2023 Frontier Nursing University President's Annual Report

Creating a Culture of Caring

Founded in 1939, Frontier Nursing University seeks to meet the needs of prospective nursemidwives and nurse practitioners who want to remain in their home communities while studying to obtain a graduate education to fulfill their professional goals. Students start by completing web-based didactic coursework with the encouragement and support of academic advisers, classmates, a strong curriculum, and active and engaged faculty. Working with clinics, hospitals, and preceptors in their own communities, students gain the handson clinical experience required for these exciting healthcare professions. FNU’s more than 150 faculty members, who are located all over the country, are national leaders in advanced practice nursing and midwifery education. The ultimate goal is to improve healthcare outcomes through the care of a well–prepared, diverse healthcare workforce of nursemidwives and nurse practitioners especially for rural and underserved communities.

The Frontier Nursing University Vision:

To continually improve our status as a center of excellence for midwifery and nurse practitioner education.

The Frontier Nursing University Mission:

The mission of Frontier Nursing University is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

The Frontier Nursing University Culture of Caring:

• Professionalism

• Inclusivity

• Respect

• Positive Communications

• Mutual Support

FNU’s Culture of Caring initiative drives these values into our talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, couriers, and preceptors. We are inspired by a culture of caring among all members of our university community, and it strengthens our focus on our mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.

FNU at a Glance

85 years of experience in graduate nursing and nurse-midwifery education

Students and alumni represent every U.S. state and several foreign countries

Current enrollment of more than

2,500 students

Offers the oldest and largest continually operating nursemidwifery education program in the United States

Number of new enrollees in each program in 2023:

Family Nurse Practitioner

262 Nurse-Midwifery

427 Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

343 Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner

Offered the first family nurse practitioner program in the United States

Total degrees awarded in 2023: 948

30.10% Enrollment of students of color in 2023

161 Doctor of Nursing Practice

226

Six-time (20182023) winner of the Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award Largest and oldest nursemidwifery program in the United States Named a Great College to Work For three times: 2021 2022 2023

51% of FNU’s students live in health professional shortage areas (HPSA) as defined by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Number

1,619 Not Disclosed 71

Students attending Clinical Bound

Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that just two years ago, we were emerging from the pandemic and, with it, embracing all that our Versailles campus had to offer our students. Since then, we have been full speed ahead, and it shows. In 2023, we had a busy and eventfilled year, resulting in an abundance of highlights captured in these pages.

As students and faculty came to campus week after week to attend Frontier and Clinical Bounds, we fell into a rhythm that showed our overall productivity and efficiency. We saw our enrollment rise back to pre-pandemic levels, the enrollment of students of color increase to 30% for the first time in our history, and the relaunch of our cherished Courier Program Public Health Internship.

We celebrated our graduates at commencement and welcomed them and their families to our first annual alumni and friends post-commencement event. Commencement is always our best day of the year, and the alumni and friends celebration made a great day even better.

Throughout the year, we took time to celebrate several awards, both individual and institutional. We also honored our preceptors with our first-ever Preceptor Celebration Week. We held our 13th annual Diversity Impact Conference, second annual Day of Giving, and ninth annual Empower Virtual Events in conjunction with national midwifery and nurse practitioner weeks.

While the events and awards brought us joy and excitement, what truly made us proud was our diligent adherence to our 2023 strategic plan goals. Established and approved by the Board of Directors with significant input and participation from faculty and staff, these goals are our annual road map. The strategic plan guides our actions with ambitious and measurable goals.

As we do every year, in this Annual Report, we share the stories and data related to the 2023 strategic plan goals. We also highlight the people, events, and milestones that shaped our year, providing a comprehensive look at all that made 2023 such a memorable, successful year at Frontier Nursing University.

Thank you for taking the time to read this report. We are truly grateful for your support of Frontier Nursing University, our students, and our mission.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Stone, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, FACNM President

Dear Friends,

The Board of Directors of Frontier Nursing University is pleased to present the 2023 President’s Annual Report. We had a very busy and successful year in 2023, and we are happy to be able to share the stories of the people, accomplishments, and events that made it so. I believe that the carefully crafted strategic plan is central to our success as it provides a map to guide the university’s data-driven, evidence-based decisions. It established ambitious but attainable goals that provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements and identify new opportunities for growth and improvement.

In these pages, we share many stories that highlight the remarkable successes of 2023. We do so with an eye toward the strategic plan, demonstrating each event, decision, award, and initiative connects to the university’s mission..

Frontier Nursing University actively engages all university community members – faculty, staff, students, alumni, volunteers, and donors – in the decision-making process that ultimately creates the strategic plan. This inclusive action is essential to ensure that all university members work together to achieve the same goals for the same reasons. Every decision every action, is intended to help FNU achieve its mission. This strict adherence helps eliminate distractions and encourages efficiency and teamwork throughout the university.

While no entity is perfect, the FNU Board of Directors is extremely proud of the consistently high standards set and met by all facets of the university. We believe that these standards are reflected in our review of 2023 in the following pages and will continue to be met and exceeded in the years to come.

Thank you for your interest in Frontier Nursing University and the vital role you play in the university’s continued success.

Sincerely,

Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP, FAAN, FNP/GNP-BC Chair, Board of Directors

2023 Strategic Plan Goals

Goal 1

Continue to develop, evaluate, and improve programs and services that further our mission.

Goal 2

Create an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and promotes the success of all community members.

Goal 3

Build strategic relationships and partnerships with clinical sites and preceptors, focusing on rural areas.

Goal 4

Continuously improve and maintain facilities to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Goal 5

Use technology to ensure improvement and attainment of service excellence to the community.

Goal 6

Ensure the financial strength and growth is sufficient to meet the needs of the university.

At the end of each year, the progress toward FNU’s strategic plan goals is measured, and the outcomes are analyzed. Developing the strategic plan, implementing it, and measuring the results are integral to FNU’s strategic adherence to its mission and growth. Within the following pages is a detailed look at the six goals included in the 2023 strategic plan, including the data and stories that demonstrate the results from the last calendar year.

Program Enrollment and Retention Data Help Drive University Decisions

Frontier Nursing University is a data-driven university that diligently compiles and studies enrollment and retention data.

“We rely on data, delineated in a variety of ways, to help us understand our enrollment, identify trends, and act upon areas for improvement and opportunities to grow,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM.

“We share this data with our Frontier Community annually,

ensuring that everyone is informed and that all voices, ideas, and perspectives are heard. This is an essential step in our daily efforts to be proactive and anticipate changes in the makeup of our student population.”

DIVERSITY OF STUDENT BODY BY PROGRAM TRACK

TOTAL ENROLLMENT BY SPECIALTY TRACK

DIVERSITY ENROLLMENT BY TERM

OVERALL RETENTION TO DATE OF DNP

OVERALL RETENTION TO DATE OF MSN BY SPECIALTY TRACK

FIRST YEAR RETENTION BY PROGRAM

NUMBER OF NEW ENROLLMENTS BY TERM

DEGREES AWARDED BY SPECIALTY TRACK AND DNP

Dr. Kevin Scalf Named as Department Chair of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department

Kevin

Scalf, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl

In October 2023, Frontier Nursing University announced Kevin Scalf, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl, as the Department Chair of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department.

“Dr. Scalf is a highly respected member of our faculty who is a tremendous asset to his colleagues and students,” said FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN. “I am grateful for his service and am excited to see the benefits of his leadership within the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department .”

Born and raised in rural southeastern Kentucky, Dr. Scalf graduated from Eastern Kentucky University as a psychiatricmental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) in 2011. In 2020, he graduated from FNU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Dr. Scalf joined FNU in 2018 and has held several

faculty positions, including Regional Clinical Faculty, Clinical Bound Team Leader, Clinical Bound Course Coordinator, Simulation Coordinator for the PMHNP program, and Clinical Transitions Coordinator.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Scalf agreed to fill this extremely important position,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM. “Our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program was launched in January 2017 and continues to grow, mirroring the increasing demand for mental health care throughout our country.”

Dr. Scalf’s passion for healthcare began at an early age. Working as a PMHNP in various healthcare venues, Dr. Scalf has had the opportunity to appreciate the complexity and importance of high-quality healthcare. As the demand for mental health care increases across the nation, Dr. Scalf is eager to help prepare future psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners for entry into the workforce.

“It is an honor to accept this new opportunity, and I look forward to building upon the strong foundation of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department,” Dr. Scalf said. “It is an unbelievable privilege and responsibility to help people across our nation. Our students understand that and are up for the challenge as they answer the call to serve.”

Goal 2

FNU’s Roadmap to 30% Diversity Enrollment

Frontier Nursing University has a history of innovation and being ahead of the curve. From bringing nurse-midwifery to the United States in 1925 to offering the country’s first Family Nurse Practitioner program in 1970 to implementing distance learning in 1989 before online education was an option, Frontier has often been at the forefront of change.

These seemingly extreme actions are, in fact, data-driven decisions implemented to fulfill the university’s mission. Though some of the words and phrases have been revised over the years, the sentiment and purpose of the current mission statement rings true with FNU’s actions over the years. The mission of Frontier Nursing University is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

“It’s one thing to write a mission statement. It’s another thing entirely to live your mission statement,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “Historically, Frontier has measured all its decisions and ideas against the mission statement. ‘How does this serve our mission?’ It is sometimes a difficult question but one that we ask routinely. By adhering to our mission, we maintain a steady course that yields good results over time.”

Our mission to serve rural and underserved communities guided FNU’s implementation of distance learning in 1989. The ultimate goal for the start of the distance learning model was to improve healthcare outcomes for all people by providing nurses who lived and worked in the most rural and underserved areas of our country the opportunity to receive education and certification as nurse-midwives and later as nurse practitioners. In actionable terms, this meant improving access to highly skilled clinicians which ultimately improves access to health care, the quality of healthcare, and increases culturally concordant care.

“We knew early on that it would not be possible to improve health outcomes for all unless we learned how to address

health equity and healthcare disparities, which negatively impact health,” Dr. Stone said.

Distance learning helped address the goal of more access to care in rural areas by allowing Frontier students to pursue their advanced degrees while still living and working in the communities in which they lived and served. However, it did not have an immediate impact on reducing disparities.

In 2003, the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce published “Mission Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions.”1 The Commission’s 200-page report stated, “As the population has become increasingly diverse, glaring disparities in the quality of care, especially for racial and ethnic minorities, have led to thousands of premature deaths each year and incalculable hours of lost productivity, pain, and suffering… Today’s physicians, nurses, and dentists have too little resemblance to the diverse populations they serve, leaving many Americans feeling excluded by a system that seems distant and uncaring.”

Influenced by the Sullivan Commission’s insistence that a more diverse healthcare workforce was essential to better healthcare for all in the U.S., Frontier included objectives to increase student body diversity in the university’s 2006 strategic plan. At that time, the percentage of Frontier students identifying as students of color was 9%.

Among the steps Frontier took to increase that number was marketing directly to students of color through organizations such as the Black Nurses Association and establishing relationships with undergraduate nursing programs that graduated large numbers of students of color.

“Our first well-planned and coordinated effort to increase the diversity of our student body was the PRIDE (Promoting Recruitment and Retention to Increase Diversity) program, which we established in 2010,” Dr. Stone said of the program funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nursing Workforce Diversity grant.

The ultimate goal of the PRIDE program was to recruit and retain qualified underrepresented students in our

graduate school of nursing to meet the healthcare demands of an increasingly diverse population. The PRIDE initiative was a comprehensive program that included targeted recruitment activities, retention programs, partnerships with undergraduate nursing programs, and scholarship assistance. Monthly meetings allowed students to discuss challenges and build relationships, and the university’s Diversity Impact program – now the annual Diversity Impact Conference – was established. The diversity of the FNU student population began to increase and by 2014, 15% of FNU students identified as a person of color.

Retention rates, however, were a problem. In 2012, the retention rate for white students was 77% compared to just 58% for disclosed non-white students. In response, FNU created a professional advisor center in 2014. Six experienced professional advisors were hired. These advisors were responsible for engaging students in the education process, educating students regarding curricular requirements, assessing students’ needs, and connecting students with essential services as well as monitoring students’ progress to degree completion. Every student was assigned a professional advisor who met with the student at least once a term and more often as needed. FNU also offered increased financial aid counseling, technology education, and a writing assistance program. By 2016, these efforts were yielding good results, with the retention rate for students of color at 80% and the retention rate for white students at 84%. The overall retention rates were much higher, and the gap between white students and students of color retention rates was narrowing.

