Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is making progress on its “New Frontier” in Versailles, Ky.
FNU has secured a contractor and is set to begin the renovations to several buildings and plots on its new property in Versailles, with expected completion date for the new campus set for January 2020. FNU purchased the land in October 2017 with a vision to expand enrollment and educate more nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. The lot was the former home of United Methodist Children’s Home and its adjacent property.
FNU opened the site up for bids from contractors, and after several months and tweaks to the original plan, is moving forward with Griggs Enterprises, Inc. Ten building renovations and two new constructions will take place to make way for student housing, on-site faculty and staff housing, expanded education and simulation facilities, a large auditorium, a fitness center and more.
The renovations planned for the historic home on campus and the construction of a new Dining Hall, which will include the gift shop and fitness center, will be contracted as a separate project.
Though many FNU staff have already moved their offices to the new campus, the original Hyden, Ky. campus will continue to run all student events until early 2020.
The transition to the new campus is slower than expected, but FNU administrators are confident that this move will be worth the wait.
“Change is necessary to continue advancing our ultimate mission of improving healthcare for families everywhere,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone.
“This new campus will make room for the growth needed to establish Frontier as the leader in advanced nursing and midwifery education.
Students, staff and faculty in the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) PRIDE Program represented FNU at two nurse association conferences in July.
The PRIDE Program at FNU promotes diversity in nursing and nurse-midwifery by recruiting and retaining underrepresented students with the goal of becoming nurse-midwives or nurse practitioners.
PRIDE members attended both the National Black Nurses Association and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses annual meetings in July of 2018.
FNU booth representatives with NBNA President Eric J. Williams
The 46th annual National Black Nurses Association Conference and Exhibit was held in St. Louis from July 31 – August 5. FNU Diversity PRIDE Program Coordinator, Wilvena Bernard, along with FNU Faculty Dr. Diane John and FNU PRIDE Student Ambassador Homecia St. Clair, attended the conference. The trio represented FNU as they gave out information to prospective students on the DNP program and employment opportunities at the university.
FNU students at NBNA
FNU also sent students from the NWD HRSA Professional Mentorship program to the NBNA conference. The mentorship program is a new university initiative to connect currently enrolled nursing students with faculty mentors at FNU. The mentorship program allowed FNU students Shani Pitts, Essence Williams, Catherine Orji and Ameenah Jackson to attend the conference with faculty mentor Dr. Tracy Hicks. Each left with invaluable experiences.
Student Ameenah Jackson presents at NBNA
Student Catherine Orji attended a Nurse Doctorate Symposium as part of her NBNA itinerary.
“l have a deeper understanding of the difference between a doctoral prepared nurse DNP and a PHD nurse,” she said. “l also embrace the importance of networking in my career.”
During the conference, student Ameenah Jackson presented a session entitled “A Nursing Call to Action: Black Maternal Mortality Crises.” Wilvena Bernard and Dr. John gave a presentation called “Unconscious Bias: The Impact of Communication and Healthcare Outcomes.” Both sessions received an enthusiastic regards from attendees.
FNU students also received honors at the conference. PRIDE member Essence Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM was presented with the NBNA “Under 40” Award, and newly-admitted student Crystal Norman, BSN, RNC-OB received the “Staff Nurse of the Year” Award.
On the same weekend, the 43rd annual National Association of Hispanic Nurses Meeting and Exhibition was held in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference began July 31 and concluded August 3. FNU Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Dr. Maria Valentin-Welch attended as a mentor for several students in the NWD mentorship program, and all represented FNU with information on its specialty tracks and educational opportunities.
FNU attendees with NAHN President Anabell Castro-Thompson
The students attending through the mentorship program were Leticia Fernandez, Onidis Lopez, Elizabeth Martinez, Elizabeth Aviles, Martha Travieso, & Kalena Lanuza.
This year’s conference theme, “Latino Health Care: Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity,” focused on addressing timely issues surrounding Latino healthcare regarding equity, diversity and inclusivity to bring awareness to health inequities affecting Hispanic communities of color.
Students attended workshops and sessions diving into that theme, and came away with powerful reflections.
Kalena, a DNP student at FNU, created a video sharing a synopsis of what she learned at the conference and why her mentorship experience was important.
FNU students with renowned Nursing Caring Theorist Dr. Jean Watson
“Seeing a group of dedicated, mostly Latino nurses, working together to navigate the current healthcare nursing landscape, while seeing to it that their cultural values and traditions were infused into the process was one of the highlights of this experience!,” she said.
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) seeks to empower its students to make a difference in their communities and in the field of health care.
We are recognizing three students who have taken significant steps over the last several months to better their education and the care they provide.
FNU Student Awarded NBNA “Top 40 and Under” Designation
Essence Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM
The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) announced FNU student Essence T. Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM as one of 19 “Top 40 and Under” awardees.
Essence, in CNEP Class 140 at FNU, is a public health nurse at Nurse Family Partnership in Crum Lynne, Pa. She belongs to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association.
She was nominated for the NBNA 40 and Under Award for having made significant contributions in the field of nursing and showing promise in her career.
Essence received her award on Friday, August 3, 2018 during the 46th Annual NBNA Institute and Conference in St. Louis, Mo. She created a video diary reflecting on her experience.
The NBNA is comprised of nurses at all levels, from LPNs to doctorally prepared nurses; bedside clinicians, chief nursing officers, deans of schools of nursing, researchers, academicians, case managers and entrepreneurs. Its mission is to serve as the voice for black nurses and diverse populations ensuring equal access to professional development, promoting educational opportunities and improving health.
Congratulations on your accomplishment, Essence!
FNU Student Ambassador attends COMON in Lansing, Michigan
Jessie Tinglan, BSN, RNC-OB, CLS
FNU CNEP (Class 173) student Jessie Tinglan, BSN, RNC-OB, CLS was chosen to attend a Coalition of Michigan Organizations of Nursing (COMON) meeting in Lansing, Mich. at Lansing Community College on May 15, 2018.
COMON is an organization dedicated to the advancement of Nursing in the state of Michigan. Its strategic plan focuses on practice, policy, regulation, and nursing shortage, with particular emphasis on obstetrics, surgery, and critical care nurses.
Jessie, currently enrolled in Frontier’s CNEP (Class 173) is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). She volunteered to join after leaders of the ACNM Michigan Affiliate reached out for an attendee for May’s COMON meeting.
Jessie met and networked with nurse leaders from a broad spectrum of nursing specialties.
“Overall, this was a wonderful leadership experience packed with nurse leaders representing their specialties with as much passion and drive as I do for midwifery,” she said. “I am certainly humbled by the opportunity, and look forward to advocating many years with ACNM.”
FNU student Shoshanah Blaiss recently completed an internship at the Georgia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).
Shoshanah, currently in CNEP Class 155 at FNU, was one of four students chosen as a Leadership Intern for 2018 by the Georgia Affiliate of the ACNM. She was the first to represent FNU in this role and was selected based on personal references and an essay on the importance of leadership in midwifery.
While interning, Shoshanah worked on the Market area for the 63rd Annual ACNM Meeting & Exhibition that took place on May 20-24, 2018 in Savannah, Ga. She was responsible for putting together elements of the “Come Sit Awhile” circle, where she served as a conversation facilitator. The area, complete with rocking chairs and sweet tea, was created to encourage attendees to sit and discuss a variety of topics.
As Student Representative, Shoshanah took advantage of several networking opportunities to build relationships with midwives from around the nation. She also joined both the Bridge Club and the Healthy Birth Initiative sub-committee during the annual meeting.
“I really enjoyed attending the 2018 ACNM national meeting as a student – I felt like it was a glimpse into my future as a CNM!,” she said.
“I love that students are celebrated and encouraged to participate at all levels of ACNM, and I look forward to being involved as much as possible throughout my career.”
Well done, Shoshanah!
Congratulations to each of these students for representing FNU in their hard work.
ACEN also affirmed continuing accreditation of FNU’s newly implemented psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner specialty track. ACEN is the leading authority in nursing accreditation.
“The ACEN Board of Commissioners commended FNU’s commitment to quality nursing education,” said Dr. Joan Slager, FNU dean. “They noted strengths such as administrative and financial support available to faculty for evidence-based clinical and teaching practices, as well as our consistent national certification exam pass rates.”
FNU’s programs have been accredited continually by ACEN since 2006, demonstrating its ability to meet the standards of quality specific to nursing education.
ACEN supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. Standards and criteria include establishing supportive partnerships, advocating self-regulation, promoting peer review, and fostering educational equity, access, opportunity, mobility and preparation of employment. Accreditation also assists in the further improvement of the institutions or programs as related to resources invested, processes followed and results achieved.
FNU’s doctor of nursing practice program is on a different accreditation cycle and is accredited through 2019.
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About Frontier Nursing University
The mission of FNU is to educate nurses to become competent, entrepreneurial, ethical and compassionate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who are leaders in the primary care of women and families with an emphasis on underserved and rural populations. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the student’s home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificates. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) graduate Angela (Angie) Chisholm, CNM is improving maternity care with an uniquely informative new podcast, entitled “Midwifing America.”
The podcast is on a mission to reimagine women’s healthcare in the United States. In the wake of a mounting maternal health crisis, each Midwifing Americaepisode highlights stories from health care providers and the women they serve to illustrate the state of maternity care.
