Nursing faculty honored by AACN Diversity Leadership Institute

NATCHITOCHES - Dr. Myra Michelle DeBose and Dr. Sheri Wilson, faculty members in Northwestern State University's College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, were inducted into the 2024 Class of Fellows for the Diversity Leadership Institute at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). AACN is the national voice for academic nursing. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education, assists schools in implementing those standards, influences the nursing profession to improve health care and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research and practice.

DeBose is an associate professor in NSU's Master of Science in Nursing program and Post-Master's Certificate programs. DuBose presented on "Curriculum Overhaul: Transcultural Nursing for APRNs." DuBose identified a lack of cultural competence and social determinants of health in nursing courses and will focus on implementing transcultural nursing courses into the MSN curriculum.

Wilson is an assistant professor teaching undergraduate nursing courses. Wilson presented on "Creating a Mentor Culture," which explores the importance of mentorship among faculty of color. Her research shows that faculty paired with mentors who share similar racial, ethnic and gender identities can facilitate professional growth. She received a 2024 faculty research award to explore her mentoring project.

"AACN's Diversity Leadership Institute provides an overview of the current state of diversity, equity and inclusion in academic nursing and the role of diversity officers in nursing education and practice," according to the AACN website. "Program facilitators frame DEI within the context of higher education and academic nursing while presenting high-involvement strategies and practices that can be deployed at schools of nursing. Attendees gain new knowledge and experiences to stimulate strategic thinking and elevate impact. The program content was designed to increase self-awareness while building skills and capacity to lead change and launch successful DEI-focused initiatives. This program allows participants to develop a diversity plan to drive excellence and meet local needs. Upon completion, participants will present their projects, describing how they will apply their plan within their organizations. At the conclusion of this program, a certificate will be awarded."