In 2018, Frontier set new goals:

• Increase the student enrollment of color to 30%

• Increase overall retention to 85% and close the retention gap between white students and students of color

The strategies to achieve those goals included appointing the university’s first Director of Diversity and Inclusion, who was appointed as a member of the President’s Cabinet, implementing holistic admissions, and implementing diversity training. The university also formed the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which focused on identifying and implementing new programs and activities to address diversity and inclusion efforts at FNU.

“These steps took on even more importance in 2020,” Dr. Stone said. “The pandemic shone a spotlight on the continuing disparities in healthcare outcomes for people of color. The George Floyd murder, the death of Brianna Taylor, the disparate outcomes of the pandemic in communities of color, and other horrific events and social unrest were clear reminders that we needed to do much more to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

President Stone, at that point, saw the need for an increased effort to create a culture of inclusiveness and belonging at FNU. She formed the President’s Task Force, designed to create a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The purpose of the task force was to identify, implement, and evaluate initiatives to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community. The goal was to enhance Frontier Nursing University’s Culture of Caring to make equity, respect, and belonging a reality. The task force was specifically charged with creating a comprehensive action plan and facilitating the implementation of each item on the action plan.

A committee structure was created for the President’s DEI Task Force modeled after the Equity Agenda Guideline described by K. Effland, K. Hayes, F. Ortiz, and B. Bianco in their important article2. The result was seven task force subcommittees, with participation from faculty, staff, and students:

• Subcommittee on Faculty, Staff, and Preceptor Development and Retention

• Subcommittee on Curriculum and Learning

• Subcommittee on Climate and Belonging

• Subcommittee on Retention of Underrepresented Students

• Subcommittee on Policies, Statements, Reports, Reviews, Planning and Evaluation

• Subcommittee on Infrastructure, System Strengthening, and Capacity Building

• Subcommittee on Recruitment Across the Entire University

• Anti-Racism and Bias Advisory Council

1 Sullivan, Louis. (2004). Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions, A Report of the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce.

2Effland, K.J., Hays, K., Ortiz, F.M. and Blanco, B.A. (2020), Incorporating an Equity Agenda into Health Professions Education and Training to Build a More Representative Workforce. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 65: 149-159. https://doi-org.frontier.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jmwh.13070.

Goal 2

Each of these subcommittees developed their own goals and objectives. They met frequently and reported on their progress monthly to the full task force. Many issues were accomplished through this initiative, such as curriculum assessment, the formation of Special Interest Groups, the identification of an equity lens and the review of policies via the equity lens, the adoption and launch of community-wide training regarding unconscious bias and microaggressions, training on the adoption of an anti-racist pedagogy for teaching, the development of a diversity holiday celebration calendar, adoption of a DEI Corner training at each quarterly faculty/staff meeting, participation in the AACN Climate Survey, adoption of Holistic Admission, strategies for funding our efforts through grants and donations and so much more.

“There was great energy and commitment from the many members of these sub-committees,” Dr. Stone said. “The work was underway.”

During this time, the university also issued a strong AntiRacism statement:

“At Frontier Nursing University, we oppose injustice and cruelty and condemn racism in all its forms. We support peaceful protests and demonstrations and join all those working to end systemic racism, racial violence, and police brutality. We are committed to building a culture that is inclusive and caring for all.”

The new focus resulted in more faculty, staff, and students training opportunities, curriculum mapping to identify gaps, student special interest groups, and a mentoring program. The Board of Directors created its own DEI Committee and established a $2 million endowed fund for scholarships for underrepresented students. The university also created a Bias Incident Report Advisory Council.

In 2022 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly opened Versailles campus, the university included a Land Acknowledgement Ceremony recognizing the land as the traditional territory of the Shawnee and Cherokee people. In 2022-23, FNU created a DEI Faculty Fellows program and a DEI Staff Ambassador program.

In 2023, in an effort to incorporate the DEIB work into all daily functions of the university, FNU created a new

administrative position entitled the Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. Student advising, registrar services, and the DEI office staff are all located in this division of FNU. The Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success and the Dean of Nursing work closely together to enhance the inclusive environment at FNU.

“Through all these years of valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion, we have celebrated our successes and learned from our failures,” Dr. Stone said. “We were thrilled to reach our goal of 30% enrollment of students of color at the end of 2023. We have come a very long way since we started at 9%. Today the work continues. DEIB is a critical component of building a healthy university and is essential to our ultimate goal of improving healthcare outcomes.”

Frontier Nursing University Awarded $4 Million Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant

In September, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant to Frontier Nursing University (FNU). The grant period extends from September 30, 2023, to September 29, 2027. FNU will receive $4 million – $1 million per year – to fund the grant project.

Via the grant, FNU intends to increase the number and diversity of the nurse-midwifery

workforce with a focus on increasing the Hispanic population of nurse-midwives. FNU plans to graduate at least 300 nursemidwives each year. FNU anticipates that 30% will report as a person of color, and 10% will report as Hispanic. The grant funds will help broaden the scope and reach of FNU’s marketing campaigns and increase the university’s student support programs. Student support will include a mentoring program, retention strategies, and engagement with the

Hispanic nursing community, including preceptors and Hispanic-serving nursing schools.

“We are honored and thrilled to receive the Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “This grant offers FNU the opportunity to focus on an area of particular need in our country. According to 2022 data from the CDC, more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. from 2017-2019 were preventable by providing better care. Data also overwhelmingly demonstrate that culturally congruent care improves patient outcomes by emphasizing interactions between patients and practitioners based on empathy and respect. That is the type of care that nurse-midwives are trained to provide. It is vital that we increase the number and diversity of the nurse-midwifery workforce to combat the tragically high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in our country.”

FNU has maintained a strong focus on increasing diversity enrollment and retention through several initiatives, partly funded by HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity grants awarded in 2017 and 2021. FNU’s many recent DEI initiatives include the implementation of a holistic admissions process, the expansion of its Office of DEI staff, diversity training for all members of the FNU community, mentoring programs, an annual Diversity Impact Conference, the formation of special Student Interest Groups, and the establishment of a DEI Faculty Fellows program. Since FNU committed to DEI as a priority, enrollment of students of color has increased from 9% in 2010 to 30% in 2023. Currently, 5% of FNU’s midwifery student population identifies as Hispanic. Nationally, only 5% of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives identify as Hispanic.

The Hispanic population typically has lower maternal mortality than the Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations. However, according to a March 2023 report from the National Center for Health Statistics, the Hispanic population’s maternal mortality rate has risen dramatically in the last four years, climbing from 11.8 per 100,000 in 2018 to 28 per 100,000 in 2021.

“The Hispanic population in the United States is 19% percent and growing,” said Dr. Eileen Thrower, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, CNE, FACNM, Chair for the Department of Midwifery &

Women’s Health at Frontier Nursing University. “With the current rise in maternal mortality rates, it is imperative that we address this growing need through focused and datadriven initiatives to increase the Hispanic population of nursemidwives.”

An important benefit of of the MatCare grant is financial assistance fo our nurse-midwifery students The MatCare Grant allows FNU to provide 100 scholarships ($5,000 each) and 100 stipends ($2000 each) for nurse-midwifery students annually. Scholarships and stipends are managed through the university’s Scholarship. Committee and the Financial Aid Department.

FNU’s MatCare project goals are to:

• Increase the number of nurse-midwives from underrepresented populations, focusing on the Hispanic population.

• Increase the retention rate of nurse-midwives from 81% to 85%, focusing on Hispanic Nurses.

• Enhance maternal mental health training to better address maternal mental health, maternal mortality, and morbidity risk factors.

• Strengthen community-based training partnerships.

Frontier Nursing University Adopts New Mission Statement

At the January 2023 Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a new mission statement for the university:

“Our mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people, emphasizing rural and underserved communities.”

The new statement directly reflects the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and improving healthcare by preparing nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives to effectively serve their communities.

“Research has clearly demonstrated that culturally concordant care improves healthcare outcomes,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We also know that there is a healthcare provider shortage in our country and that there are healthcare deserts with a pervasive lack of access to care. Not only do we need more nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives, but we also need them to represent the communities and people they care for. The new mission statement adopted by our Board of Directors reflects the scope and direction of our recent work and our ongoing commitment to these goals.”

“The new mission statement sends a strong message that Frontier Nursing University is not only committed to building upon its long history of excellence in education but also to leading by example as an institution fully invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of the university,” said FNU Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN.

Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech

Named the University’s First Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success

FNU Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success, Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN

In November, Frontier Nursing University announced that thenChief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, had been selected as the university’s first Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. Dr. Alexander-Delpech was named the university’s CDIO in 2022. The role of the Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success is to fully incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and to promote student success and retention throughout the FNU community. The creation of this high-level leadership position is an innovative step to centralize all of the university’s student services, such as orientation, academic advising, registration, retention, student activities and organizations, counseling, and more.

“Dr. Alexander-Delpech’s leadership of Frontier’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives have been exemplary,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “Utilizing her expertise as our first Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success is essential in infusing DEI efforts throughout the university’s operations. We are confident that this will enhance our already impactful student services to provide even higher levels of support than ever before.”

Dr. Alexander-Delpech is the President’s Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion co-chair. She is also co-chair of the Faculty, Staff, and Preceptor Development and Retention sub-committee of the DEI Task Force. Dr. Alexander-Delpech created and implemented the DEI Faculty Fellow and the DEI Staff Ambassador programs. Each program rejects the traditional DEI approach and instead uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate the development of skills and knowledge to address systemic racism and pervasive healthcare inequities.

“I am honored to be appointed to this new role as the Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success,” Dr. AlexanderDelpech said. “We have a great responsibility and opportunity to further Frontier Nursing University’s longstanding history and commitment to ensure the success of our students and prepare them to be skilled, ethical, and compassionate leaders in their communities. Many of our students represent rural and underserved communities, making their presence all the more impactful in providing culturally competent healthcare.”

Dr. Alexander-Delpech is a Board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is an appointed member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) diversity committee, an inaugural member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF) diversity committee, a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), the President-elect of the Florida chapter of the APNA; a member of the South Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses; and a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Dr. Tanya Belcheff Named as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Frontier Nursing University announced in November that Dr. Tanya Belcheff, DNP, CNM, had been selected as the university’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Belcheff had been an assistant professor in FNU’s nurse-midwifery program since 2016.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Belcheff has accepted the role as our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “She is an outstanding faculty member and has been very active and passionate in her support of our numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and initiatives. I have complete confidence that, together with Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula AlexanderDelpech, they will further enhance the service we provide to each and every student.”

Dr. Belcheff became a Certified Nurse-Midwife at the University of New Mexico in 2002 and earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Frontier in 2019. She has taken an active role in FNU’s diversity initiatives, including as a member of the team that organized and implemented a $1,376,800 Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in 2018. The ANEW grant supported innovative academicpractice partnerships to prepare primary care advanced practice registered nursing students to practice in rural and underserved settings through academic and clinical training. In her role with the grant, Dr. Belcheff worked to help identify obstacles to retaining and training local providers in the Navajo Nation.

“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to serve as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Dr. Belcheff said. “We know from a wealth of data that diversity among our healthcare providers results in better health outcomes, and the road to preparing a diverse and culturally competent healthcare workforce starts at institutions like Frontier Nursing University. With 2,500 students representing every

state in the country, we have the opportunity, ability, and duty to bring positive change to our nation’s healthcare system.

Dr. Belcheff has served as the inaugural chair of the Intersectionality, Determinants of Health, Equity, and Advocacy subcommittee and co-facilitator of FNU’s DEI Fellows/Staff Ambassador programs. She also serves on the planning committee for the university’s Diversity Impact Conference. Held annually for the last 13 years, the Diversity Impact Conference is a two-day virtual event featuring presentations from DEI experts nationwide.

“It is essential that we have the right person in place to oversee and advance our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts,” said Dr. Alexander-Delpech. “I could not be happier that Dr. Belcheff, a longtime leader and contributor to these efforts, is now taking on this very important role.”

In addition to her work at Frontier, Dr. Belcheff is part of a network of trauma-informed educators and healthcare providers in her local community.