Angie, one of the four podcast hosts, graduated from FNU’s CNEP (Class 49) in 2009. She served as a nurse-midwife in collaborative hospital practice for seven years in Corvallis, Ore., providing team-based care and supervising family practice residents.
She has also served as a midwife at the Corvallis Birth & Women’s Health Center, where she works to incorporate collaborative maternity care models between the birth center and local hospital.
Though her focus is often skin-to-skin care, Angie is passionate about improving all maternity healthcare.
“I believe that birth centers have the potential to address health disparities and maternity care shortage crisis,” she said. “As more and more hospitals stop offering maternity care, it seems reasonable that those communities deserve local and safe options for prenatal care and deliveries. One of my goals is to show other communities and hospitals that embracing birth centers and out-of-hospital care – instead of viewing them as competition – leads to the best outcomes.”
Angie and her team of three other Oregon-based midwives started Midwifing America to begin having these important conversations with nurses, midwives, physicians and mothers.
“Much of what I have learned is that social media and audience engagement has the potential to change how we deliver care,” she said.
To that end, Angie has produced The Heart of Touch Film and web series to highlight the importance of skin-to-skin care for newborns.
Angie’s experience at FNU helped prepare her not only to provide quality care and listen to women, but also to see herself as an advocate for issues that need to be addressed.
“This big picture vision is something I really took to heart,” she said.
Her access to mentorship by FNU faculty and staff who want to grow the midwifery profession made all the difference for her as she continues to lead the way for better maternal care.
In addition to her multimedia efforts, Angie also serves on the ACNM National Membership & Marketing Committee and is Chair of Oregon Affiliate Public Relations.
Angie, your dedication to improving maternal health is inspiring to all of us in the FNU community. Thank you!
Hyden, Ky. – Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, has been named the Dean of Nursing at Frontier Nursing University (FNU). Slager has served as FNU’s Interim Dean of Nursing since March of 2018 and served as the program director for FNU’s Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Slager graduated from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 1991 and completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Case Western University in 1993. She graduated from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., with a Doctor in Nursing Practice in Dec. 2008. In 1993, she helped to establish Bronson Women’s Service in Kalamazoo, Mich., which is now Michigan’s largest midwifery service with 14 midwives. Dr. Slager practiced full scope midwifery in this hospital-based collaborative practice and served as the practice director from 1995 through December 2016.
“We are very proud to announce Dr. Slager as our Dean of Nursing,” said FNU President Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACM, FAAN. “We have benefited from her leadership and expertise in the past and are excited to see her influence and impact in this position. “
Slager served two terms as Chair of the Business Section of the Division of Standards and Practice for the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and four years as the Division Chair. She is currently serving a second term as the Treasurer on the ACNM Board of Directors. She has lectured extensively on billing and coding and other business and clinical topics.
“I am honored to be a part of this pivotal time in the long and proud history of Frontier Nursing University,” Slager said. “Our strategic growth is vital as we work toward fulfilling our mission. We are striving to address healthcare gaps in our communities by educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to serve all individuals and all communities, with an emphasis on diverse, rural and underserved populations.”
Slager’s many accolades include being honored as the Dorothea Lang Pioneer Award recipient from the American College of Nurse-Midwives Foundation in 2008 and the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award winner from FNU in 2015. Slager assumes her role as Dean in the midst of FNU’s transition to a new campus in Versailles, Ky. Renovations and construction on the campus are expected to be complete by spring of 2020.
About Frontier Nursing University:
The mission of FNU is to educate nurses to become competent, entrepreneurial, ethical and compassionate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who are leaders in the primary care of women and families with an emphasis on underserved and rural populations. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the student’s home community serving as the classroom. Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificates. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased to announce the 2018 Spring Term Circle of Caring Award winners. Congratulations toSarah Juett as the staff recipient and Lisa Huckaby as the faculty recipient!
The Circle of Caring Award is a recognition for faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job duties and strive to uphold FNU’s mission and Culture of Caring everyday. One faculty and staff member is recognized each term.
FNU faculty and staff were invited to nominate someone anonymously. Nominations were then voted upon by a committee based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity.
Sarah Juett is an Academic Advisor at FNU. Sarah’s nominations included the following statements:
“Working with Sarah has always been a pleasure. The last time we worked together at Frontier Bound I was struck by her gift in supporting students while telling them the expectations of the program. The way she talks with me and students was so professional and healthy that I was impressed. I think the skill set she brings to the job are incredibly valuable and important. She exemplifies the Culture of Caring in her interactions.”
“She offers mutual support. She exercises humility in her work. She acknowledges mistakes, commiserates when things are difficult, and keeps her finger on the pulse of the unit.”
Lisa Huckaby is a certified nurse-midwife and Assistant Professor at FNU. The following are excerpts from her anonymous nomination:
“A student asked me to discuss some personal healthcare decisions. I asked the Associate Deans to point me in a direction of someone who might be able to be a sounding board for her. Lisa Huckaby stepped up to support her, discuss pros and cons, and help her find the resources she needed to make a decision for herself. I can’t check enough boxes for why this is a great example of our Culture of Caring. I am so proud to work with people who go above and beyond the faculty role like Lisa did.”
“Lisa is a great support to me. She has answered questions quickly and expertly. She is very helpful. Thanks Lisa!”
Both Lisa and Sarah will receive a framed certificate, a $50 gift card and will be featured in various FNU communications.
Congratulations to both of these hardworking members of the FNU family!
Do you know a FNU staff or faculty member that goes above and beyond? Nominate them now for the Circle of Caring Award!
2018 Couriers (top to bottom): Dania Cervantes Ayala, Molly Craig, James Rasmussen
Three Couriers have just completed Frontier Nursing University’s (FNU) Courier Program from June 10 – August 11, 2018. Coming from as far as California, the Couriers served at clinics and were immersed in the culture of rural, underserved Appalachia during the two-month program.
Read more about each of the Couriers who answered the call to serve in these communities:
Dania Cervantes Ayala
Dania Cervantes Ayala is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Neb. with an expected graduation date of May 2019. Already with a Spanish minor and a Medical Interpreting Certificate from College of Saint Mary, Dania is the first in her family to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.
She was introduced to FNU’s Courier Program through her Nursing Public-Health Rotation, where she found a draw to underserved communities. Dania is passionate about public health, women’s health and pediatric health. After obtaining her RN, BSN, she plans to apply to a DNP program in order to become a Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Dania’s role as a Courier included serving at the Hometown Clinic and Bluegrass Care Navigators. Throughout the summer, Dania implemented a drive for hygiene products, school supplies and food in Leslie County. The drive helped fill the gap and provide supplies to lower-middle class working families who need a little extra assistance.
Molly Craig
Molly Craig is studying biology and psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. She was born in Mansfield, Pa. and attended Notre Dame High School in Elmira, N.Y. She is part of the swimming and diving team at Williams, and competed for Division III nationals in her freshman season. Additionally, she is a member of the Lehman Service club that conducts community outreach projects throughout the school year.
Molly plans to graduate pre-medical with a concentration in public health. When she is not swimming, Molly enjoys hiking, going to concerts, playing with her dog, and going on adventures with her friends.
As a Courier, Molly served at Kentucky Mountain Health Little Flower Clinic and volunteered with a summer youth program. With the program, Molly was able to use her swimming and lifeguarding skills while mentoring local kids.
James Rasmussen
James Rasmussen is a senior at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., where he studies chemistry. Originally from California, he will graduate pre-medical at Williams and continue his studies in hopes of becoming a doctor. In his free time, James enjoys making music playlists and journaling.
James split time as a Courier between ARH Mary Breckinridge Hospital, Red Bird Mission and Clinic and the Well Coffee Shop. His roles included observing a week-old baby receive its check-up, designing a flyer for the Red Bird Health Fair, making phone calls to schedule appointments for hearing aids, and making specialty coffee drinks.
For his independent project, James met with Carol Graham Joseph, mayor of Hyden, Ky. and Joel Brashear of the Hyden Citizens Bank to organize and complete a mural for the town.
Summer is always an exciting time when the Couriers are at Wendover. Though they impacted communities here, this year’s Couriers will have many more opportunities to answer the call to service as each returns to their home colleges. Join us in thanking Dania, Molly and James for their outstanding efforts as Couriers this summer. Welcome to the FNU Courier family!
Students of all majors and backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the Courier program – no formal medical education required. Apply today!
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 health care to underserved and rural populations.
In 1928, Mary Breckinridge, founder of Frontier Nursing University established the Courier Program, recruiting young people to work in the Kentucky Mountains and learn about service to humanity. Couriers escorted guests safely through remote terrain, delivered medical supplies to remote outpost clinics, and helped nurse-midwives during home visits and births. Frontier has benefited tremendously from the 1,600 Couriers who have served since 1928.
Chris Turley
Chris Turley is the Director of Student Engagement at Frontier Nursing University and has been instrumental in the execution of the Diversity Impact Conference, as well as Frontier’s Professional Organizational Mentoring (POMP) programs. He holds a Master’s of Science in Sports Administration and a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Management. Chris has over 10 years’ experience with federal grant management, program development, and marketing. He was recognized as a “Kentucky Colonel” by the governor for his community engagement work in the state. Chris had the privilege of developing programs to help over 2500 at-promise participants gain vocational/technical skills to advance their careers and further opportunities.
