Meet New Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Dr. Geraldine Young In March, FNU introduced new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO), Dr. Geraldine Young, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDE, FAANP. Dr. Young has practiced for 20 years in the nursing field, and advocating for diversity and inclusion in nursing education has been at the forefront of her work. She holds a DNP from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MSN from Alcorn State University, and a BSN from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
“It is truly an honor and a pleasure to be selected as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Frontier Nursing University,” said Dr. Young.
My distinguished career, spanning 20 years, has demonstrated a great passion for improving health outcomes, especially in disenfranchised populations. An early career trajectory began with five years as a registered nurse; this led to 15 years as a family nurse practitioner, 10 of which have been spent as one of the first DNPs in Mississippi and nursing faculty, nine as a certified diabetes educator, and five as a family medical practice owner.
We sat down with Dr. Young to learn about her passion for diversity and inclusion, her strategy for enhancing these initiatives at FNU, and the challenges she expects to face in her new position as CDIO. What has been your career path so far, and how has it led you to your current role as chief diversity and inclusion officer? I hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, an MSN from Alcorn State University, and a BSN from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. I am a board-certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) and a certified diabetes educator.
I made an effortless decision to migrate to Kentucky to become the inaugural Director for Graduate Nursing Programs at Kentucky State University to expand the ability to help others in rural, underserved areas. Before leaving Mississippi, FNU was introduced to me by a colleague. As an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), the thought of FNU (a nursing university that exclusively focused on graduatelevel nursing education for APRNs and founder of my degree pathway as a family nurse practitioner) was instantaneously intriguing. When the opportunity presented itself, there was no hesitation to seize the chance to be employed at FNU! How has your professional background influenced your passion for diversity and inclusion? Serving as a leader in improving diabetes outcomes in the southeastern United States has been a career pinnacle. Leadership in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Disparities Collaboratives and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) Mississippi Health First Project transformed the model for healthcare practices and
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 5