FNU Launches Staff DEI Ambassador Program

In the summer of 2023, FNU launched the Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ambassador program. This program mirrors the Nurse Educator DEI Fellowship program previously initiated by FNU. A total of 15 FNU staff members participated in the Staff DEI Ambassador program.

Like the Nurse Educator Fellowship program, the Staff DEI Ambassador program rejects the traditional DEI approach. It uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills to engage in anti-racism education.

The Staff DEI Ambassador program aims to promote the acquisition of DEI-related skills, build DEI capacity within the University, and evaluate a peer-to-peer education model to improve staff knowledge and engagement in anti-racism work. The program includes weekly 2-3 hour sessions.

Dr. Tanya Belcheff, DNP, CNM

“These initiatives came out of the President’s DEI Task Force,” said FNU Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “I am so proud that the university has invested in this important development and training.”

FNU Holds 13th Annual

Diversity Impact Conference

On June 8-9, Frontier Nursing University held its 13th annual Diversity Impact Conference. The Diversity Impact Conference brings together renowned thought leaders and speakers to increase awareness of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the healthcare workforce, particularly for those working in underserved and rural communities. This year, for the first time, the conference was made available for attendees outside of FNU. Students

attending any institution were allowed to register for the conference for free. A total of 134 attended the conference, including 39 students.

“This event is all about collaboration, learning, and growing,” said FNU Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “I’m confident that benefits any university, department, or individual.”

The 2023 Diversity Impact Conference was conducted via Zoom with the overarching theme: “Better Together: Advancing a Culture of Identity and Belonging in Healthcare.” The two-day event featured keynote presentations on both days from nationally recognized leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additional sessions included panel discussions, breakout sessions, and time for reflection.

The opening keynote address was given by Dr. Tia Brown McNair, Vice President of 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, D.C. Dr. McNair is the lead author of “From Equity Talk to Equity Walk.”

On the second day of the conference, the keynote speaker was Rebekka Eshler, National President of the Transgender American Veterans Association in Washington, D.C. She spoke about pronouns and why they matter, and the importance of using a person’s correct name rather than their “dead” name. She shared data demonstrating that utilizing the correct pronouns reduces suicide rates by two-thirds among transgender individuals.v

Among the other presentations throughout the conference was a panel discussion with DEI officers from other universities and organizations, discussing the challenges

and successes of offices of DEI throughout the country. Marisa Hamamoto, the founder of Infinite Flow, an awardwinning 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., spoke on the importance of accessibility and inclusivity. Dr. Patricia Bradley, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Associate Professor and the Inaugural Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence at the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing (FCN) at Villanova University, presented on “Creating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging in Nursing Education.” FNU Regional Clinical Faculty Dr. Heidi Loomis, DM, CRNP, CNM, presented “Graduate Midwifery Students’ Experiences of Bias in the Clinical Setting.”

On day two of the event, FNU President Dr. Susan Stone gave a presentation, “FNU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts: Past, Present, Future.” In her presentation, Dr. Stone shared FNU’s history and acknowledgment statement, how and why FNU chose to make DEI a priority focus, and the results of those efforts to date. In addition to steadily improving diversity enrollment since the DEI efforts began, Dr. Stone shared the importance of the entire FNU community

supporting these initiatives and gave the example of the FNU Board of Directors, who created their own DEI Committee and established a $2 million endowed fund for scholarships for underrepresented students.

“When Frontier Nursing University first held the Diversity Impact Conference over a decade ago, we chose the name carefully. ‘Diversity’ and ‘conference’ were obvious choices, but the word that truly describes what this conference is all about is ‘impact’ Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, said. “Diversity is more than a concept or a pie chart. Whether in an organization, a neighborhood, a business, or a school, diversity has an impact. That impact comes in many forms. In Frontier’s particular area of preparing advanced practice nurses and nurse-midwives, the impact of a diverse student body, diverse faculty, and diverse staff results in diverse graduates who are equipped to answer the call to serve in the communities in which they live all over the country.”

FNU’s 14th annual Diversity Impact Conference will be held July 18-19, 2024. With the addition of external attendees, this signature event continues to grow and widen its important message and reach.

“Advancing a culture of identity and belonging is a hallmark of FNU,” said FNU Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Chris Turley. “We aim to continue breaking down barriers by engaging stakeholders and impacting every community we touch.

3

FNU Holds First Annual Preceptor Celebration Week

Frontier Nursing University’s first annual Preceptor Celebration Week was held August 1418, 2023. The event honored preceptors’ important role in advanced practice nursing education. Preceptors are experienced licensed clinicians who supervise nursing students during their clinical rotations. They help students translate what they have learned into real-world clinical practice. The celebration showcased FNU preceptors’ work and acknowledged their key role in shaping future advanced practice nurses via posts and stories shared on FNU’s blog and social media networks, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X).

“Preceptors play an essential role in the education and preparation of our students,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We are so grateful to the thousands of preceptors across the country who give their time and expertise to train the next generation of advanced practice nurses.”

Preceptor Ursula BrooksClemons (left) with student Mary Martin

Ebonique Shanks (middle) with preceptor FNU alumnus and faculty Dr. Judith Butler, DNP (Class 09) (left), and preceptor Lodz Joseph-Lemon

2023 Preceptor of the Term Honorees

Frances Sahrphillips, CNM and Tricia Heinrich, CNM

“They are a dynamic duo who are always concerned with providing quality care with a patient-centered focus and in a timely manner in a collaborative practice.”

— Karen Howell, FNU student

“I love watching everything come together, and the confidence build. It’s so rewarding to give back and shape the future. I absolutely love being able to be a part of this process and giving back, especially to Frontier, being a former student.”

— Tricia Heinrich,

CNM

Lance Briggs, PMHNP

“Lance allows students to learn in the way that best fits their individual needs.”

— Terra Edwards, FNU student

“Students are a blast to have. They can be a helpful resource at times, and you get to contribute your knowledge to the general body of emerging PMHNPs, which I feel advances the practice further.”

— Lance Briggs, PMHNP

Freda Hubbard, APRNv

“When working with Freda as a student, I can simply see her passion for continuing education. She loves to teach students and pass her wealth of knowledge and skills on to future generations of nurse practitioners. It has been such a blessing to have this opportunity.”

— Amanda Moore, FNP student

“I enjoy working with the students and seeing them learn and grow in their profession. It’s very rewarding to see them put together their classroom work with hands-on practice.”

— Freda Hubbard, FNP

James Flint, PMHNP

“He has allowed me to evaluate and treat every patient that has been willing with his validation and guidance. He has gone above and beyond to share patient histories with me so that I am prepared for the visit. My experience with Mr. Flint has been so valuable, and I feel lucky to have had such a kind and encouraging mentor.”

— Alexandra, Hauser, FNU student

“I wanted to help alleviate some of the stress and frustrations that go along with finding preceptors. I enjoy teaching and sharing what I have learned, but I often feel I am learning more than I am teaching.”

— James Flint, PMHNP

FNP student Amanda Moore (left) with Dr. Freda Hubbard

Left photo: Preceptor Frances Sahrphillips, CNM (left) with student Karen Howell

Right photo: Preceptor Tricia Heinrich, CNM (left) with student Karen Howell

Goal 3

In Support of Students and Preceptors

FNU surveyed its preceptors from the past year to gauge their experience as preceptors for FNU students. Total respondents: 771

How satisfied were you with your experience serving as a Preceptor for an FNU student?

Did you find the process for setting up your Preceptor Profile information easy to understand?

How well prepared did you feel the FNU student was when they began their clinical experience with you?

Do you feel supported by FNU if you have concerns or issues while precepting?

Goal 4

Reunions and Awards Highlight First Homecoming on Versailles Campus

The first Homecoming on FNU’s Versailles campus was held on March 25. Among the many highlights of the event were the awards dinner and reception, during which the winners of the annual awards were honored. These awards are presented to FNU alumni who have gone on to make significant contributions to their communities or to the university.

“So many of our alumni have gone on to do amazing things in communities all across the country and even the world,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM. “I am so proud of the work that they do and the way they represent and support Frontier Nursing University. Their dedication, commitment, and generosity are truly inspiring.”

Distinguished Service to Society Award: Lisa Uncles, MSN, CMN

The Distinguished Service to Society award recognizes an alumnus who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service in his or her community. The 2023 recipient of this award was Lisa Uncles, MSN, CNM (Class 33).

Uncles attended the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, where she earned her MSN, before attending FNU. Uncles is the Lead Nurse-midwife at MedStar Franklin Square Women’s Health Center in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Lisa

worked for Metropolitan OB/GYN as a nurse-midwife at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Previously, she served as the clinical director in Washington, D.C., at the Family Health and Birth Center, part of the Developing Families Center, which collaborates with local nonprofit organizations to provide quality care and social services to low-income families. There, she provided care to a population suffering from some of the highest infant mortality rates in the U.S. Under her direction, the birth center’s patients had fewer low birth weights, cesarean sections, and premature births than the city’s overall Black population.

Uncles was featured in “Making Mothers,” a short documentary capturing the lives of two caregivers at the Center. She was also quoted in The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, published in 2011 by the Institute of Medicine, Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine: “A lot of our moms in the neighborhood don’t have much control over their lives,” she said, referring to fThroughout her career, Uncles’ top priority has always been her patients and providing them with access to the care they need and deserve. In an online review, one patient said of her visit with Uncles: “What a wonderful experience. Excellent bedside manner! She took her time and talked me through everything, so I knew what was coming and felt very relaxed and at ease.”

Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award:

Dr. Mary Hunt, DNP, CNM, ENP-BC, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater honors an alumnus who has continued to provide support to Frontier through volunteer efforts and/ or philanthropy. The 2023 recipient was Dr. Mary Hunt, DNP (Class 06), CNM (Class 32), ENP-BC, FNP-BC (Class 56), PMHNP-BC.

Hunt, who is an assistant professor at FNU, is a three-time graduate of the university and is an emergency department

nurse practitioner at Genesis Healthcare System in Zanesville, Ohio. She obtained her MSN from Case Western Reserve University in 2005. She went on to obtain her FNP in 2009 and DNP in 2012, both from Frontier. In 2011, she began teaching at Frontier and has served as Regional Clinical Faculty, Course Faculty, and Clinical Bound team leader. She has also taught at Shawnee State University, Ohio UniversityChillicothe, Belmont Technical College, and Ohio UniversityZanesville.

Hunt, who is a generous longtime donor to the university, also supports FNU students by graciously giving her time and expertise as an instructor at FNU. As a member and past chair of FNU’s scholarship committee, Hunt participates in essay reviews in order to match students with various scholarships at the university. She has also served on the leadership board, including stints as president and treasurer, for Chi Pi, FNU’s Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society, since the chapter was established in 2015. As a Chi Pi board member, she helps select student members to receive scholarships; helps decide on the donation of funds to the university for use on items needed for student use while on campus; and allocates payment for speakers, enabling all members to have access to continuing education.

Hunt’s devotion to Frontier Nursing University, her passion for teaching, and her commitment to giving back are matched only, perhaps, by her boundless energy. Avid about health and fitness, she has completed several triathlons and longdistance bike rides, including the Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw (DALMAC) Bicycle Tour and the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).

Unbridled Spirit Award: Rev. Wendy (Neel) Ellsworth

The Unbridled Spirit Award is given annually to a former Courier who is dedicated to serving others; has ongoing, longstanding stewardship of Frontier; and has demonstrated conviction, courage, and a zest for adventure. FNU The Courier Program is an eight-week rural and public health summer service-learning program for

college students with an interest in public health, healthcare, or a related field.

The 2023 recipient of the Unbridled Spirit Award was Rev. Wendy (Neel) Ellsworth. Ellsworth, who studied at the University of Colorado, was a Frontier Courier in 1967. She was ordained as an Interfaith Minister in 2002 after attending the Pebble Hill School of Sacred Ministries in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Ellsworth, who resides in the mountainous region of western North Carolina, co-created a Circle of Welcome in January 2022. This community-based initiative assists in aiding Afghan refugees who are coming into the U.S.