Dr. Jill Alliman
Jill Alliman, CNM, DNP, has over 40 years of midwifery clinical and advocacy experience to improve access to maternity care for rural and underserved communities. She provided care in a rural birth center in Appalachian Tennessee for over 26 years. At AABC, she lobbied to pass the Birth Center Medicaid Bill in 2010 and serves on the Government Affairs Committee.
As Project Director of AABC Strong Start, she helped measure the impact of enhanced birth center care on outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries. Data show that this model of prenatal care reduces maternal and infant health disparities and significantly improves preterm, low birth weight and cesarean rates, even when women give birth in the hospital. Participants had higher rates of breastfeeding with longer durations than those in usual care.
As Assistant Professor at Frontier Nursing University, she teaches Master’s and Doctoral APRN and CNM students about policy and collaboration skills impacting their future practice.
Victoria Burslem
Victoria Burslem, MSN, CNM, CNE(cl), FACNM, has served on faculty at Frontier Nursing University teaching nurse-midwifery and APRN students since 2015. Additionally, she was on faculty for 7 years at the inception of Frontier’s original Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) and helped in the development of its distance curriculum. Clinically, Vicki’s professional experience includes providing full-scope nurse-midwifery care for over 35 years in both private and clinic settings – in-hospital and at a freestanding birthing center. Administratively, Vicki served as manager of a large Atlanta-based ob/gyn practice for many years, supervising the clinical practice of 10 nurse-midwives who attended approximately 200 births per month.
Vicki has been active in promoting legislative initiatives throughout her career, serving as the legislative liaison and then president of American College of Nurse-Midwives State Affiliates where she has lived, most recently in Kentucky. She is currently a Legislative Key Contact for the Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse-Midwives and has extensive experience advocating for legislation impacting the advanced practice nursing profession. With a recognition that many in the nursing profession are unfamiliar with the legislative process, Vicki is able to provide a practical understanding of how bills progress through the state legislature and guidance on how to be an effective advocate for bills under consideration that impact patients’ access to healthcare and our profession.
Dr. Deborah C. Stamps
Deborah C. Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE-BC, CDE®, FADLN, FAAN, is the founder and chief executive officer for Deborah Stamps Consulting, LLC. Dr. Stamps has almost forty years of progressive healthcare leadership and is an internationally recognized authority on workforce development, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, nursing education, and leadership. She has held various roles, from LPN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Vice President of Quality, Patient Safety and Innovation including founding President of the Rochester General College of Health Careers and the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at Rochester Regional Health.
Dr. Roberta Waite
Roberta Waite, EdD, RN, PMHCNS, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN, is a nationally recognized nursing thought leader whose expertise is at the nexus of health equity, social justice, anti-Black racism, mental health, and community-centered work. As the inaugural Dean of the relaunched School of Nursing at Georgetown University, she works with internal and external stakeholders to establish a world class academic destination for advancing excellence in nursing education, research, scholarship, and transformative engagement with communities. She is responsible for academic and operational leadership of the school, which is composed of prelicensure, master’s and doctoral nursing programs.
Waite’s expertise is amplified in her roles as Board Director for Family Process Institute, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Georgetown MedStar Hospital, and Advancing Health Equity’s National Advisory Board supported by the RWJF. As an inaugural Macy Faculty Scholar, her educational research focused on leadership development of nursing and health professions students using a social justice lens.
Dr. Ashley Graham-Perel
Dr. Ashley Graham-Perel, EdD, MS, RN, CNE, is an Assistant Professor, Director of the Office of Diversity and Cultural Affairs, and historian at Columbia University School of Nursing. She holds an EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University, an MS in Nursing Education from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, and a BS in Nursing from NYC College of Technology. Triple certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing Professional Development, and as a Certified Nurse Educator, she brings deep expertise to advancing equity in nursing. Her research explores the intersections of race, nursing education, and healthcare disparities, with a focus on the training of Black nurses and the legacy of institutions like the Lincoln School for Nurses. She researches and disseminates Black nursing history through oral histories and multimedia productions. Dr. Graham-Perel bridges academia and community to shape a more inclusive, historically grounded healthcare workforce.
Kimberly Jenkins Robinson
Kimberly Jenkins Robinson is a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law as well as a professor at both the School of Education and Human Development, and the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. She is one of the nation’s leading education law experts and speaks throughout the United States about K-20 educational equity, school funding, education and democracy, equal opportunity, civil rights, Title IX and federalism.
In 2023, Robinson launched the Education Rights Institute with $4.9 million in funding from an anonymous donor. Under her leadership, the Education Rights Institute will support scholarship and engagement about a federal right to education, the key building blocks of a high-quality education and opportunity gaps in the delivery of those building blocks, as well as how school districts can best comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech
Dr. Alexander-Delpech’s journey is marked by a deep-rooted commitment to education, healthcare innovation, and advancing Inclusive Excellence both at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) and on a national scale. With a solid educational foundation, including a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing from Florida International University, a Doctor of Philosophy from Barry University, and a post-master’s in Psychiatric Mental Health from the University of Cincinnati, she brings a wealth of expertise and transformational leadership to the table.
For over 30 years, Dr. Alexander-Delpech has demonstrated visionary leadership in nurturing the minds of future nurses in both undergraduate and graduate programs, embodying her dedication to shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals through innovative pedagogical approaches and mentorship excellence. As a Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), her clinical practice revolves around community-based healthcare, where she strategically utilizes telehealth to bridge gaps in mental health services while leading initiatives that expand access to underserved populations. Her research endeavors echo her collaborative leadership style and commitment to addressing global health inequalities, with a special focus on the Caribbean and its Diaspora.
Dr. Bennyce E. Hamilton
Dr. Bennyce E. Hamilton is a seasoned educator, administrator, and equity advocate with over three decades of professional experience in education, emergency services, and community engagement. Currently serving as Regional Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Miami University Regionals, she has led transformative initiatives that bridge institutional policy with inclusive practice. Dr. Hamilton’s work centers on cultivating equitable environments, mentoring students and staff, and building strategic partnerships across educational and civic sectors. Her distinguished career includes leadership roles in K-12 and higher education, extensive curriculum development, and service as a firefighter/paramedic. A published author and dynamic presenter, she has shared her expertise nationally on issues of identity, access, and leadership. Dr. Hamilton holds a doctorate in Literacy from the University of Cincinnati and remains active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the YWCA Hamilton and the Greater Hamilton Equity Alliance.
Dr. Kenya V. Beard
Kenya V. Beard, EdD, AGACNP-BC, ANEF, FAAN, FADLN is the inaugural Dean and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy University’s School of Nursing and former chair of the New York State Board of Nursing. A national health equity expert and transformational leader, she has shaped nursing education, policy, and practice across the U.S. Dr. Beard was a 2012 Macy Faculty Scholar and co-founded the Center for Multicultural Education and Health Disparities. She teaches at the Harvard Macy Institute and serves on the board of Public Health Solutions. Her work spans media, policy, and academia, including co-producing health disparity segments on WBAI-FM and co-editing Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Global Applications to Advance Health Equity. A fellow of three national academies, she serves on editorial boards and co-founded the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing.
Melanie A. Mariano, MSN, FNP-BC
Melanie A. Mariano, MSN, FNP-BC (she/her) is interested in advancing health equity by identifying and rectifying systemic racism in clinical decision-making and expanding community health services. She is a BSN and MSN graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing. Upon graduation from Penn Nursing, she worked to establish a nursing presence at the Free Library of Philadelphia to connect marginalized populations to health services. Clinically, she currently works as a family nurse practitioner in the Atlanta Metro area. She is currently completing her work toward both a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Public Health degrees at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Kathleen Scott
Kathleen Scott earned her bachelor’s degree of Science in Nursing in 2006 from Hawaii Pacific University, Her Master’s Degree of Science in Nursing in 2008 from Frontier University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019 from Frontier University. She became an ACNM Fellow in 2024. She practices at Nebraska Medicine as a Certified Nurse Midwife and is a volunteer faculty member at University of Nebraska. In 2023, Dr. Scott’s innovative approach to teaching earned her the Excellence in Educational Service award through the University of Nebraska. Throughout her education, she was mentored and encouraged by her professors and colleagues. This support and inspiration greatly affected her success and allowed for additional educational opportunities that have motivated her to continue to learn well after her formal education had ended. She is committed to improving perinatal health outcomes within her community to decrease the maternal morbidity and mortality rates with her involvement in local nonprofit groups. The results of her DNP project, a project focused on identifying and treating anxiety and depression antenatally, influenced, and improved care provided to patients. She cofounded a volunteer doula program using allied health students to provide bedside support for long term antepartum and intrapartum patients. She works with local doula organizations, improving their continued educational opportunities and fostering cohesive integration into the birth team. Throughout her career she has taught a multitude of students and residents, nurturing a commitment to evidence based and compassionate care.
Virginia (Jenny) Glifort
There is no greater honor or joy than guarding and guiding women through the birth journey to motherhood. Jenny is a CNM with Valley Women’s Health in American Fork, Utah. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University at Los Angeles. As a graduate RN, she moved to Colorado, where she worked in critical care for several years, then transferred to teaching as a home dialysis instructor to patients with kidney failure. She met and married her Air Force husband and began her career as a military wife, supporting her family through the necessary frequent moves. After three tours of duty overseas and the birth of her three daughters, Jenny felt called into midwifery and earned her CNM certificate from The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, now The Frontier Nursing University. She has practiced as a midwife with the Air Force, the Army, and the Indian Health Service in Alaska. She has experience in home and birth center births and private practice.
