came from a family of only daughters. My mom was always there to support her daughter’s education and teach us to be strong during difficult times and work for the goal. She always taught us to never give up. She says “It’s ok if you fall but don’t give up; stand back and try again. The person who rides the horse the first time might fall down but can get up and ride back again to reach the destination.”

2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

As I am a proud woman in Technology who graduated with a Computer Engineering major, I would like to encourage all those women who are interested in this field to come forward, enjoy it and face the challenge, and do their best. When I used to take computer engineering courses in college, there used to be just a couple of girls to study and take the challenge, but I never stepped back, and never gave up on my dream. I always felt supported by my friends and coworkers. Just believe in yourself and your dream, and work for it.

3. Is there anything you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

As a woman, do not think that you can’t do some job, always go for the work you like. Always speak up for the things that you think are right, always lift yourself up and believe you can do it. Bring the change from within yourself, inspire others with your great work and support others who want to rise. You can be a great leader.

Samana’s Mother

Sarah Juett

Sarah Juett, Academic Advisor

Read Sarah’s spotlight story

1. Who is a woman you look up to and why?
One of my biggest role models has always been my maternal grandmother and the matriarch of our family. She overcame many difficult circumstances while maintaining this incredible warmth and fun-loving spirit. I was always in awe of her strength, kindness, and gender norm-defying skills.

2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

It’s okay to not have it all figured out or to find your passions changing/shifting. The average person changes careers several times throughout their working life. Everything you learn and everyone you meet will be valuable along your journey!

Bobbi Silver

Bobbi Silver, Chief Advancement Officer

Read Bobbi’s spotlight story

“About a decade ago, I was in a class setting and the instructor asked the group to write down how each of us identify ourselves, then to rank the list. My list focused on being a mother, a wife, a leader, etc. I am all of those things and they are important to me, but nowhere on my list did I emphasize myself as a priority. I always think about that when describing myself. I am ME, first and foremost. I am a woman. I am a mother to two amazing young men, one in college and one in high school. It brings me so much joy to watch them doing the things they love most. I have been married for 23 years and my husband is a police sergeant overseeing a special victims unit. (Bum Bum….I know you heard the music, just like I do every time it’s said.) I am a staunch ally and accomplice to the LGBTQIA+ community. I am a mama to two dogs and a cat, all from the shelter. (#adoptdontshop) I am an Army brat and Army spouse (retired).

1. Who is a woman you look up to and why?
I don’t have a specific woman I look up to but appreciate all women who are courageous to say “I am not going to participate in the comparison game” that so often is put upon women. There’s so much pressure to look a certain way, achieve certain things, and behave in certain ways. I tend to eschew that and instead try to invest time in being and identifying as I truly want to be. That’s not easy but I am dedicated to that work. Don’t be afraid to champion yourself and pat yourself on the back because YOU are the one working so hard to make life work, whether you are juggling work, the home, kids, hobbies or all of those combined. Don’t be afraid to say “today, I thank ME.”

2. What advice would you give to women in your field or young women in the workplace/preparing the enter the workforce?

Advancement and philanthropy has been historically dominated by male leaders but that has been changing in recent years. Fundraising is an industry where I think women thrive because of the attributes required that women tend to be really great at. Attributes like attention to detail, the ability to juggle multiple priorities, and an innate ability to establish caring relationships. Women have great success at building quality relationships between donors and the organizations they work for. If you are a woman and want a seat at a table, any table, don’t be afraid to ask questions, to ask for a mentor, and to ask about how you can learn. If you aren’t given those opportunities, don’t be afraid to make decisions to put yourself first.

3. Is there anything you would like to share to empower women or encourage people to create change that positively impacts women?

As more and more women get into fundraising as a career, I find it imperative that women leaders like myself make an intentional effort to recruit, help develop, and retain diverse women into our fold. We need to do more to recruit diverse women into the fundraising profession. The richness of having diverse voices working in philanthropy helps inform better decision-making and is invaluable in how we reach our diverse donors.
March 26, 2023
FNU’s 2023 Nurse Educator Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Fellows

In January, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) announced the ten FNU faculty members to participate 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 attend a 12-week DEI training. This program rejects the traditional DEI approach and uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate faculty development of knowledge and skills to engage in anti-racism education. Upon completion of the program, each fellow will then be assigned to coach other members of the FNU faculty for 12 weeks. This was a competitive process, and the application was open to all faculty at FNU.

We recently interviewed DEI Faculty Fellow Dr. Kevin Scalf to learn more about his experience as a fellow so far and about the process of becoming a fellow.

“My experience as a DEI Faculty Fellow has been wonderful! I have not only gained essential knowledge of DEI concepts but have also been able to more effectively evaluate my own personal biases and consider the impact of implicit bias on individuals, families, and community,” Scalf said. “I feel so privileged to belong to a group that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. I always look forward to our weekly meetings.”

The group meets weekly with Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech. During these meetings, the faculty fellows learn about important and relevant DEI topics and concepts and host a discussion with each other.

DEI Faculty Fellow Dr. Kevin Scalf

“Even though we sometimes engage in difficult conversations, the sense of support from my colleagues is very strong, one might even say tangible,” Scalf said. “We recognize our diversity, place value on our unique characteristics, and actively work to learn more about the lived experience of other members.”

In addition to meeting weekly as a group to learn more about essential DEI concepts, they also have had the opportunity to participate in weekly training sessions that increase their ability to hold brave conversations.

“This is such an important part of our mission,” Scalf said. “Having and encouraging brave conversations is a very empowering experience. In fact, that is an overarching mission of the group; to help empower individuals.”

The fellows will also have the opportunity to plan and implement a capstone project related to the DEI initiative. This capstone project will allow them to integrate the DEI initiative into regular activity at FNU.

“Everyone benefits when a community places value on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Scalf said.

Program Purpose

One of the aims of this program is to develop an innovative approach to increase health equity through faculty development strategies. As a university, FNU strives to create an anti-racist culture and environment.

“Everyone has different lived experiences and offers valuable perspective and insight,” Scalf said. “When we value, appreciate, and celebrate our unique experiences and perspectives, our lives are enriched. There is no limit to what we can do if we work to value, understand, and respect each other. We want to create a culture of respect and belonging here at FNU while preparing the APRN student to go forth and effectively deliver culturally appropriate healthcare.”

As a national as well as university leader, FNU’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, presented “The Development of A Faculty DEI Fellows Program” at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Diversity Leadership Institute last June.

“This initiative came out of the President’s DEI Task Force,” Alexander-Delpech said. “I am so proud that the university has invested in this important development and training for our faculty, who can then lead and learn from one another.”

DEI Faculty Fellows Application Process

As part of the application process, each faculty member was required to submit a letter of support from their respective department chair. Additionally, each applicant had to develop an essay that illustrated why they wanted to become part of this DEI initiative.

“It’s so important to know our ‘why’. The ‘why’ drives our actions and governs our ambitions. Our ‘why’ reflects our personal mission,” Scalf said. “I want to be a better ally. I acknowledge that I have a lot to learn in this process, but I want to play an active part in creating and fostering our mission of becoming an anti-racist university. I want to help promote equity for all.”

The 10 2023 Nurse Educator Faculty Fellows are Drs. Tia Andrighetti, Joshua Barnes, Joanne Keefe, Heidi Loomis, Rebecca Lopez, Doreen Thomas-Payne, Audrey Perry, April Phillips, Kevin Scalf, and Erin Tenney.

FNU will replicate the DEI Faculty Fellow program for the Staff DEI Ambassador Program, which will be open to all staff, including supervisors.

March 22, 2023

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