In 2003, Wendy received a Fellowship from the PA Council on the Arts and traveled to Kenya to research the beadwork of the Maasai and Samburu tribes. She has returned nine more times over the past 20 years to work with tribal women who bead and has sponsored the education of more than a dozen girls from primary school through university. In 2021, she joined the Morning Star Rotary Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and helped acquire an $85,000 Global Grant through Rotary International for Maternal and Child Healthcare which will be used to improve an existing rural clinic in the Turkana community of Manyatta Zebra in Northern Kenya.

Ellsworth also started the Hands & Heart Doll Project, whose purpose is “to give refugee children hand-made dolls to show them that compassionate people care about them and that they are not alone in the world.” Ellsworth is also a nationally and internationally recognized seed bead artist and has won numerous awards for her work.

Wendy attributes her interest in maternal and child health care to her experience as a Courier at FNS. She and her siblings have funded the Mary W. Neel Scholarship at FNU in memory of their mother, Mary (Wilson) Neel, a lifelong Frontier supporter and Courier in the 1930s. This important scholarship has supported eight students, providing $8,700 in scholarships to students over the past eight years (20162023).

Lifetime Service Award: Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM

The Lifetime Service Award recognizes an individual or organization providing long-standing support and commitment to the mission and work of Frontier Nursing Service and Frontier Nursing University. The 2023 recipient was FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM. Dr. Stone has served as the president of FNU since 2001. Whether as a practitioner, instructor, university president, presenter, or organizational leader, Dr. Stone’s professional career has been consistently directed toward supporting advanced practice nurses and midwives through advocacy, education, and innovation. As a nurse-midwife herself, she has had a special focus on advancing the midwifery profession.

Dr. Stone earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SUNY College of Technology. That launched her career, which included serving as an obstetrical supervisor at Little Falls Hospital in Little Falls, N.Y., and as the program director of the prenatal care assistance program at Bassett HealthCare in Cooperstown, N.Y. After completing her midwifery certification, she practiced as a full-scope midwife at Bassett Healthcare for nearly a decade. She earned a Master’s in Nursing Administration from SUNY College of Technology, followed by a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University and a Doctor of Nursing Science from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

While practicing as a certified nurse-midwife at Bassett HealthCare, Dr. Stone continued her affiliation with Frontier, serving as course faculty; regional clinical coordinator; assistant clinical director; program director of the community-

based nurse-midwifery education program; and dean. In 2001, Dr. Stone became president of FNU, serving as both the president and dean before relinquishing the dean duties in 2014 to focus solely on her role as president and as a leader throughout the healthcare community.

Dr. Stone is a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) from 2019-2020, where her agenda included increasing the midwifery workforce through educational quality and capacity strategies, midwifery advocacy focusing on the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis, and growing diversity in the healthcare workforce. She was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine Class of 2018 as one of only two nurses in her class. She is a Fellow at both ACNM and the American Academy of Nursing. She received ACNM’s Kitty Ernst Award in 1999, recognizing “innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery practice and women’s health care.” Other honors include the 2011 American Public Health Association’s prestigious Felicia Stewart Advocacy Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to reproductive health and rights advocacy.

Dr. Stone has made it central to FNU’s mission to diversify the student body. Throughout FNU’s growth and innovation, Dr. Stone has kept the university committed to educating advanced practice nurses and midwives to serve in rural and underserved areas. The model of distance education allows these nurses to learn while continuing to practice in the areas where they live. The ultimate goal is to expand and diversify the primary care workforce, thus helping to fill in the gaps in accessible healthcare prevalent in so many rural and underserved populations. Her devotion to this goal and her leadership at FNU has resulted in the university’s tremendous growth, from 200 students in 2001 to an enrollment of 2,500 today. Today, more than 9,000 FNU graduates practice in every state in the U.S. as well as several foreign countries.

FNU Holds First Alumni and Family Post-Commencement Event

Following commencement, all alumni and their guests were invited to a celebration on the Frontier campus. The event included food FNU’s culinary staff prepared, live music, selfguided campus tours, and activities for kids and grownups alike.

“The alumni and family post-commencement event was an excellent opportunity to extend the celebration and joy that commencement brings every year,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We were thrilled to be able to welcome our new alumni and their families to campus in a fun and relaxing environment.”

FNU’s Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

In 2022, FNU’s Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee, a Wellness Committee subcommittee, conducted a selfaudit of priorities for FNU based on The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Sustainable Campus Index. The Subcommittee voted to prioritize transportation, grounds, food and dining, and wellbeing work.

Fully supported by university leadership, these established priorities have yielded several initiatives essential to the environmental sustainability goals:

Fully supported by university leadership, these established priorities have yielded several initiatives essential to the environmental sustainability goals:

• Established a tobacco-free campus

• Employees planted 71 trees during an on-campus Earth Day event

• Updated signage to improve recycling awareness

• Installed motion-sensitive light switches that shut off after continued inactivity and reduce energy expenses in many buildings and rooms

• Established “No Mow Zones” to promote sustainability

• Installed state-of-the-art heat pumps throughout the campus buildings. Because they don’t use combustion and don’t produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, heat pumps improve air quality

• Installed in-wall water bottle filling stations

• Created a butterfly waystation

• Established a 5k walking trail on campus

• Implemented ongoing thoughtful planting of native plants and removal of invasive species

• Began vermicomposting using coffee grounds

• Grew cherry tomatoes for the salad bar.

• All tea bags and coffee grounds are fed to the worms.

• Issued reusable to-go food containers to all staff.

• All of the to-go food containers for faculty and students are a natural, renewable molded fiber that is biodegradable.

• All of the dining hall’s to-go containers, straws, and cutlery kits are compostable/biodegradable.

Goal 5 FNU Takes Proactive Approach to Cybersecurity

By Marc Blevins

Information

Technology Dir.

Marc Blevins

Frontier Nursing University is no stranger to taking proactive and novel approaches to solving the issues of our time. We embrace challenges with resilience and creativity, whether it’s through pioneering service, community involvement, or the integration of cutting-edge technology into our academic curriculum. Our commitment to excellence prepares our students to be leaders in their respective fields and equips them with the critical thinking skills necessary to address the complex healthcare needs of diverse and underserved populations. By fostering this environment of continuous learning and innovation, we ensure that Frontier remains at the forefront of nursing education and practice.

Ensuring Online Safety for Our Community

We take a similar approach to cybersecurity and safeguarding our community and information technology assets. While our Versailles campus is bustling with students, faculty, and staff on a daily basis, our university is well known for its excellence in distance education and maintains a significant online presence. Our students visit campus for less than two weeks during their degree programs, completing the bulk of their FNU academic journey online and at their respective clinical sites. In this digital age, where education extends beyond the confines of physical classrooms, cybersecurity is not just a technical challenge but a foundational element for academic integrity and trust.

For our students and regional faculty who rely heavily on our online platforms, we provide comprehensive resources to help them stay safe online. This includes best practices for password management, guidelines for secure online behavior, and real-time security scanning tools to protect their systems and personal information. We require multi-factor authentication and provide VPN services for secure remote access to our network.

Identifying and Addressing Cybersecurity Needs

We understand that the cybersecurity landscape is constantly shifting, so our efforts must be dynamic. We conduct regular risk assessments that help us identify potential vulnerabilities

and the various forms of cyber threats that could impact our university. This includes common attack vectors like phishing attacks, ransomware, and malware. We then prioritize these risks based on their potential impact and develop mitigation strategies.

Part of this process is ensuring that we align our practices to industry standards and frameworks, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. This alignment guides our assessment process and enables us to stay proactive in addressing cybersecurity challenges and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our systems and data.

Staying Current on Technology

To stay ahead of threats, we invest in the latest cybersecurity technologies and ensure that our systems are updated with the most recent security patches and security operations solutions (i.e., Managed Detection and Response). We employ a layered security strategy that includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and advanced threat protection tools. Our IT team is trained to recognize the signs of a cyber attack and respond swiftly to mitigate any damage.

We also harden our systems and applications to prevent intrusion using industry-standard tools like the Center for Internet Security benchmarks. These CIS benchmarks “represent the consensus-based effort of cybersecurity experts globally” and allow us to broaden our cybersecurity talent beyond our limited staff. Additionally, we partner with other cybersecurity experts and organizations to further deepen our available knowledge and resources.

Preparing for Current and Future Threats

Education is the final powerful tool in our cybersecurity arsenal. Recognizing the pivotal role of users in maintaining cybersecurity posture, we prioritize education and awareness initiatives to empower students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and skills to identify, avoid, and report cyber risks effectively. We conduct training sessions for faculty and staff to recognize and avoid cyber threats. We also simulate cyber attack scenarios to test our response plans and refine our strategies. Looking ahead, we are exploring the use of artificial intelligence to better predict and prevent cyber attacks before they happen.

Anthology: The Next Chapter for FNU Systems

The beating heart of every university’s administrative framework is the information systems and processes that serve as the backbone for managing operations, aiding decision-making, and enhancing productivity. Last summer, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) embarked on a two-year project with our partner vendor and solution, Anthology, to transform our administrative framework and consolidate a group of disparate, legacy systems into a single, modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

“This project will play a pivotal role in revolutionizing both our student experience and nearly every administrative process,”

Student success is at the core of the project. Anthology brings unified operations and efficient communication across functional areas to support the university’s students and alumni.

“Anthology is built on Microsoft 365 and is a platform for innovation,” Blevins said. “With built-in intelligence such as machine learning and AI, it will guide our teams to the right business outcomes and will transform our student experience into a personalized learning journey.”

This single source of intelligence spans across the entire

Frontier is currently in the “Build” and configuration phase of the project with an anticipated fall 2025 “go-live” launch date. Project phases and milestones (in bold) include:

said Chief Information and Digital Officer Marc Blevins. “The implementation of a modern and comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning software system represents a significant milestone for our university. Anthology encompasses a wide range of modules, including student, enrollment, admissions, financial aid, finance, and advancement, which will unify, optimize, and standardize our core administrative functions. By centralizing these key areas, we aim to enhance operational efficiency, improve our data and decision-making capabilities, and, most importantly, deliver a seamless experience for our students, faculty, and staff.”

university, unlocking the automation of routine tasks and freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on priorities. The single source of data will enable insights that are crucial for making strategic decisions, helping FNU stay aligned with its goals and objectives. The intended result is a collaborative environment where knowledge-sharing elevates the performance of all departments and services.

“As FNU continues to build and integrate this system into the university’s fabric, we eagerly anticipate the benefits it will bring to our community,” Blevins said. “The future is bright, and with Anthology, it’s also incredibly efficient.”

Goal 6

College Students Complete First Courier Program Public Health Internship Summer Program Held on Versailles Campus

After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, one of Frontier Nursing University’s oldest programs relaunched in the summer of 2023 behind the leadership of the Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs, Lisa Colletti-Jones.

The Courier Program Public Health Internship, which was operated from the Versailles campus for the first time, provided an opportunity for two college students to participate in an eight-week service learning internship within Woodford County, which is home to the city of Versailles and the FNU campus.

The success of the Courier program relaunch generated additional excitement and interest in the program. As a result, in 2024, the Courier Program Public Health Internship will expand to eight students.

2023 Courier Rebecca Kouvei

As a senior public health major at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Rebecca Kouevi is passionate about connecting with patients to understand their problems better and collaborate with them to find effective solutions. Her studies include epidemiology and disease control concentrations, and she is minoring in sociology.

“I chose (sociology) because I wanted to bring that patientcentered and cultural sensitivity aspect to care,” Rebecca said. “First of all, let’s treat the person in front of us. It is about more than just the medicine prescription or their presenting disease. Different factors – economic, social, health, and diet – contribute to their health and wellbeing as a whole person.”

Rebecca, who resides in Richardson, Texas, just outside of Dallas, is a first-generation college student and is on track to graduate next spring. She hopes to become a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner and later plans to do medical missions and work with underserved populations, hoping to work for World Health Organization (WHO).

“I love how versatile a physician assistant’s career pathway can be, the freedom to jump from one specialty to another

– like surgery, primary care, and pediatrics. However, nurse practitioners’ practice independence is a big draw also,” Rebecca said. “Whether I become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, I do not think I can go wrong either way. They are both helping people. Whatever I decide, I hope to make a difference in my patients’ lives and positively impact the community I serve.”

Rebecca has worked with the Woodford County EMS and The Midway Center for Integrative Health during the Courier program. She has gone on calls with the EMS, which has given her a first-hand perspective of how the EMS personnel interact with patients in the most stressful of times.