Jenny is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and is board-certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. She is a certified childbirth instructor and trained in lactation support. Jenny Has been certified in Neonatal Resuscitation, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics. She is credentialed to practice at two hospitals in the area.
Jenny loves the sunshine, gardening, outdoor activities (when not in school), and walking her Bernese Mountain dogs with her now-retired husband. She has been married for 50 years and has raised 3 incredible daughters. She now bears the honorific of Gigi (grandmother glifort) after being gifted with a grandson.
Rebekah Alison Bhansali, MSN, CNM, PhD Candidate
Rebekah Bhansali is a PhD candidate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing with a diverse background in human development and family science, nursing, and nurse-midwifery. She completed her Nurse-Midwifery education at Frontier Nursing University. Rebekah worked as a Certified Nurse Midwife at Allen Midwifery and Family Wellness, a freestanding birth center in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, providing holistic care throughout adolescence, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and menopause. Her dissertation research focuses on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their long-term cardiovascular risks with considerations of genetic and environmental influences by employing predictive modeling. Rebekah aims to advance precision health and technologies to improve healthcare outcomes and promote equitable lifelong wellbeing for women and birthing individuals.
Dr. Diane Ortega, DNP, CNM
Diane Ortega, DNP, CNM is the Co-owner and Administrative Director of Willow Midwife Center for Birth and Wellness AZ with locations in Mesa, Phoenix and Gilbert. The accredited birth centers have been recognized nationally for their excellent outcomes.
She received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Frontier Nursing University and additionally holds a post-masters certificate in Integrated Behavioral Health Care-Women’s Health from Cummings Graduate Institute. She helped to spearhead a perinatal behavioral health integration project at Willow Birth Center from 2016-2020 that received international acclaim through publication of outcomes in the International Journal of Integrated. Dr. Ortega and her business partner will be opening the first in the nation inpatient Mother-Baby psychiatric unit for women experiencing severe perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).
Dr. Ortega is a member of the Arizona Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Arizona Maternal Mental Health Advisory Committee. She also serves as the Vice President of the AABC Foundation and President of the AABC Arizona Chapter.
Dr. Cathleen Hewlett-Masser
Dr. Hewlett-Masser, DNP, CNM, IBCLC is a Clinical Educator, Assistant Professor for the University of New Mexico, College of Nursing since 2024. She currently teaches foundational courses in the Doctor of Nursing program in addition to the specific Midwifery specialty track. She practices clinically as a Certified Nurse-Midwife with the University Midwifery Associates in the UNM Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, specializing in midwifery care for all who seek it. She is an advocate for reproductive justice, recognizing the role of psychological safety in comprehensive reproductive health care. Dr. Hewlett-Masser also advocates for the value of midwifery care in improving maternal child outcomes and increasing access to care. She currently serves Co-president of the New Mexico Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and as a member of the New Mexico Department of Health Nurse-Midwifery Advisory Counsel.
Hewlett-Masser earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University. Her doctoral project centered on expanding access to effective perinatal depression care.
Dr. Carrie Belin
Carrie Belin is an experienced board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins DNP program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Georgetown University School of Nursing, and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She has also completed fellowships at Georgetown and the University of California Irvine.
She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing.Discover Midwives.
Dr. Angie Chisholm, DNP CNM
Angie has been a full-scope midwife since 2009. She has experience in various birth settings including home, hospital, and birth centers. She is committed to integrating the midwifery model of care in the US. She completed her master’s degree in nurse-midwifery at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) and her Doctorate at Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves as the midwifery clinical faculty at FNU. Angie is motivated by the desire to improve the quality of healthcare and has led quality improvement projects on skin-to-skin implementation, labor induction, and improving transfer of care practices between hospital and community midwives. In 2017, she created a short film on skin-to-skin called The Heart of Touch. She was a co-host of Midwifing America, a national podcast created for reimagining reproductive and maternity care in America. Angie is active in the American College of Nurse-Midwives. She is the current membership chair of the Kentucky affiliate. She was the Oregon affiliate chair of the public relations committee from 2017-2020. She is the past chair the ACNM Membership & Marketing Committee. Currently, she heads a subcommittee for the ACNM consumer website: Discover Midwives.
Dr. Wendy Post
Wendy Post is a seasoned nursing professional and a passionate advocate for maternal health with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and is currently pursuing a PhD at George Washington University School of Nursing. Her extensive career in nursing has been dedicated to addressing maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in underserved communities impacted by maternal health deserts and maternal morbidity and mortality.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Wendy has taken on the role of a forensic nurse examiner in Maryland, enhancing her ability to support populations impacted by trauma. She is the founder of “The Birth Mark,” an organization committed to improving maternal health outcomes globally. Her organization has a specific branch dedicated to supporting women affected by maternal mortality, reflecting her deep commitment to advocacy and support for bereaved families.
Wendy’s current research involves a pilot study that explores the experiences of eyewitnesses and medical examiners involved in maternal deaths. This study employs verbal and social autopsy frameworks to gather comprehensive insights into the factors leading to maternal mortality. By interviewing bereaved family members and medical examiners, she aims to identify critical areas for improvement in maternal healthcare practices and inform policy changes that can reduce maternal deaths and address disparities in healthcare.
Her dedication to maternal health extends beyond research as she actively engages in community outreach, education, and advocacy. Wendy has begun to present her work at various national and international conferences. Her contributions to the field of maternal health are driven by a profound commitment to closing the gaps in healthcare disparities and improving outcomes for all women.
Yvonne T. Maddox, PhD
Dr. Yvonne T. Maddox, Ph.D. is President and Chief Executive Officer of the TA Thornton Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of underserved communities. Dr. Maddox previously served as Vice President for Research and Professor of Allied Health Sciences at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), a part of the Department of Defense, where she oversaw a robust clinical and basic science research portfolio, including infectious diseases, trauma and critical care medicine, health maintenance, post-traumatic stress, and traumatic brain injury. Prior to joining USUHS, Dr. Maddox held many leadership positions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including Acting Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Deputy Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and Acting Deputy Director of the entire NIH.
Throughout her academic and government career, Dr. Maddox has been a champion of issues related to women, children, and underserved populations. Among her many accomplishments include leading teams of international scientists in the field of reproductive health as part of bi-lateral agreements between the U.S., India, and Africa; directing the highly recognized NIH program (the Back to Sleep Campaign) to reduce sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); creating the NIH Down Syndrome (DS) Consortium, a federal/private partnership to advance research in DS; and initiating the NIH-funded Well Prepared and Fit for Life childhood obesity reduction programs. Dr. Maddox has numerous research and public policy publications and is a recognized speaker in the area of public trust and community engagement in medical research. Her memberships on critically important committees and working groups, several as chairperson, demonstrate her commitment to improving the health and wellness of minority populations and to increasing their opportunities in science and biomedical research. She currently serves as the Senior Strategic Advisor for the NIH Path to Excellence and Innovation Initiative to advance funding opportunities for Historical Black Colleges and Universities.
Among her memberships on advisory boards and committees include: the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)/NIH Council Working Group on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Nutrition Research Advisory Group, Friedman School of Nutrition, Science and Policy, Tufts University; Advisory Council, Food is Medicine Institute, Tufts University; the American Society for Nutrition Foundation Board of Trustees Executive Committee; the Black AIDS Institute Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Miraki Innovation Board of Directors.
Dr. Maddox has received many honors and awards, including the United States Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award (the highest honor for a career civil servant), United States Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Career Achievement Award, Public Health Service Special Recognition Award, DHHS Secretary’s Award, NIH Director’s Award (including one that bears her name), National Down Syndrome Society Champion of Change Award, Research Down Syndrome Foundation Light the Way Award, Delta Sigma Theta Award for Public Service, the National Council of Negro Women Partnership Award, the Hela Leadership Award for Excellence in Reproductive Medicine, Induction into the Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Hall of Fame, and selection as one of the top 30 Women in Higher Education by the Journal, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. She is the recipient of several honorary degrees.
Dr. Maddox received her B.S. in biology from Virginia Union University, Richmond, and her Ph.D. in physiology from Georgetown University. She studied as a Visiting Scientist at the French Atomic Energy Commission, Saclay, France and graduated from the Senior Managers in Government Program of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Eugene DeClerq, Ph.D., MBA
Eugene Declercq, Ph.D., M.B.A., is a professor of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health and professor on the faculty of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Boston University School of Medicine. His current research focuses primarily on maternal mortality and morbidity. He is part of the team that has produced six reports on women’s experiences in childbirth, Listening to Mothers. He is a current member of the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality Review Committee and on the board of March for Moms. He was principal investigator on two NIH funded collaborative projects examining child and maternal outcomes associated with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (MOSART project) and is one of the founders of the Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal (PELL) data system that has linked vital statistics, hospital, and administrative data on more than 1,200,000 births in Massachusetts since 1998. He has also been active in a variety of public health projects in his hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
He is the founder of the website www.birthbythenumbers.org, where additional data on maternal mortality and other maternal and infant health outcomes can be found. He is also a recipient of the Martha May Eliot Award from the American Public Health Association for service to maternal and child health and the Greg Alexander Award for research in maternal and child health epidemiology.