“One call I was on was with an elderly patient,” Rebecca said. “She had fallen on her head. When the EMS arrived, I saw so much more than just bandaging someone up. Her daughter was there and in disarray. One of the EMS people was over there calming her down, offering to let her ride with us while at the same time taking care of the mom who fell. It’s just nice to see the interaction between providers, patients, and families. The tender care, empathy, and compassion displayed left an imprint on me.”

At The Midway Center for Integrative Health, Rebecca worked with Dr. Jim Roach, M.D., ABIHM, ABOIM.

“One of the first two questions he asks is about their spiritual and mental health, followed by their diet inquiry,” Rebecca said. “He is really thorough, and I like how he is able to take time with each patient to conduct a comprehensive assessment and determine root problems. I continue to learn about the importance of humanizing healthcare delivery and providing care for that patient right in front of me and value them. It is paramount to collaborate with patients, to put yourself in their shoes, seeking to understand the buy-in for patients, and considering their lifestyle to formulate an effective and comprehensive care plan that they can adhere to for optimal outcomes.”

Rebecca said the Courier experience has been fun, educational, and has sharpened her healthcare delivery vision.

“Everyone is super friendly, and I have enjoyed meeting various people from diverse backgrounds and disciples,” she said. “Each week, we have discussions with different practitioners and professionals who are experts in their fields. It has been amazing getting everyone’s knowledge and insight, and advice on how to improve the healthcare system. It is easy to focus on all the things that are wrong with healthcare, but we have physicians and nurse practitioners who are there because they want to be there. They care about their patients and seek to help them attain a quality life amidst their health challenges. Focusing on people will make a difference for everyone.”

Rebecca said the Frontier community went above and beyond and made her Courier experience positive.

“I am just impressed by the staff members,” she said. “They are passionate and caring people who do their work well. They are dedicated to ensuring an impactful and hands-on experience for us to explore our individual interests. I am so thankful for Lisa and everyone here who made the program successful. It has been a great time, and I am so grateful for this experience and all the ways it has enriched my professional development.”

2023 Courier Echioma Onyemaobi

Now in his sophomore year at the University of Texas Permian Basin, Echi Onyemaobi embraced the Courier program as a time to learn what he wants to do after his college days are over. He is already enrolled in UT Permian Basin’s nursing program and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about healthcare as an FNU Courier last summer.

With most summer internships tagged for juniors and seniors, Echi was prepared to work through the summer. But, an advisor suggested he look into courier service and helped him set up his profile on Handshake. Not long after, he came across the Courier program and realized it was the opportunity he was looking for.

“When I came across the Courier program, I saw it was more like community service,” Echi said. “That’s what really caught my interest. I’m a freshman, so I’m here to explore.”

Echi, born in Nigeria, moved to Odessa, Texas, with his family when he was young. Along with his mother, he has an older brother and older sister. His father passed away when Echi was little. He has already immersed himself in college life, enjoying the small atmosphere. He is active in student government, having recently been elected as treasurer.

“It’s been a good experience so far,” Echi said of college life. “My teachers have been really encouraging.”

Outgoing and eager to learn, Echi enjoys building relationships and helping others.

“What got me interested in nursing is that you can actually have a more personal relationship with patients,” he said.

As a Courier, Echi shadowed Patty, a hospice nurse with Bluegrass Care Navigators. He went on patient visits with her and had the chance to watch first-hand how she interacted with her patients.

“One thing that she made me see is the importance of a personal relationship with your patients,” he said. “She has that. I see I see it in her patient’s eyes. They are excited to see her. It’s not like we can reverse aging or make them feel younger, but I feel these moments are really important in people’s lives. She could just go and check her patients and move along and just walk away. That’s what she’s getting paid for. But she takes the extra step to make sure the patient is actually happy and at ease. That’s what I really like about this experience. It’s important to do your job, but there’s nothing more important than actually maintaining that relationship that you have with your patient. It can change everything.”

While the Courier program did not change Echi’s mind about wanting to be a nurse, it did give him a much deeper understanding of the profession.

“One thing I’ve loved about this experience is that it showed me the true motivation behind my wanting to become a nurse,” he said. “The Courier program was really a good idea for me because this reinforced my decision to pursue nursing. I have more of an understanding of what nursing can actually be, and I want to become a nurse now more than ever.”

Establishing Uniform Data Collection, Reporting, and Analysis Procedures

Chief Financial Officer Emily Fangue, CPA, MBA

Just a few years removed from the pandemic and from finalizing the move to the Versailles campus, Frontier Nursing University continues to have its eyes on the future. The university’s longstanding culture of making data-driven decisions extends to the development of strategic plan goals.

One of the goals for FNU’s Chief Financial Officer, Emily Fangue, CPA, MBA, is to establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each department in the university. Fangue, who joined FNU in the Fall of 2022, spent much of her first full year at the university establishing data collection and analysis for all facets of the university.

“We spent a lot of time refining our internal reporting,” Fangue said. “A lot of our data tracking in our departments is so manual that we are not at a point where we can develop KPIs. A lot of time has been spent working with departments and trying to add some efficiencies to the manual processes that already exist so we can get the desired amount of information for that business unit.”

Streamlining the data collection and reporting process means establishing consistent but customized processes for each segment of the university.

“The establishment of KPIs is designed to be a finance project, and the finance department will be driving it, but this is much more than a finance initiative,” Fangue said. “This is a university-wide initiative. It wouldn’t have much value if we didn’t have university-wide buy-in and commitment as to how we want to operate at a management level.”

Fangue sees the KPI project as a long-term project that will provide essential information and help university leaders make informed decisions about the university’s future.

“Either you’re growing or your fine-tuning, improving, and innovating and it’s very difficult to do both at the same time from a strategy and resource standpoint,” Fangue said. “We are doing very well financially. We have the student population to support our campus and support the initiatives that are required to operate, with some extra to continue to invest for the future. Financially, we are at a solid point where we can stabilize enrollment and put our attention toward initiatives that add value to the student experience.”

FNU’s enrollment took a slight dip during the pandemic due largely to the high demand for travel nurses but rebounded quickly upon the university’s opening of the Versailles campus. The dip and recovery occurred during a relatively short period, resulting in limited data for analysis and projection.

“I would like to see us stabilize our enrollment and then take the time to innovate and further differentiate ourselves in the market strategically.”

From there, Fangue hopes to get a clearer picture of the university’s enrollment projections.

“Developing and reporting student enrollment projections is very important to the state of the university,” Fangue said. “Even though it’s not a KPI, it’s extremely important to forecast and predict our revenue. Ninety-five percent of our revenue is from tuition, so it’s criticalto have the ability to project this figure accurately and also be able to determine the resources we need.”

Establishing the new structure for collecting, reporting, and analyzing data across the university will be an ongoing project involving faculty and staff from all areas of the university. It is a team effort that Fangue says will help FNU establish KPIs and be able to make timely decisions.

“The project I envision would assist management with more proactive decision-making,” Fangue said. “We will constantly be monitoring and reporting out for accountability and decision-making. That is central to our commitment to being a data-driven university.”

Student Issues Day of Giving Challenge

Current FNU nurse-midwifery student Ainsley Stone (no relation to FNU President Dr. Susan Stone) issued a $7,500 Day of Giving challenge to inspire others to give back to the university. Ainsley’s challenge that 20 gifts be made to the Annual Fund was met early on in the 24-hour giving event. The Annual Fund (unrestricted dollars) supports the areas of greatest need on campus, including scholarships, opportunities for academic and extracurricular excellence, and the enhancement of campus facilities and resources.

Ainsley, who is expected to graduate in the summer or fall of 2025, fulfilled her pledge after her Day of Giving challenge was met. Despite the daily demands of being a mother and student, Ainsley took the time to answer our questions to explain why giving back to the university is so important to her.

What motivated you to contribute a challenge gift as part of the University’s Day of Giving?

I firmly believe in the power of supporting academic institutions we deeply believe in. Contributing to a university is not just a financial transaction; it’s a tangible display of confidence in its programs and a meaningful way to give back to the institution and its students. I strongly advocate for the idea that if you have the means to contribute, you should, with the understanding that education should be accessible to everyone.

How do you hope your challenge encouraged others to participate in the Day of Giving and contribute to the university’s goals?

As a current student at Frontier, I hope my active participation in the Day of Giving served as a rallying call for fellow students. I see participation not just as a financial contribution but as a vote of confidence in the university and the programs that shape our academic journeys. It’s a collective effort that strengthens the bond within our community and reinforces the shared commitment to the growth and success of Frontier.

FNU Holds Second Annual Day of Giving

FNU’s second annual Day of Giving was held from noon on October 24 to noon on October 25, 2023, with a goal of raising $50,000 from 100 donors.

“We are so happy to share that we far exceeded those goals, with 129 donors giving giftstotaling $73,442,” said Lisa Colletti-Jones, FNU Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs. “Each gift impacted Frontier Nursing University immediately. We are extremely grateful for each and every donor and can’t wait for our 2024 Day of Giving, which will be October 22-23 with goals of $75,000 and 125 donors.”

Ainsley Stone

Donor Wall

Your donations provide critical support to facilitate the exemplary student learning environment that FNU is known for.

Graduates of Frontier Nursing University are making incredible strides to address healthcare disparities throughout the United States, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

We are grateful for the many alumni, friends, students, and employees who generously supported FNU’s mission and initiatives in 2023. This list is a sampling of gifts provided to FNU during the last fiscal year. While we are unable to list all donations to the University, we remain incredibly grateful to all our donors for your generous and kind support.

If you are interested in making a donation to FNU or providing for the University through your will, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Bobbi Silver at bobbi.silver@frontier. edu.

FNU Board member William Corley and his wife Angela generously gave $25,000 to provide a full-tuition scholarship and stipend to an FNU student with financial need.

62 FNU employees supported our mission financially with donations to scholarships, DEI initiatives, clinical supplies, operations, and more.

The Richard David Stutzke Foundation provided $100,000 to support scholarships for psychiatricmental health, nursemidwifery, and family nurse practitioner students. President of the foundation, Sharon Stutzke, enjoyed a long career as a critical care and labor and delivery nurse.

John and Jenny Pilarowski continued their support of the JEND Scholarship with a gift of $6,001. The scholarship is named for their parents, Janet and Edward Pape and Norbert and Dorothy Pilarowski. The family established the scholarship fund to provide tuition and supplemental support to FNU nurse-midwifery students during their clinical experience.

FNU Board member Elaine Bolle and her husband, Lester Levine, donated $5,000 to support FNU students.

The Harriet Jane Weller Memorial Fund donated $82,460 for unrestricted support of FNU.

FNU was awarded a $4 Million Maternal Care federal grant to recruit and provide scholarships and stipends to nursemidwives with a special focus on increasing the number of Hispanic nurse-midwives.

With a gift of $5,000, the Snowy Owl Foundation is supporting the creation of the Culture of Caring Meditation Path on FNU’s campus. Inspired by FNU’s Culture of Caring, each element designates a foundational value for our community. When arriving at the center, walkers are encouraged to pause to contemplate how each core value is reflected in their lives and practices.

The Hunter-Jelks Fund provided $5,000 in support of FNU’s operations and educational initiatives.

Assured Partners was a lead sponsor of FNU’s 2023 Diversity Impact Conference with $5,000 in support. We are grateful for their support of FNU’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Mr. Neil Van Sloun and The Van Sloun Foundation each donated $10,000 to the Van Sloun Scholarship Fund.

Louise Pass provided vital unrestricted support for the mission of FNU.

The CVS Health Foundation provided $4,000 for student scholarships.

The Harriet H. Nicol Charitable Foundation donated $10,000 for unrestricted program support.

Dr. Susan Stone generously contributed $5,000 to the Stone Family Scholarship, a fund established to commemorate the enduring love and support of her late husband, Larry Stone. Her ongoing donations to the fund are a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, her children and grandchildren, and her extended family.

The Van Sloun Foundation generously pledged $20,000 to support the upcoming conference on September 19, 2024, “Reducing Maternal Mortality: Strategies that Work!”

The Virginia Clark Hagan Charitable Foundation, Inc. donated $50,000 for Dropout Detective and LexiComp clinical drug reference software.

FNU held a successful Day of Giving in October, and we thank our 129 donors for providing $73,442 in donations.

The Gertrude E. Skelly Foundation provided $20,000 to FNU’s Student Emergency Fund.

Former Courier Patricia Lawrence generously donated $50,000. FNU President Susan Stone and Chief Advancement Officer Bobbi Silver caught up with Patsy, her daughter Fran Keene, and Caroline Standley for a visit in Boston in October.

Steadfast supporters Susan Graham and Jon Kucera provided $50,000 in meaningful support to FNU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Endowment.

The Margaret Voorhies Haggin Trust donated $25,000 for scholarships for students in FNU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, suturing supplies, and a toddler Manikin for simulated pediatric visits during our clinical skills intensive.

2023 Commencement

FNU Graduates Celebrate with Friends & Family at Commencement 2023

Frontier Nursing University

President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, gave the keynote address at FNU’s commencement on Saturday, September 23, 2023. The event was held for the second consecutive year at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.

“Commencement is, of course, the biggest event on our calendar every year,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone. “It is the culmination and celebration of the incredible work our students complete to prepare themselves to care for the people in their communities across the country. We celebrate this day with their friends and family members who have sacrificed to help their loved ones achieve this goal. We also celebrate with our faculty and staff, who routinely go above and beyond to serve our students. I am excited and humbled to have the opportunity to give the keynote address to such an amazing group of people on their special day.”

The commencement ceremony honored the nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who have completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Master in Science

of Nursing degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate. FNU awarded over 1,000 degrees in 2023.

Goal 6

Michael Steinmetz

Awarded

Honorary Doctorate

(from left) FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, Honorary Doctorate recipient Michael Steinmetz, and FNU Board Chair Dr. Michael Carter.

During the commencement ceremony, FNU awarded an honorary doctorate to Michael Steinmetz. Steinmetz served as the Executive Vice President for Finance and Facilities at Frontier from October 2009 to August 2022, when he retired. From August 2013 to August 2022, he also served as the Chief Financial Officer for Frontier Nursing Service, Incorporated, helping to oversee the charitable foundation’s planning and investments. In 2017, he added a newly-released certification with the Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis credential Steinmetz guided the university through several milestones, including the identification and purchase of the Versailles campus.

He subsequently oversaw the donations of the Hyden campus and Wendover Bed & Breakfast to Leslie County Betterment, Inc., to benefit Hyden and the surrounding community. He managed the budgeting of the renovations and construction projects to prepare the Versailles campus, some of which continued during the pandemic.

His guidance and preparation helped minimize the potential financial hardships that the pandemic brought to many other universities and institutions. His broad financial and managerial experience made him a deft leader outside the normal constraints of a chief financial officer. He helped oversee the property management of the university and propelled the university’s mission to become a data-driven institution, leading the efforts to select and implement a data dashboard and workflow system.

“Michael was an integral part of the leadership and planning for our university,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, FACNM. “He was a trusted advisor, always acting with the university’s best interests at heart. His keen and diligent oversight of the university’s financial position was invaluable to past, current, and future success.”

News, Events and Awards

FNU Awards Scholarship to Local High School Student

Frontier Nursing University has established the Frontier Nursing University Scholarship.

This scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating senior at Woodford County High School who intends to pursue a career in nursing. On May 23, 2023, Samantha Padgett became the first recipient of the Frontier Nursing University Scholarship.

“Frontier Nursing University became a member of the Woodford County community in 2019 and is proud to be a community partner in our new home,” said Chief Advancement Officer Bobbi Silver, who presented the scholarship to Samantha during the Woodford County High School

awards celebration. “It is our honor to provide a $1,000 scholarship to graduating senior Samantha Padgett. We are thrilled that the recipient of the Frontier Nursing University Scholarship is going to further their education by going into the nursing profession.”

FNU Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Dr. Paula AlexanderDelpech Named Chair-Elect of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Leadership Network

FNU Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success, Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN) named Frontier Nursing University Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, as the network’s Chair-Elect. DEILN is a convening body to unite expertise, experience, and guidance for academic nursing

in Leading Across Differences. This network collectively explores innovative approaches to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic nursing and the nursing workforce.

DEILN supports the efforts of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and its more than 865 schools of nursing, as well as academic nursing at the local, regional, and national levels, to advance diversity and inclusion. These efforts include, but are not limited to:

• Sharing evidence-based promising practices

• Engaging with the membership

• Providing consultative services

• Convening networking forums

“I am honored to have been chosen as the Chair-Elect of DEILN,” Dr. Alexander-Delpech said. “This presents a wonderful collaborative opportunity for all members of DEILN and the institutions we represent to share our knowledge and experience to improve the effectiveness of our collective DEI efforts across the country.”

The goal of DEILN is to align its efforts with the strategic diversity goals and objectives of AACN and the larger nursing community. Membership in DEILN is open to all faculty, deans, and staff with an interest in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

FNU Chief Advancement Officer

Bobbi Silver (left) and Frontier Nursing University Scholarship recipient Samantha Padgett.

2023 Student Leadership and Faculty Awards

Kitty Ernst Nurse-Midwifery Student Leadership Award

Meaghan Tonkin

Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Student Leadership Award

Vanessa Lewis

Family Nurse Practitioner Student Leadership Award

Marilyn Vink

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student

Leadership Award

Ashley Mabry

Doctor of Nursing Practice Student

Leadership Award

Dr. April Odom

Doctor of Nursing Practice Exemplary Project Award

Dr. Justin Wolfe

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness Student

Leadership Award

Cintya Alves Gray

2023

Student Choice Awards for Excellence in Teaching

Mary Ellen Biggerstaff, DNP, MPH-S, FNP, Family Nurse Practitioner Regional Clinical Faculty

Anne Cockerham, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM, Nurse-Midwifery Didactic Faculty

Kimberly Couch, DNP, CNM, FPN-C, Doctor of Nursing Practice Faculty

Jana Esden, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, Family Nurse Practitioner Didactic Faculty

Martha Harvey, MSN, CNM, Nurse-Midwifery Regional Clinical Faculty

Amy Howe, DNP, CNM, IBCLC, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Regional Clinical Faculty

Laura Manns-James, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Didactic Faculty

Sarah Obermeyer, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, IBCLC, CNE, Nurse-Midwifery Regional Clinical Faculty

Billinda Tebbenhoff, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Didactic Faculty

Doreen Thomas-Payne, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Regional Clinical Faculty

News, Events and Awards

Frontier Nursing University Student

Veterans of America Group Gains

National Chapter Status

Frontier Nursing University’s Student Veterans of America, a Student Interest Group at FNU, was accepted into the Student Veterans of America (SVA) national network.

With a focused mission on empowering student veterans, SVA is committed to providing an educational experience that goes beyond the classroom. Through a dedicated network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters in all 50 states and four countries representing more than 750,000 student veterans, SVA aims to inspire yesterday’s warriors by connecting student veterans with a community of like-minded chapter leaders. Every day these passionate leaders work to provide the necessary resources, network support, and advocacy to ensure student veterans can effectively connect, expand their skills, and ultimately achieve their greatest potential.

“SVA membership provides militaryspecific scholarship and networking within the military and veteran community across the United States,” said Student Veterans Association

FNU Chapter Faculty Advisor Dr. Sybilla Myers, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, speaking on behalf of the SVA student board of directors. “FNU achieving recognition as an SVA chapter is important because it provides a platform of readily accessible resources for members at FNU to use for personal and professional advancement. The FNU SVA chapter also provides a military presence at the University. While our charter is just starting out, we aim to improve awareness and provide mentorship on how to better support the needs of veterans, veteran family members and support persons, and provide future practitioners with resources to pass on. The Chapter’s goals are to connect members with resources needed for personal and academic success, raise the visibility of student veterans and family members at Frontier Nursing University, and create camaraderie among student veterans and student family members of veterans.”

Recognition as an SVA chapter gives the FNU student group access to the organization’s programs, support for events, and other resources.

FNU’s Student Interest Groups are sponsored by the university’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In addition to the SVA, Frontier has established the following Student Interest Groups:

• International Students in Nursing

• LGBTQIA+ Students in Nursing

• Latin Students in Nursing

• Men in Nursing

• Neurodivergent Students in Nursing

• Students of Color in Nursing

“At Frontier Nursing University, the voices of our students are paramount. After several town hall meetings with students, what I heard from the students was the need to have groups of likeness — affinity groups,” said FNU Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “The SIGs are student-driven, and students drive all initiatives. Each SIG has different goals they want to achieve and go about achieving those goals in collaboration with their faculty advisors. Inclusion in the national Student Veterans of America network provides expanded resources and opportunities for FNU’s student veterans and military-connected students.”

Frontier Nursing University Student Leslie Copp Named A Tillman Scholar

When the Pat Tillman Foundation announced last year’s Tillman Scholars, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) student Leslie Copp, RN, BSN, SANE-A, was one of the 60 U.S. service members, veterans, and military spouses chosen as 2023 Tillman Scholars. In recognition of their service and leadership potential, the newly selected class received scholarship funding to pursue higher education and continue their service in the fields of healthcare, business, law, public service, STEM, education, and the humanities.

The Tillman Scholars program supports our nation’s active duty service members, veterans, and military spouses by investing in them through education, lifelong leadership development, and a global community of high-performing peers and mentors to help them develop as leaders and make an impact at both a local and global scale. Copp’s husband, Justin, is a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army with 23 years of service, including two deployments, most recently in Kuwait in 2017.

“I just feel so honored,” said Copp, who learned of the Tillman Scholars program from FNU Assistant Professor and 2011 Tillman Scholar Dr. Joshua Faucett, DNP, MBA, FNP-BC, CNE. “I didn’t realize how important the Tillman Scholars program is until Dr. Faucett recommended that I apply because of the work I do currently. I have been very blessed to have him mentor me through the process.”

“The Pat Tillman Foundation forever changed the trajectory of my career path,” said Dr. Faucett. “Having listened to the incredible stories and accomplishments of fellow Scholars over the years, I knew Leslie’s journey to FNU and her future plans were compelling and unique. I simply encouraged Leslie to tell her story.”

Being a survivor of violence, Copp has made caring for others her lifelong passion. With 22 years of nursing experience, she works fulltime as a forensic nurse examiner in Indianapolis. She is also pursuing her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner at FNU. She aims to achieve a dual degree as a doctor of nursing practice and psychiatricmental health nurse practitioner.

As a forensic nurse examiner, Copp specializes in trauma care and is frequently called to testify in court. While trauma care centers are common in metropolitan areas, they are rare in rural areas, such as the one where Copp lives. With the support of the Tillman Scholars program, Copp’s goal is to establish trauma care centers in rural and underserved communities, such as where she lives in Odon, Indiana.

“In these trauma centers, I’m hoping to not only be able to provide a medical exam, but I’m also hoping that it is a one-stop shop,” Copp said, noting that her vision is for the trauma care centers to include access to social workers, connections to prosecutors, and rooms for emergency housing. “We can eliminate so many things for law enforcement. They can have more time on the street doing what they need to be doing to keep the community safe while we’re doing the back work. We can take the photos, collect and bag the evidence, and get it to the crime lab. There are a lot of benefits all the way around. I hope to see a huge stride in this in the next 10 years.”

“We are so proud of Leslie, not only because of her commitment to her studies at Frontier but also because of the essential work she is doing in her community,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “Everything she is doing exemplifies our mission and shines a light on the healthcare disparities in rural, diverse, and underserved communities.”

“The Tillman Scholar is a prestigious program, and we are so proud of Leslie, who is the first FNU student to receive this honor,” said FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN. “We are so happy for her to have this opportunity. She is an inspiration for the entire Frontier Nursing community.”

News, Events and Awards

FNU Welcomes New Board Members

In the spring of 2023, FNU welcomed the following four new members to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Vernell DeWitty

Dr. Vernell DeWitty, Ph.D., MBA, RN, is the immediate past Director for Diversity and Inclusion at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), where she advised the nation’s top academic nursing leaders on building consensus around a strategic approach to diversity and inclusion. Previously, she directed the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, a nine-year $41 million national collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AACN that focused on diversifying the nursing workforce. In this capacity, she created and implemented strategies and resources that contributed to the academic success of underrepresented and disadvantaged students in 130 nursing schools located in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Dr. Dewitty led the delivery of technical assistance

programming for 32 nursing schools funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) to increase nursing workforce diversity.