He has Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from Florida State University and a M.BA. from University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Jeelan Fall, CNM, DNP
Jeelan Fall is a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner providing full scope services including routine gynecologic care throughout the lifespan, contraception, pre-conception counseling, pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care. Jeelan is a first-generation graduate with a life-long calling to the world of childbirth and women’s health. She believes in the philosophy of shared decision-making between patients and their care providers. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Utah.
Dr Fall has a particular passion for maternal health disparities and how they tie into increased rates of morbidity and mortality among mothers and neonates who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In her free time, she enjoys traveling to any place in the world with a beach and spending time with her family.
Karlie Masaga, CNM, DNP
Karlie Porter Masaga is a Certified Nurse Midwife and Womens Health Nurse Practitioner providing care to women across their lifespan. Karlie started her career as a Midwife and Nurse Practitioner in Utah County. She has since joined the Birthcare Healthcare team and is enjoying her time caring for women in the Salt Lake and surrounding areas. Karlie is passionate about providing evidence-based care to women. She strives to ensure all her patients feel heard, understood, and receive best practice at each stage of their life from teenage years, through childbearing, labor, birth, and menopause.
Karlie is an adjunct faculty for University of Utah College of Nursing teaching new midwifery and women’s health providers. She has a strong passion for helping those who come from different backgrounds and cultures. Prior to going into the medical field, Karlie worked for the State of Utah Juvenile Justice system where her love for teens from diverse backgrounds flourished. During her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree at University of Utah Karlie took part in the research of sexually transmitted infections in Fiji with the University of California San Francisco. Karlie has continued to stay connected with Pacific Islanders through her church, community and family. She is currently working on outreach to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women who are seeking healthcare by providing services at South Main Clinic. During her time off you will find her paddle boarding, biking, playing sports, and enjoying a lot of laughter with her husband and family.
Holly Kennedy, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
Holly Powell Kennedy, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN was the inaugural Helen Varney Professor of Midwifery (now emeritus) at the Yale University School of Nursing. She has served as the President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and received the 2016 Hattie Hemschemeyer Award, their highest honor. Her program of research is focused on a greater understanding of the effectiveness and outcomes of specific models of care during the childbearing year, especially is support of childbearing physiology. She was a Fulbright Distinguished Fellowship at King’s College London in 2008 and is currently a Fulbright Specialist. She is a retired Colonel in the US Army Nurse Corps Reserve.
Michelle Debbink, MD, PhD
Michelle Debbink, MD/PhD FACOG is an Assistant Professor of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She grew up in the Air Force and enjoyed moving frequently around the US and abroad. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Policy Studies from Rice University, and her MD and PhD in Health Services Organization and Policy (social epidemiology focus) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at University of Michigan as well, and then moved to the University of Utah for her Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship. She is a current Reproductive Scientist Development Program scholar, and is funded to conduct research on the community and geographic drivers of racial and ethnic inequities in severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality. In particular, her research focuses on a population health-community engaged translational continuum to amplify resilience and build interventions to close gaps in perinatal care in partnership with American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander women and birthing people. She also serves as the Departmental Vice Chair for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the ObGyn Department at the University of Utah, and the Assistant Program Director for the Women’s Health Equity Fellowship at the University of Utah.
Nikia Grayson, DNP, MSN, MPH, MA, CNM, FNP-C
Dr. Nikia Grayson, DNP, MSN, MPH, MA, CNM, FNP-C, FACNM (she/her) is a trailblazing force in reproductive justice, blending her expertise as a public health activist, anthropologist, and family nurse-midwife to champion the rights and health of underserved communities. Graduating with distinction from Howard University, Nikia holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in public health. Her academic journey also led her to the University of Memphis, where she earned a master’s in medical anthropology, and the University of Tennessee, where she achieved both a master’s in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice. Complementing her extensive education, she completed a post-master’s certificate in midwifery at Frontier Nursing University.
With over 15 years of experience in public health and nursing, Nikia has dedicated herself to advancing reproductive rights and justice, birth justice, and midwifery. Her passion for midwifery shines through in her commitment to diversifying the workforce of midwives and birth workers, especially in the southern United States. As a fervent disruptor of the current healthcare system, Nikia is pioneering new models of care that prioritize midwifery and center the needs of Black and brown communities. Every day, she works Tirelessly to ensure that all individuals have the agency and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
At CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health, Nikia serves as the Chief Clinical Officer, spearheading interfaces that have led to the establishment of the first nonprofit comprehensive reproductive health care center, the first Black midwifery fellowship program and the city’s inaugural birth center. Beyond her clinical leadership, Nikia sits on the Board of Directors for both the American College of Nurse Midwives and SisterReach, Tennessee’s foremost Reproductive Justice organization.
Driven by a profound sense of purpose, Nikia Grayson is transforming the landscape of reproductive healthcare, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of those she serves and the communities she uplifts.
Robert M. (Bob) Silver, MD
Robert M. (Bob) Silver, MD has been in the division of maternal fetal medicine at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center for over 30 years. He holds the John A. Dixon Presidential Endowed Chair and is Professor and Chairman of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Silver’s clinical and research interests include recurrent pregnancy loss and stillbirth, cesarean delivery, placenta accreta spectrum, preeclampsia, vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, immunologic diseases in pregnancy, and medical disorders in pregnancy.
Dr. Robert White
Dr. Robert White is the recipient of a Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG) from the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) for his project titled “Health Disparities in Obstetrical Care and Delivery Outcomes Before and After Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol.”
Obstetrical healthcare disparities have been extensively reported, with Black women experiencing disproportionate mortality and severe maternal morbidity, explained Dr. White. The two-year, $250,000 grant will support Dr. White’s research into the effect of implementing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols on delivery outcomes, and the development of a data-driven dashboard for clinicians. The support will further Dr. White’s research into interventions that promote patient equality and equity. Dr. Kane Pryor is the primary faculty mentor.
In the first phase of the project, Dr. White and researchers from the Center for Perioperative Outcomes will investigate obstetrical healthcare disparities on a national scale using databases from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). In the second phase, they will study the impact of the evidence-based ERAS protocols.
“We’re looking at pre- and post-implementation of ERAS protocols in terms of outcomes for white, Black, Hispanic and Asian patients to see if these new care processes attenuate or eliminate disparities that exist,” said Dr. White.
Dr. White’s goal is to apply the research from the first two research questions to the development of a data-driven dashboard for clinicians that will help provide patient care recommendations and data visualizations.
“Maternal mortality and morbidity is a major crisis afflicting our nation,” said Dr. White. “It’s exciting that healthcare disparities projects are getting an increased level of funding and that solutions to these national crises are being investigated.”
Dr. Robert White is an assistant professor of anesthesiology and was a Van Poznak Research Scholar in the Department of Anesthesiology. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, his medical degree and a master’s in clinical research from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and completed his anesthesia residency and obstetric anesthesia fellowship training at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He has authored numerous manuscripts exploring healthcare disparities in perioperative outcomes and quality of care.
The FAER MRTG grant provides support for early-career training of anesthesiologist-scientists to achieve independence as scientific investigators.
Amy Holt, BS, BA
Amy Holt, FNU Disability Services Coordinator
Amy Holt has served as the Disability Services Coordinator at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) for six years. In this role, she collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to ensure that the needs of students with disabilities are met across all academic areas. Amy serves as an advocate with or on behalf of the students, ensuring they have access to the necessary resources and support.
Prior to her current role at FNU, Amy worked with the Kentucky Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in various capacities for nearly eight years. As an American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter for the D/deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing populations, she adeptly navigated linguistic and cultural variations while thoughtfully applying ethical decision-making skills and best practices. Amy also provided collaborative support for independent living and life skills, advocating tirelessly for individuals’ rights to access within the workplace and beyond. Her efforts aimed at removing barriers and fostering successful outcomes for individuals seeking to gain or maintain competitive integrated employment.
With experience spanning vocational sectors and regions across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Amy’s expertise in disability services, advocacy, and the success and social justice of individuals with disabilities drives her motivation. As an honored recipient of Frontier Nursing University’s Culture of Caring Award, she remains dedicated to championing inclusivity, access, and empowerment for all.
Justin C. Daily, BSN, RN
Justin C. Daily, BSN, RN, has ten years of experience in nursing. At the start of his nursing career, Justin worked as a floor nurse on the oncology floor at St. Francis. He then spent two years as the Director of Nursing in a small rural Kansas hospital before returning to St. Francis and the oncology unit. He has been in his current position as the Chemo Nurse Educator for the past four years. He earned an Associate in Nurse from Hutchinson Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bethel College.
Brandy Jackson, MSN, MBA, RN
Brandy Jackson serves as the Director of Undergraduate Nursing Programs and Assistant Educator at Wichita State University and Co-Director of Access in Nursing. Brandy is a seasoned educator with over 15 years of experience. Before entering academia, Brandy served in Hospital-based leadership and Critical Care Staff nurse roles. Brandy is passionate about equity in nursing education with a focus on individuals with disabilities. Her current research interests include accommodations of nursing students with disabilities in clinical learning environments and breaking down barriers for historically unrepresented individuals to enter the nursing profession. Brandy is also actively engaged in Interprofessional Education development, creating IPE opportunities for faculty and students at Wichita State. Brandy is an active member of Wichita Women for Good and Soroptimist, with the goal to empower women and girls. Brandy is a TeamSTEPPS master trainer. She received the DASIY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty in 2019 at Wichita State University.
Sabrina Ali Jamal-Eddine, PhD, BSN, RN
Dr. Sabrina Ali Jamal-Eddine is an Arab-disabled queer woman of color with a PhD in Nursing and an interdisciplinary certificate in Disability Ethics from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Dr. Jamal-Eddine’s doctoral research explored spoken word poetry as a form of critical narrative pedagogy to educate nursing students about disability, ableism, and disability justice. Dr. Jamal-Eddine now serves as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in UIC’s Department of Disability and Human Development and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities (NOND). During her doctoral program, Sabrina served as a Summer Fellow at a residential National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) Summer Institute at Arizona State University (2023), a summer fellow at Andrew W. Mellon’s National Humanities Without Walls program at University of Michigan (2022), a Summer Research Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute (2021), and an Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) trainee (2019-2020).
Dr. Jamal-Eddine’s goal is to create transformative change within healthcare education praxis by developing engaging pedagogic strategies to educate healthcare students about ableism and intersectional identity-based oppression. Her long-term goal is to found an interdisciplinary, applied public-humanities community-engaged healthcare equity center in a university that confronts healthcare inequity, violence, and oppression and promotes intersectional, cross-identity liberation, humanization, and belongingness for all patients, students, and practitioners.
Vanessa Cameron, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, CNL
Vanessa Cameron works for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nursing Education & Professional Development. She is also attending George Washington University and progressing towards a PhD in Nursing with an emphasis on ableism in nursing. After becoming disabled in April 2021, Vanessa’s worldview and perspective changed, and a recognition of the ableism present within healthcare and within the culture of nursing was apparent. She has been working since that time to provide educational foundations for nurses about disability and ableism, provide support for fellow disabled nursing colleagues, and advocate for the disabled community within healthcare settings to reduce disparities.
Lucinda Canty, PhD, CNM, FACNM
Dr. Lucinda Canty is a certified nurse-midwife, Associate Professor of Nursing, and Director of the Seedworks Health Equity in Nursing Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Columbia University, a master’s degree from Yale University, specializing in nurse-midwifery, and a PhD from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Canty has provided reproductive health care for over 29 years. Her research interests include the prevention of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, reducing racial and ethnic health disparities in reproductive health, promoting diversity in nursing, and eliminating racism in nursing and midwifery.
She is an artist, poet, and historian. She uses her art and poetry to bring awareness to maternal health. She provides women’s health care at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. She currently hosts web discussions Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing. She founded Lucinda’s House, a Black Maternal Health Collective, to promote maternal health equity through community collaboration and programs that provide support and education. Dr. Canty has received funding for her research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
She has published in various journals, including AJN, American Journal of Nursing, Nursing Inquiry, Journal of Advanced Nursing, Birth, and Nursing Philosophy. Dr. Canty is a contributing editor for the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health’s Ask the Midwife Column. Additionally, she is a sought-after nurse scholar in addressing both maternal health equity and anti-racism initiatives. She is a frequent featured speaker virtually and in person at local, regional, national, and international conferences focused on the challenges of reducing disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality.
She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Nurse Midwives. She is the 2023 Yale School of Nursing Alumni Association (YSNAA) Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient and the recipient of the 2023 Florence S. Wald Award from the Connecticut Nurses’ Association. She is the 2024 Columbia University School of Nursing 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for Nursing Practice.
Lisa Meeks, PhD, MA
Dr. Lisa Meeks is a distinguished scholar and leader whose unwavering commitment to inclusivity and excellence has significantly influenced the landscape of health professions education and accessibility. She is the founder and executive director of the DocsWithDisabilities Initiative and holds appointments as an Associate Professor in the Departments of Learning Health Sciences and Family Medicine at the University of Michigan.
In addition to developing impactful programs, Dr. Meeks plays a pivotal role in advancing equity through her collaborations with health professions associations. Through these collaborations she spearheads efforts to ensure that health science trainees and program leadership receive the support and resources they need to thrive in their respective specialties.
Dr. Meeks is a prolific scholar and widely recognized as a leading expert in this field. Her
research findings have been published in leading journals, including the NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, and Academic Medicine, underscoring the significance of her work. Her contributions extend beyond research to the realm of education and advocacy, where she has co-created impactful social media campaigns and podcasts, working tirelessly to promote disabled clinicians and scholars and reduce harmful disability stereotypes in health professions training and STEM.
Within the wide range of accomplishments she holds, Dr. Meeks most valuable role to date is becoming a grandmother. She cites her time with her grandson Charlie as the most rewarding and “bucket filling” moments in her life.
Dr. Nikia Grayson, DNP, MSN, MPH, MA, CNM, FNP-C, FACNM
Dr. Nikia Grayson, DNP, MSN, MPH, MA, CNM, FNP-C, FACNM (she/her) is a trailblazing force in reproductive justice, blending her expertise as a public health activist, anthropologist, and family nurse-midwife to champion the rights and health of underserved communities. Graduating with distinction from Howard University, Nikia holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in public health. Her academic journey also led her to the University of Memphis, where she earned a master’s in medical anthropology, and the University of Tennessee, where she achieved both a master’s in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice. Complementing her extensive education, she completed a post-master’s certificate in midwifery at Frontier Nursing University.
With over 15 years of experience in public health and nursing, Nikia has dedicated herself to advancing reproductive rights and justice, birth justice, and midwifery. Her passion for midwifery shines through in her commitment to diversifying the workforce of midwives and birth workers, especially in the southern United States. As a fervent disruptor of the current healthcare system, Nikia is pioneering new models of care that prioritize midwifery and center the needs of Black and brown communities. Every day, she works Tirelessly to ensure that all individuals have the agency and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
At CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health, Nikia serves as the Chief Clinical Officer, spearheading initiatives that have led to the establishment of the first nonprofit comprehensive reproductive health care center, the first Black midwifery fellowship program and the city’s inaugural birth center. Beyond her clinical leadership, Nikia sits on the Board of Directors for both the American College of Nurse Midwives and SisterReach, Tennessee’s foremost Reproductive Justice organization.
Driven by a profound sense of purpose, Nikia Grayson is transforming the landscape of reproductive healthcare, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of those she serves and the communities she uplifts.
Alumni Association
All new alumni are automatically welcomed into the FNU Alumni Association. We appreciate the commitment and dedication of our alumni who play an integral role carrying out the FNU mission in everyday practice. Visit our Alumni Association page.
Photos and Videos
Coming Soon!
Ceremony Live Stream - Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
New Graduate Celebration
New FNU graduates and their guests are invited to join us for a celebration event on the FNU campus following the commencement ceremony, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST. (will include sign-up Google form link when ready so we can tailor appropriate follow-up)
Lodging and Local Attractions
Local Attractions
Rupp Arena, part of The Lexington Center, is located in a very walkable area of downtown Lexington, KY. The Center is conveniently situated within 10 miles from both I-64 and I-75, and just under 6 miles from Blue Grass Airport. There are numerous hotels and restaurants within easy reach. Below are some links to help you plan your trip:
The following hotels offer special pricing and courtesy holds for FNU commencement guests:
Best Western Parkside Inn – Frankfort
80 Chenault Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 (23.7 miles from the venue, via I-64 E) – 20 rooms per day held for the following 2023 dates: 9/22 & 9/23. Room type(s): Double Queen. Rate: $102 + tax. A credit card is required for a security guarantee. Book by phone: 502.695.6111. You must mention “Frontier Nursing University” to book with this offer. The offer ends on 7/22/2022 or when rooms are filled, whichever comes first.
Holiday Inn Express – Versailles
365 Commerce Drive, Versailles, KY 40383 (12.4 miles from the venue, via US 60) – 10 rooms per day held for the following 2023 dates: 9/22 – 9/23. Room type(s): 5 Single King ($164 + tax) or 5 Double Queen ($174 + tax). A credit card is required for a security guarantee. Refunds are available if requested within the cancellation window. CLICK HERE to book online or call 859-873-5501. When calling, you must mention “Frontier Nursing University” to book with this offer. The offer ends on 8/22/2022 or when rooms are filled, whichever comes first.
Candlewood Suites – Lexington
603 Adcolor Drive, Lexington, KY 40511 (2.0 miles from the venue, via Newtown Pike) – 10 rooms per day held for the following 2023 dates: 9/22 – 9/23. Room type(s): Single Queen Studios Rate: $159 + tax. A credit card is required for a security guarantee. Refunds are available if requested within the cancellation window. CLICK HERE to book online or call 859-967-1940. When calling, you must mention “Frontier Nursing University” to book with this offer. The offer ends on 8/31/2022 or when rooms are filled, whichever comes first.
Homewood Suites by Hilton – Lexington/Hamburg
2033 Bryant Road, Lexington, KY 40509 (6.9 miles from the venue, via Sir Barton Way & Winchester Rd) – 10 rooms per day held for the following 2023 dates: 9/22 & 9/23. Room type(s): King one-bedroom Suite Rate: $175 + tax. A credit card is required for a security guarantee. Refunds are available if requested within the cancellation window. CLICK HERE to book online or call 859-543-0464. When calling, you must mention “Frontier Nursing University” to book with this offer. The offer ends on 8/31/2023 or when rooms are filled, whichever comes first.