Dr. DeWitty has provided consulting services to healthcare systems in obstetric and neonatal risk assessment and guided new product development while serving as the Director for Consultation and Marketing at the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). She earned her master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Women and Neonatal Nursing and served as the first Director for Maternal and Newborn nursing at Howard University Hospital. Dr. DeWitty served as Interim Chief Executive Officer, Director of Patient Services, and Director of Program and Business Development at the Hospital for Sick Children, a pediatric rehabilitation hospital located in Washington DC. As a member of the Executive Management Team, she was responsible for directing patient care services of 130 rehabilitation beds and overseeing 185 FTEs with a $15 million operating budget.

She earned her doctorate from George Mason University, MBA from Howard University, MSN from The Catholic University of America, and BSN from Dillard University. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Tim Raderstorf, DNP, RN, FAAN, is the Talent Partner for AndHealth, a digital health company focused on helping people reclaim their lives from chronic illness. He holds volunteer positions as the Head of Academic Entrepreneurship at the Erdós Institute and the Chief Operating Officer of the non-profit NursesEverywhere. He is a member of the American Nurses Association’s Innovation Advisory Board. Dr. Raderstorf was the Chief Innovation Officer at The Ohio State University College of Nursing in his previous role. From TED talks to textbooks, he uses every platform he can find to empower those on the frontlines to change healthcare.

As the first nurse to hold the Chief Innovation Officer title in academia, he takes pride in educating the world on the role of the nurse as an innovator. He is the founder of the Innovation Studio, a maker space that democratizes innovation, providing every interprofessional team that pitches their innovation with the funding, tools, and mentorship needed to turn ideas into actions.

Dr. Tim Raderstorf

Throughout his career, Dr. Raderstorf has founded multiple businesses and has been the first employee for a profitable healthcare startup. His new textbook, co-authored with Bern Melnyk, Evidence-Based Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Nursing and Healthcare: A Practical Guide for Success, was a #1 new release on Amazon and the American Journal of Nursing’s Management & Leadership Book of the Year. Some of Dr. Raderstorf’s recognitions include the Early Career Innovator of the Year and Distinguished Recent Alumni at the Ohio State University, the Innovation Studio being named Non-Profit of the Year by Columbus Business First in 2019. He was recently inducted into the 2020 Class of 40 under 40 by Columbus Business First and as a 2021 Fellow at the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Raderstorf earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio State University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Ohio State University.

Dr. Joanna Santiesteban

Dr. Joanna Santiesteban, MD, has been a board-certified Obstetrician

and Gynecologist for over 20 years. She attended Indiana University Bloomington, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She received her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago and completed her OB/GYN residency at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Santiesteban lives in eastern Kentucky and serves as Chief of Staff at Highlands Appalachian Regional Healthcare. She is involved with obstetrical substance abuse treatment programs and cares for an underserved population. She provides obstetric and gynecological care at Big Sandy Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center in southeastern Kentucky.

She is clinical adjunct faculty at Lincoln Memorial University College of Medicine and is community area faculty at the University of Pikeville College of Medicine.

Dr. Santiesteban is the mother of 5 children. She enjoys yoga, reading, and visiting with family and friends.

Tara Martino

School Nurse in Massachusetts and is a current FNU student studying to be a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She is a school nurse and has been a labor support person, a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor, and a foster parent. She is a two-time surrogate gestational carrier and a proud supporter of the movements for Women’s Rights, Black Lives, and LGBTQIA++ Equality.

Tara is the Scoutmaster of Westport’s all-girl Boy Scout Troop 33. She is also a Girl Scout Cadette Level-3 Troop Leader of Troop 68111 and Assistant Scoutmaster of BSA Troop 3.

A mother of four children, Tara’s goal after graduating from Frontier is to establish her own practice while enrolling in FNU’s DNP program. She also hopes to continue to serve the underserved children in her area. She would also like to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders and to research the impact of psychedelics on neuroplasticity and treatmentresistant depression.

Note: The FNU Board of Directors added a non-voting student member because they felt it important to hear student feedback as part of the Board.

Tara Mitchell Martino, BSN, RN, NCSN, SANE, is a Nationally Certified

Dr. Susan Stone Celebrated at Gala News, Events and Awards

On Friday, October 27, approximately 150 people attended the President’s Celebration Gala in honor of FNU President Dr. Susan Stone. Dr. Stone has served as FNU’s President since

2001 and will transition into her new role as the University’s appointed Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing sometime in 2024.

The Gala was held at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington and included dinner and dancing, as well as an open mic opportunity for guests to share their memories and appreciation of Dr. Stone. FNU Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, honored Dr. Stone with the announcement of a new award named in her honor. The Dr. Susan E. Stone Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Award will be given annually to a FNU student, faculty member, and staff member.

Frontier Nursing University Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for Sixth Consecutive Year

Frontier Nursing University received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — FNU was featured, along with 64 other recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This was the sixth consecutive year FNU has been named as a Health Professions HEED Award recipient.

“Receiving the INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions Education in Excellence in Diversity Award is an honor that is celebrated by everyone at Frontier Nursing University,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We embrace this award because it acknowledges Frontier’s steps to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at all levels of our university. We also cherish the opportunity to apply for this award because every year, the award criteria and review process challenge us to look at our successes, existing gaps, and opportunities for improvement. Our DEI work is essential to help prepare our students to provide culturally concor-

dant care in their communities across the country.”

Through several initiatives, FNU has maintained a strong focus on increasing diversity enrollment and retention.

FNU’s many recent DEI initiatives include the implementation of a holistic

admissions process, the expansion of its Office of DEI staff, diversity training for all members of the FNU community, mentoring programs, an annual Diversity Impact Conference, the formation of special Student Interest Groups, and the establishment of a DEI Faculty Fellows program. Since FNU committed to DEI as a priority, enrollment of students of color has increased from 9% in 2010 to 30% in 2023. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently awarded FNU the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant. The grant period

extends from September 30, 2023, to September 29, 2027. FNU will receive $4 million – $1 million per year – to fund the grant project. Via the grant, FNU intends to increase the number and diversity of the nurse-midwifery workforce, focusing on increasing the Hispanic population of nurse-midwives.

“Frontier Nursing University is committed to being an equitable institution where everyone is respected, valued, and welcomed,” said FNU FNU Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central components of our data-driven initiatives and policies.”

“The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

News, Events and Awards

For the Third Consecutive Year, Frontier Nursing University Earns “Great College to Work For” Designation

For the third consecutive year, Frontier Nursing University was named one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The results are based on a survey of 194 colleges and universities. In all, 72 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for

small, medium, and large institutions, with FNU included among the small universities with 500 to 2,999 students and more than 250 employees.

“To be identified as a Great College to Work For again this year is a wonderful honor,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “This designation is so meaningful to us because it is based on data and information collected from our faculty and staff, whose responses verify that we have established a proven culture of caring, fairness, and belonging. In turn, that allows Frontier to perform at the highest level in service to our students and our mission.”

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an

Frontier Celebrates National Nurse-Midwifery and National Nurse Practitioner Weeks

Frontier Nursing University proudly celebrated National Nurse-Midwifery Week (October 1-7) and National Nurse Practitioner Week (November 12-18) with several events. Lexington, Kentucky, Mayor Linda Gorton and Versailles, Kentucky, Mayor Brian Traugott both issued proclamations to recognize these special weeks. FNU’s free 2023 Empower Virtual Events coincided with the nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner weeks. Sponsored by Southern Cross Insurance, the virtual

events have been held for the past nine years and feature presentations on various topics from leading nurse-

institution questionnaire that captures employment data and workplace policies from each institution and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was employee feedback. The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previous recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.

midwives and nurse practitioners from around

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton (left) presents the Nurse Practitioner Week proclamation.

Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott (center) presents the Nurse-Midwifery Week proclamation.

the country.

Frontier Nursing University Receives the Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Award from the

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Frontier Nursing University was announced as the private college and university recipient of the 2023 Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Award, presented annually by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This award recognizes outstanding contributions made by a school of nursing that champions inclusive excellence, belonging, and sustainable, innovative strategies in nursing education. FNU previously won the AACN Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Leadership Award in 2021.

FNU Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula AlexanderDelpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, represented FNU at AACN’s Diversity Symposium, Feb. 5-7, 2024. In addition to receiving the award on FNU’s behalf,

FNU Employees Participate in Miles for Midwives 5K

The Kentucky affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives hosted its first Miles for Midwives 5K on September 2, 2023, in Lexington, Kentucky.

“Our affiliate is small but mighty,” said FNU faculty member and Clinical Bound Team Leader Dr. Dee Polito, DNP, CNM, FACNM. “Among our many goals is to

Dr. Alexander-Delpech presented Frontier Nursing University: Creating a Lasting Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive AACN’s Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Award,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We are very proud of our progress in weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion into the fabric of the university. While we still have much work to do, we are intent on creating and maintaining a culture that reflects our mission and will forever be part of the identity of Frontier Nursing University.”

Recognizing the importance of DEI not only in society but also in healthcare, where data clearly shows that culturally

support student engagement in ACNM and continue to advocate for legislative changes in Kentucky. One recent successful project was the elimination of the requirement for a collaborative agreement for prescribing controlled substances for all APRNs. We will continue working with both professional and grassroots organizations in Kentucky to eliminate barriers to the development of birth centers and improve reimbursement for APRNs. Did you know there are NO birth centers in Kentucky? Did you

concordant care results in improved outcomes, FNU made DEI a strategic priority over 15 years ago. The results have included a more diverse faculty and staff, as well as the enrollment of students of color rising from 9 percent in 2010 to over 30 percent today.

“Our data tells us that we have made significant progress,” Dr. AlexanderDelpech said. “But beyond the numbers, we also have a better overall understanding and awareness of the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Everyone should feel safe, welcomed, heard, and included, and we are committed to striving to reach that standard every day.”

know that APRNs receive only 75% of the physician fee schedule for Medicaid services? We have much to accomplish, and the 5K will support those endeavors.”

Miles for Midwives 5K, which was sponsored by FNU, included several members of the Frontier community.

News, Events and Awards

Alumni referring students

Graduates of Frontier Nursing University are making incredible strides to address healthcare disparities throughout the United States, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Your donations provide critical support to facilitate the exemplary student learning environment that FNU is known for.

Your donations to FNU open doors of opportunity for our students. Thank you!

Donations shown here are a sampling of gifts provided to FNU during the last fiscal year. While we are unable to list all donations to the University, we remain incredibly grateful to all our donors for your generous and kind support.

If you are interested in making a donation to FNU or providing for the University through your estate, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Bobbi Silver at bobbi.silver@ frontier.edu.