Holiday Inn – Lexington/Hamburg
1976 Justice Drive, Lexington, KY 40509 (6.7 miles from the venue, via Sir Barton Way & Winchester Rd) – Rooms held for the following 2023 dates: 9/22 & 9/23. Room type(s): 10 single King/ 10 double Queen; Rate: $149 + tax. A credit card is required for a security guarantee. Refunds are available if requested within the cancellation window. Group Code: FRN CLICK HERE to book online or call 1-888-HOLIDAY. When calling, you must mention “FRN” to book with this offer. The offer ends on 9/8/2023 or when rooms are filled, whichever comes first.
Commencement Ceremony Details
Commencement Ceremony Timeline – Saturday, September 23, 2023:
9:00 a.m. EST – doors open at Rupp Arena (ceremony venue)
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. EST – Graduate Check-In
10:40 – 10:50 a.m. – Lineup for Processional
11:00 a.m. EST – Ceremony Processional
Approx. 1:30 p.m. EST – Ceremony Recessional
2:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST – FNU campus celebration event for all new graduates & their guests
Eligible Students/Graduates
View information including eligibility criteria and ceremony preparation and sign up to participate. August 18, 2023 is the last day to RSVP via the self-registration dashboard (MarchingOrder).
Shea Rose
Shea Rose has held a variety of titles throughout her career, including singer-songwriter, yogi, style icon, and music curator, to name a few. Her music, influenced by soul, hip-hop, rock, and folk, addresses identity, self-acceptance, and spiritual transformation. Former Boston Globe music critic Steve Morse described her as “that rare artist who can bridge diverse styles such as soul, funk, rock, rap, and jazz — and bring her unique stamp to each.”
Rose is a featured songwriter and vocalist on two Grammy Award-winning jazz albums by legendary drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, The Mosaic Project, and Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue. She has received numerous accolades for her musical abilities, including multiple Boston Music Awards, a SESAC National Performance Activity Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Abe Olman Scholarship, and, most recently, the Andrea C. Silbert Rising Star Award from the Center for Women & Enterprise for her Embodied Voice & Yoga business.
Rose has independently released three full-length solo projects: Little Warrior Mixtape, Rock’ n Rose EP, and D.T.M.A. (Dance This Mess Around) EP. In 2020, Rose recorded a cover of Sinéad O’Connor’s “Black Boys on Mopeds,” a powerful commentary on police brutality in black communities. The music video was published and promoted by TEDxTalks. Rose has performed in Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica, Italy, Greece, and Romania, as well as at Symphony Hall in Boston, the Blue Note Jazz Club, and SXSW.
Rose is an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music. When she’s not on the stage offers Embodied Voice & Yoga coaching and consulting to individuals and organizations. Embodied Voice & Yoga Coaching by Shea Rose is a certified Women and Minority Owned Business whose mission is to empower brown and black women and girls to communicate their highest goals with courage, compassion, and clarity.
Patricia K. Bradley PHD, RN, FAAN is an Associate Professor and the Inaugural Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence at the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (FCN) at Villanova University.
Dr. Bradley’s current work focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion and fostering cultural humility in students, faculty, staff, and healthcare providers. Her research and service activities represent her commitment and contribution to ensuring a “voice for the voiceless” and to developing a culture of trust with vulnerable populations who lack access to address their concerns.
Dr. Bradley is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academy’s Health Equity Expert Panel and a mentor for the Academy’s Jonas Policy Scholars Program’s National Policy Mentoring Council (NPMC).
A graduate of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) 2022 Diversity Leadership Institute, Dr. Bradley is the chair elect for AACN’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN) and a contributor to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty Tool Kit.
At Villanova Dr. Bradley serves as faculty co-advisor for the newly formed Multicultural Student Nurses Organization (MSNO), a service organization developed by students and dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for historically underrepresented nursing students. Dr. Bradley is also chair of a parallel program, the FCN’s steering committee for Healthy Work Environment Initiatives working with faculty and staff to foster an inclusive environment where all faculty, staff, and students are respected, accepted, and valued.
Robert Lucero
Lucero, Robert J. PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Professor of Nursing, and Audrienne H. Moseley Endowed Chair in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nursing
My research program focuses on improving health outcomes of vulnerable populations using innovative health systems and informatics approaches. Two prominent themes of my work are: enhancing the quality of care for hospitalized older adults and improving self-management of chronic health conditions among Hispanic, African-American, and LGBTQ+ populations. My research is distinguished by interdisciplinary team science, which bridges nursing, medicine, psychology, computer science, and engineering, health systems, communities, and other academic institutions.
My research is leading the way to inform infrastructure development for data-driven knowledge generation that serves as a model for organizations across the United States (US) to improve the quality of care for hospitalized older adults. I am leveraging electronic patient, clinical, and administrative data and data science methods to identify valid, modifiable factors that predict hospital-acquired falls (HAF), which affect annually approximately one million US hospitalized patients. Studies I have published show that, in 168 US hospitals, poor nursing care quality was associated with more adverse patient events, including HAF. Using artificial intelligence approaches with electronic health record (EHR) data, I have discovered a set of six new clinical and organizational factors that can predict HAF. These findings were among the most downloaded in 2019, and have widespread implications since hospital patient falls continue to be a significant clinical concern internationally in healthcare systems. My lab also explores the use of registered nurses’ (RNs’) progress notes, or text data on patient observations, to predict HAF. We were the first to publish that RNs’ notes contain information about clinical, environmental, and organizational factors that can predict fall risk. I am Principal Investigator (PI) of a 5-year $2.57 million award from the National Institute on Aging. This cutting-edge health systems project is exploiting the use of text and structured EHR data to validate predictors of HAF and hospital-induced delirium. This study will expand the University of Florida Health EHR research infrastructure for data-driven knowledge generation.
The other cornerstone of my research program is developing health information technology (HIT) to promote chronic disease self-management. I pioneered and published a HIT design approach, known as Consumer-centered Participatory Design (C2 PD). Unlike other design approaches, C2 PD provides public health and community-based organizations, academic researchers, and commercial designers with a theoretically informed approach that engages consumers throughout the development and evaluation of HIT. C2 PD builds on the strengths and resources within a community, promotes a collaborative learning and empowering process, facilitates collaborative partnerships, and incorporates four components of HIT design, namely; user preferences, functions, tasks, and representational requirements, to develop highly usable systems. We introduced this innovative approach and presented our findings to informaticians at the International Medical Informatics Association Nursing Informatics Congress in 2012. We demonstrated that using the C2 PD approach resulted in a highly useful and usable fall prevention self-management system for English- and Spanish-speaking older adults. Since then, multiple investigators of HIT development and systematic review articles have referenced the use of the C2 PD approach. The C2 PD approach has been the basis of my other funded studies, including a $2.8 million National Institute of Nursing Research and $1.0 million Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality award. I have disseminated further wide-ranging use of the C2 PD method, including creating a mobile Health (mHealth) application (app) interface for Hispanic caregivers of persons with dementia to self-manage chronic stress and burden and an mHealth app to support African American caregivers of children with chronic asthma and obesity. The lessons I learned developing the C2 PD approach are represented in a paper I co-authored that focuses on using HIT to engage communities to improve health and reduce health disparities in populations. This is significant to the work I am conducting among people living with HIV. A study I published showed that a large proportion (85.5%) of people living with HIV are interested in using a mHealth app that supports HIV self-management, including functions to identify health services, provide health tips and medication reminders, communicate with healthcare providers, track their mood and emotions, and engage in social networking. My lab is expanding this research with funding from the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) and the Florida Department of Public Health to inform creating and testing a technology-enabled self-management intervention.
I have developed an independent and externally funded health services and informatics research program of over $8.85 million as PI. I publish in high impact journals and researchers and scholars in nursing, health services, and informatics cite my research regularly according to citation analytics (>1024, h-index:14, i10-index:18). Additionally, federal government agencies have recognized my research. I was a standing member of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality HIT Research review panel from 2016-2020, and served on multiple NIH Special Emphasis Review Panels. My peers have recognized the impact of my research nationally, and I am disseminating my research program internationally. I am a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the New York Academy of Medicine. In 2019, I received a 3-year UF Term Professorship that acknowledged my academic accomplishments in shaping the UF College of Nursing and the nursing discipline. I am currently the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Professor of Nursing (with tenure); and, the Adrienne H. Mosely Endowed Chair in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nursing.
Dr. Vicki Hines-Martin
Dr. Vicki Hines-Martin is a Professor and the Associate Dean, Office of Community Engagement and Diversity Inclusion in the University of Louisville School of Nursing. In addition, she holds a joint appointment as the Director of Community Outreach in the UofL Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity and Inclusion which serves the schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, and public health. Dr. Hines-Martin is an associate director in the NIEHS funded UofL Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences and a Commonwealth Scholar in the Kentucky Commonwealth Institute. She has been a psych-mental health clinical nurse specialist for 36 years. Her area of scholarship includes mental health disparities, culture, social justice/equity, and community engagement.