Leila Abadir

Syed Abbas-Rodriguez

Eva Abram

Lindsay Adams

Tiffany Adams

Catherine Adelakun

Francis Aho

Nicholle Aiello

Nastassia Aiken

Jennifer Akers

Dana Albalate

Laura Alberg

Jennifer Alterson

Elizabeth Amos

Kristina Amundson

Candus Anderson

Kathleen Anderson

Mallory Anderson

Rachel Anderson

Claire Andrews

Ellen Apple

Cheryl Appleton

Desiree Arias

Callie Ashlock

Polly Astin

Aja Aviles-Soto

Tanya Bailey

Medinat Balogun

Lori Bannon

Vicky Barlow

Sarah Barrett

Sarah Barton

Taylor Battaglia

Anna Battiata

Jenevieve Bayless

Thomas Bell

Cassie Belzer

Priscilla Benewaah

Stacie Benkula

Claudia Berg-Graessle

Christina Berger

Mattie Berry

Kyra Betts

Ginger Bhakti

Lindsey Bickerstaff

Shannon Biesterfeld

Chantielle Blackwell

Rachel Bland

Caren Blantin

Holly Borkert

Ila Bowers

Vivian Boyer

Alexandra Bradsher

Monica Bramnik

Cecelia Brelsford

Leslie Brewer

Carol Brickey

Eloisa Briones

Lisa Britt

Stephanie Brooker

Emily Brubaker

Maqsooda Bryant

Victoria Buchanan

Krista Burckhardt

Melissa Burk

Rachael Burton

Judith Butler

Alicia Campanella

Heather Campbell

Clarissa Carson

Cassandra Castro

Aiste Chamblin

Michal Denise

Carolyn Denning

Lydia Dennis

Bailey Desin

Stephanie Dever

Paul Dever

Emily Dial

Courtney Diamond

Grace Dible

Stacie Diette

Sophia Dimeler

Kasey DiVine

Olivia Dixon

Tony Do

Angela Donovan

Elizabeth Doro

Tiffany Downing

Lacie Driscol

Kristina Drupp

Heather Duffey

Ron Dunkle

Joel Dupuis

Rachel Durkin

Emily Dyer

Mika Dymarczyk

Bethany Chappell

Janna Chauvin

Carmen Chavez

Melissa Chin

Kendall Christensen

Adrienne Christner

Alison Christopher

Ana Clavijo

Jenna Clifford

Tori Cochran

Linda Cole

Sara Collins

Catherine Collins-Fulea

Laura Columbia

Kim Conley

Ardith Conway

Cathy Cook

Krystal Cooley

Jessica Costa

Doug Council

Jessica Couper

Melva Craft-Blacksheare

Brittany Crane

Megan Crane

Rebecca CreekmoreHinkle

Holly Cross

Donna Cruz

Kendal Curtis

Madeline Cushing

O’Keefe D’Elia

Jessica Dacic

Janelle Dahl

Emma Dalen

Vanessa Daou

Carla DelGiorno

Autumn Fuselier

Marissa Gaines

Samantha GallegosGollihugh

Amber Garbe

Tess Garland

Melissa Gaspar

Virginia Gaulden

Ryan Gavagni Fiorentino

D’Arcy Gebert

Kimberly George

Chelsey Gersema

Kristin Gianelis

Michele Gibson-O’Grady

Lauren Gilbert

Greta Gill

Tera Givens

Ellen Glassberg

Chelsea Gleason

Alexandria Gold

Kylie Gomez

Sylvia Gomez

Ashley Gonzalez

Mkiyah Gonzalez

Daisy Goodman

Teresa Edwards

Terra Edwards

Bridget Ehrhart-Bennett

Christina Eichelberg

Emily Ellington

Leah Elliot

Aleyda Elliott

Nikki Erlenbusch

Lauren Ervin

Jessica Ery

Jana Esden

Emily Estes

Sarrah Evans

Sabyl Farmer

Natasha Feeney

Rebecca Feldman

Kathryn Feniello

Leticia Fernandez

Heather Ferreira

Holly Fisk

Myriam Fleurmond

Kaitlyn Florence

KaMesha Fontenette

Shawna Ford

Sandra Founds

Lauren Fountain

Julie Fournier

Kiya Fox

Louisa Francis

Rachael Freeman

Jennifer Fresh

Kailey Friesz

Carrie Fry

Jason Fuller

Torrica Fuller

Cindy Fulton

Ashley Goodwin

Caitlin Goodwin

Julie Gorwoda

Kristin Gottry

Marcie Gowan

Lorilee Graham

Amy Gramz

Brett Granberry

Jessica Grant

Hallie Granville

Amanda Gray

Patricia Grayson

Jana Griffin-Landis

Elizabeth Grooms

Ann Groonwald

Lisa Grove

Michelle Grubb

Nikesha Gupton

Lori Gyor

Jody Haas

Virginia Haines

Katia Hall

Kristi Hall

Skyler Hancock

Erin Hanks

Martha Hanna

Reanna Hargrove

Natalie Harvey

Johanna Hatch

Beth Haws

Cathy Heffernan

Stephanie Helfrich

Lauren Heller

Andrea Helm

LindseyHenderson

Stacy Hepner

Jennifer Herrell

Christen Herrington

Sarah Hicks

Julie Higgins

Rebecca Hill

Allison Hillebrandt

Madison Hinkledire

Janessa Hodges

Katie Hoffer

Ann Hogan

Marlie Honorat

Kelsey Horek

Juanita House

Amber Howard

Holly Howell

Amanda Isbell

Tatyana Jack Ruddock

Emily James

Shekita James

Meggan Jaramillo

Khara Jefferson

Melanie Jensen

Stefanie Jobe

Amanda Johns

Tiffany Johnson

Angela Johnson

Meredith Johnson

Angela Jones

Ashley Jones

Caroline Jones

Jessica Jones

Story Jones

Amy Jordan

Brett Jordan

Tiffany Jorgenson

April Kermani

Angela Kern

Camie Kerridge

Faith Kersaint

Olivia Kimble

Jacky Kingsada

Megan Kitterman

Kelly Kleiderer

Jessica Klingeman

Abigail Knudson

Abigail Knudson

Sarah Koenigseker

Kathryn Kooistra

Sarah Krajewski

Liz Kramp

Erin Kukay

Beau Kunzler

Suzanne LaBorde

Tressie Landreth

Kalena Lanuza

Kelly LaPointe

Roxanne LaPointe

Heather Latham

Merle Lawter

Joelle Leacock

Diana Lee

Carrie Levine

Mandi Lew

Kelli Lewis

Mary Lewis

Darienne Liles

Becky Lindstrom

Jennifer Lipps

Cassie Lohrey

Heidi Loomis

Angela Lyttle

Christina MacDowell

Ebony Marcelle

Elizabeth Marcoux

Caryn Mark

Kelly Martin

Alyssa Martinez

Amy Maynard

Ann McCarthy

Megan McComy

Leah McCown

Kayla McDonald

Elisha McDunn

Meghan McGovern

Haley McIntosh

Sally McNally

Melinda McRae

Gillian McRavin Johnson

Lindsey McReynolds

Kathryn Mead

Ana Medeus

Denise Meeks

Niessa Meier

Dalila Melkumyan

Jennifer Mercer

Jennifer Meyers

Angela Mike

Jessica Miller

Jordan Miles

Mary Kay Miller

Whitney Miranda

Shannon Mirich

Katie Morioka

Melanie Morrison

Elizabeth Mulcihy

Carrie Mullen

Rachel Muroff

Amy Murphy

Danita Napier

Chelsea Nay

JoAnn Nayer-Grutza

Danielle Nazarenko

Kelli Neely

Kali Nelson

Ruby Nelson

Lindsey Neu

Amy Newman

Ashley Nguyen

Cesylee Nguyen

Tonya Nicholson

Teresa Nitti

Hillary Nolan

Kara Novak

Rachel O’Brien

Kylie O’Connor

Laurel O’Neal

Claudia Odubona

Rhoda Ojwang

Janet Olson

Ngozi Onoh

Emily Orlowicz

Kathryn Osborne

Abimbola Ossai

Julie Paez

Allison Palmer

Michelle Palmer

Corie Parada

Kaydee Parker

Komkwuan Paruchabutr

Katelyn Paskett

Ankita Patel

Sarah Patterson

Stephanie Patterson

Julia Paulus

Shantonette Payne

Samantha Peacock

Janelle Perez

Patricia Perkins

Angela Pesik

Sita Pfalz

Nikia Phillips

Heidi Phillips

Ali Phipps

Cody Pittman

Dawn Ploucher

Kelly Polcher

Meagan Pon

Kathleen Pool

Jamie Poulsen Schoenherr

Lynae Poulson

Megan Pratt

Princess Prendergast

Amber Price

Hope Prince

Rachel Proch

Abigail Provost

Juli Pyle

Kelly Quinn

Nicole Ramirez

Chantee Redding

Alicia Reed

Courtney Reed

Amy Reinke

Anita Reyes

Kelley Richardson

Kim Richardson

Kimberly Rickard

Sharon Riley

Chloe Rios

Rachel Risner

Julie Roark

Cecilia Robinson

April Rock

Lara Rodkey

Danielle Rodriguez

Rosita Rodriguez

Luz Rodriguez Lennon

Brandy Rogers

Mai-Lin Rollon

Marissa Rosario

Chelsea Rosner

Taniya Rosner

Amber Rossman

Carla Rouw

Jessica Rupard

Kristen Ryan

Kaitlyn Rychlowski

Meliza Salandanan

Fabius Santos

Bethany Sasaki

Chantel Schmidt

Manya Schmidt

Mary Schroeder

Stefanie Schwarz

Kore Severance

Lori Shea Green

Chelsy Sheppard

Rachel Sherman

Daniela Shillington

Cynthia Silva

Danielle Simpson

Ebony Simpson

Tarena Sisk

Amanda Smith

Heidi Smith

Kiki Smith

Shannon Smith

Tara Smith

Keisha Snow

Tiffany Sommer

Jessica Spoons

Molly St. Clair

Nicole St. Laurent

Crystal Stamps

Marissa Stear

Allison Steele

Elizabeth Sterling

David Stevens

Danielle Stewart

Emma-Lee Stokes

Tapia Stover

Rebecca Striebinger

Ashley Stroot

Kate Sullivan

Micki Sund

Norma Swagel

Heather Swanson

Stephanie Swanson

Victoria Swarthout

Hilary Sylvester

Juliana Tacardon

Brandy Tafoya

Amanda Tanner

Maria Taylor

Erin Tenney

Rita Testa

Steffaney Thomas

Krista Thurman

Katherine Todd

Aubre Tompkins

Martha Travieso

Lauren Trimble

Sonja Triplett

Taylor Tripp

Tawny Tseng

Kaysha Upshaw

Lisa Vagi

Kelly Valceanu

Jeanine Valrie-Logan

Erin Vande Lune

Sophie Veinoglou

Ana Verzone

Loni Verzuh

Carly Vittozzi

Alexandra Wack

Mandy Wade

Katie Waiveris

Megan Walker

Jamilla Walker

Jerri Walker

Tamara Walker

Les Ward

Judy Ward-Bzoskie

Shirley Warner

Sandra Watson

Megan Webb

Regina Webber

Alicia Werner

Rachael Wernsman

Amy White

Laura White

Angeline Wickliffe

Michelle Wilcox

Joyce Wilder

Diedre Willer

Megan Williams

Carol Williams

Chanel Williams

Charlene Williams

Cynthia Williams

Katelyn Williams

Jennifer Williams

Madeline Williams

Mary Williams

Nicole Williams

Jill Willis

Sara Willis

Tammy Wingo-Salmond

Cara Wolf

Donna Wright

Sara Wright

Alexandra Yates

Deborah Young

2024 Strategic Plan

Goal 1

Continue to develop, evaluate, and improve programs and services that further our mission.

Objective 1: Evaluate, develop, and expand current programs.

Objective 2: Develop an institutional commitment to and capacity for competency-based education innovation.

Goal 2

Create an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, and promotes the success of all community members.

Objective 1: Increase the percentage of students, faculty, staff, Board of Directors, and Administrators from racial and underrepresented groups.

Objective 2: Advance a culture of inclusivity that is respectful and engaging for all.

Objective 3: Implement a universitywide student-centered retention strategy.

Objective 4: Enhance the University’s inclusion of disability access into the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.

Goal 3

Build strategic relationships and partnerships with clinical sites and preceptors, focusing on rural areas.

Objective 1: Implement data-driven incentives to increase the number of Alumni who become preceptors.

Objective 2: Investigate opportunities to partner with health systems to expand FNU’s clinical site network.

Objective 3: Use resources more effectively to connect students with preceptors and clinical sites.

Goal 4

Continuously improve and maintain facilities to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Goal 5

Use technology to ensure improvement and attainment of service excellence to the community.

Goal 6

ADVANCEMENT

Ensure the financial strength and growth is sufficient to meet the needs of the university.

FINANACE

Ensure the financial strength and growth is sufficient to meet the needs of the university.

ADVANCEMENT

Objective 1: Evaluate campus resources to ensure they maximize and facilitate the efficient use of Campus space.

Objective 2: Identify sustainability goals for 2025-2029 for the Versailles Campus.

Objective 3: Ensure the physical environment on campus supports inclusive excellence.

Objective 1: Continue implementation of the Student Information System, Anthology.

Objective 2: Enhance the clinical app functionality for the new clinical hours requirement.

Objective 3: Evaluate the technology of the educational spaces in the Community Center & Learning Center.

Objective 1: Evaluate and grow financial support to supplement tuition revenue.

Objective 2: Measurable Level of Achievement.

FINANCE

Objective 1: Strengthen alternative revenue streams that align with the FNU mission.

Objective 2: Refine formal policies and procedures for accounts payable and receivables.