Dr. Hines-Martin has numerous presentations and publications which include the Routledge Handbook of Global Mental Health Nursing: Evidence, Practice and Empowerment. New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group (Yearwood, E. & Hines-Martin [Eds], 2017). Dr. Hines-Martin has received many awards and recognitions for her work from organizations such as The Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice. Dr. Hines-Martin served as the President of the International Society for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Michelle Hampton
Michelle DeCoux Hampton, RN, PhD, MS is the Director of Academic Nursing and Patient Care Research in the Office of Research Patient Care Services at Stanford Health Care. Dr. Hampton formerly served in a variety of academic roles at Samuel Merritt University (2005-2018) including Professor and Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program and at San Jose State University (2018-2022) as Professor and Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Coordinator in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing, as well as Assessment Facilitator and Special Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Her expertise and experience includes psychiatric mental health nursing and research methods for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students with knowledge of student engagement in various modalities including face-to-face, hybrid, online, and simulation. Her research and service interests are focused on promoting health equity for underserved populations, in part by increasing access to health professional education for members of underrepresented communities, and by educating current students and practicing professionals regarding health equity. As an Advisory Council Member for the Salvation Army, Garden Street Center in Oakland, she spearheaded an initiative to create a certified nursing assistant program within the vocational education program as an entry point to the nursing profession for shelter residents and others in the local community. She also serves as a holistic admissions review consultant for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing providing training for faculty and administrators in US nursing programs. Workshops educate participants in methods to increase diversity within nursing programs that are considering or have already implemented holistic admissions review and/or evaluation.
Kendra Barrier
Kendra M. Barrier. PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans School of Nursing (LSUHSC-NO SON)
Dr. Barrier is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing, serving as the Inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2021 to present) and the former Assistant Dean for Student Services (2015-2021) at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans School of Nursing (LSUHSC-NO). She is also an Associate Faculty for the School of Graduate Studies at LSUHSC-NO, a National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator, an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Diversity Leadership Institute Fellow, and an AACN Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing (ELAN) Fellow. She a mentor for the third cohort of AACN Diversity Leadership Institute. She provides a strategic vision and leadership by engaging in quality improvement and programmatic development by promoting a culture of inclusive excellence. She is currently piloting the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Elements Tool (DEIET), threading DEI through the SON curricula. She is a mentor and coach, and is passionate about the academic success of underrepresentative minority students.
Externally, Dr. Barrier is the President for New Orleans District Nurses Association (2020 to present). An active member several committees and taskforce for the Louisiana State Nurses Association; the Chair of the AACN DEI Leadership Network; and a member of the AACN Organizational Leadership Network (OLN) Steering Committee and Co-Chair of the Communications Committee; a member of the National League for Nursing Education Awards Committee; a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a member of the Epsilon Nu Chapter-at-Large of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), and a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) DEI Collaboration. Dr. Barrier also serves as the Presidential Consultant for the Louisiana Association of Student Nurses. Lastly, she is a member of the New Orleans (LA) Chapter of The Links Incorporated.
Dr. Barrier has presented diversity, equity, and inclusion content, diversity leadership vision, and where DEI fits into Academic Nursing Education locally, regionally, and nationally. She has also been a member of several DEI panel presentations.
She earned her BSN (2000) and MSN (2009), in Nursing Education, from LSUHSC, and received a PhD (2016), in Nursing Education and Administration, from William Carey University.
Jean Edward
Jean Edward, PhD, RN, CHPE, is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the College of Nursing, and Nurse Scientist for UK HealthCare’s Markey Cancer Center.
Dr. Edward’s program of research is focused on promoting equity in healthcare access, affordability, and health outcomes for underserved communities by intervening on the social determinants of health. She utilizes mixed methods and implementation science approaches to design and implement sustainable multi-level interventions that promote equity in access to and affordability of care. She has implemented several nationally funded oncology financial navigation programs to address financial toxicity of cancer experienced by pediatric and adult patients, survivors and caregivers. Dr. Edward has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Cancer Society, Kentucky Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International, and the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Trust Fund. Her work has been published in over 40 peer-reviewed publications and presented at over 70 national, regional, and local conferences. She is the Associate Editor of Clinical Nursing Research and a fellow of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Diversity Leadership Institute.
Marissa Hamamoto, MA
The first dancer to be named People Magazine “Women Changing the World,” and named InStyle Magazine Badass 50, Adidas “women reimagining sport,” CBS News “People Making a Difference”, and featured on Good Morning America and NBC Today, Marisa is an award-winning Transformational Movement Artist, Speaker, and Changemaker dedicated to creating a more inclusive just world where we can each feel alive, not just survive.
Marisa’s lived experiences of her body repeatedly not being accepted as a dancer, her Japanese American identity not fitting the box in many spaces, and surviving a stroke that initially paralyzed her from the neck down, eventually led her to create Infinite Flow, an award-winning nonprofit dance company that employs disabled and nondisabled artists with diverse, intersectional identities with a mission to use dance as a catalyst to dismantle biases and promote inclusion.
During the last year, Marisa was diagnosed with two invisible disabilities: PTSD and Autism. The diagnoses brought much clarity to the challenges she’s coped with throughout her life.
Marisa is passionate about transforming forward-thinking businesses through keynotes, performances, and content that inspire inclusivity and move hearts, bodies, and minds, so that their teams become more connected, purpose-driven, and alive. She has brought unique unforgettable keynote presentations and performances to some of the biggest enterprises in the world, including Meta, Apple, Red Bull, NBCUniversal, Deloitte, PayPal, International Monetary Fund, Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Porsche, McKinsey & Co, Clifford Chance, amongst other brands. Marisa made history along with wheelchair dancer Piotr Iwanicki by becoming the first dancer to perform at Apple’s Steve Jobs Theater, sharing the stage with Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Since 2015, Marisa has led Infinite Flow to perform at over 160 events, from large global events to local school assemblies & community festivals. Heading the creative & artistic direction, Infinite Flow’s videos have tracked over 100 million views on Facebook alone. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Marisa spearheaded Infinite Flow to turn its in-person elementary school assembly program into a virtual program, launching Scoops of Inclusion, a 47-minute short film celebrating diversity and empowering kids to take an active role in creating a more inclusive world where we each feel we belong.
Marisa is bilingual and bicultural. She completed her BA & MA from Keio University, Tokyo. She is an Honorary Member (Distinguished Artist) of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. She is a speaker, thought leader, performing artist, and multi-dimensional creator on the rise, seeking to creatively inspire inclusion, innovation, and transformation through movement, dance, and storytelling.
More on Marisa at MarisaHamamoto.com.
Heidi Loomis
Heidi Loomis, DM, CRNP, CNM enjoys supporting clinical midwifery and women’s health nurse practitioner students and their preceptors in her role as Regional Clinical Faculty at Frontier Nursing University. She recently completed a Doctorate of Midwifery degree at The Midwifery Institute at Jefferson. Her doctoral research focused on biases that midwifery students across the U.S. experience in their clinical settings – the types and prevalence of bias as well as its impact on midwifery students’ commitment to the completion of their academic programs and to the profession of midwifery. Part of her research also included the emotional responses and behavioral coping mechanisms employed by students in response to bias, whether midwifery students witnessed anyone intervening, and whether or not students reported experiences of bias. For this work, Heidi received the American College of Nurse-Midwives Foundation’s 2022 W. Newton Long Award for the Advancement of Midwifery. Heidi has been interested in culturally respectful care and the growth of midwifery for decades. She has presented to academic, government, non-governmental, and private institutions on topics including anti-racism, privilege, and midwifery. Heidi also enjoyed clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner and certified nurse-midwife for over 30 years in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. She is a graduate of Juniata College, Yale School of Nursing, Frontier Nursing University, and The Midwifery Institute at Jefferson, College of Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Rebekka Eshler
Born in Orange, California and raised in the beautiful state of Oregon, Rebekka Eshler has had an adventurous life. Being raised by her wonderful grandmother, she learned valuable life lessons earlier than her peers. After graduating high school and a few confusing years in college, Rebekka decided it was time to make a change and decided to join the United States Army and becoming a Fire Support Specialist Paratrooper. Rebekka was stationed all the way up in the last frontier state of Alaska. Even before transitioning, she was embraced by the LGBTQIA’s community.
After leaving the service, Rebekka delayed her transition as she started her professional piloting career at University of Alaska Anchorage. After many nights of deep thought and struggle, Rebekka decided that she loved helping people and redirected her efforts towards a Political Science Degree. She also took biology and chemistry classes because she fell in love with medicine after becoming an Emergency Medical Technician. While at UAA Rebekka’s passion for helping others and leadership got even stronger. She was participated in many different student leadership organization and even became the Student Veterans of America Chapter President at UAA. Rebekka also began working as a volunteer for the Non Governmental Organization Mobile Medics International, that provides medical response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the world.
After coming out as a proud trans woman in 2018, Rebekka began reconnecting with her local LGBTQIA community in Anchorage. She began being a major voice for the LGBTQIA Community in her final year of college. From being the first openly transgender SVA UAA Chapter President, to working at the homeless shelter as an EMT, Rebekka wasn’t afraid to speak up and make sure that everyone was receiving equal treatment. After Graduating in 2020, during the pandemic, Rebekka decided it was time to be more active and joined the board of Transgender American Veteran Association as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations. In this role she built relationships with other Veteran organizations and LGBTQIA organizations.
Rebekka represented her state as Miss Trans Alaska 2022 and won Miss Congeniality at the national Miss Trans USA 2022 pageant. She is currently serving as the National President of The Transgender American Veteran Association.
Dr. Tia Brown McNair
Dr. Tia Brown McNair is the Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC. She oversees both funded projects and AAC&U’s continuing programs on equity, inclusive excellence, high-impact practices, and student success. McNair directs AAC&U’s Summer Institutes on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, and TRHT Campus Centers and serves as the project director for several AAC&U initiatives, including the development of a TRHT-focused campus climate toolkit. She is the lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education (January 2020) and Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success (July 2016 and August 2022 Second edition).