COMMENCEMENT 2025 CELEBRATES 1,134 GRADUATES
Frontier Nursing University’s annual commencement ceremony was held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. Commencement celebrated the 1,134 students who graduated in 2025, completing their Master of Science in Nursing degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate.
“I am deeply honored to welcome you on behalf of the Board of Directors,” said Frontier Board of Directors Chair Marcus Osborne, welcoming the graduates and their families. “We take great pride in the dedication, hard
work, and perseverance that have led you to achieve your degrees or certificates.”
FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders complimented the graduates for their hard work and dedication. “Your graduation is a remarkable achievement. You are equipped. You are prepared. And you are ready to fulfill the dreams that brought you to Frontier. We are all so very proud of you.”
“We are here to celebrate you, your hard work, your passion, your resilience, and your unyielding drive to make a difference in this world,” added FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Kristin Ashford. “In the journey ahead, you will face challenges. You will be asked to be more, to give more, to stand in the gap where healthcare is most needed.”
FNU was honored to welcome Dr. Beverly Malone as the keynote speaker. Dr. Malone is the President and CEO of the National League for Nursing. Her distinguished career has blended policy, education, administration, and clinical practice, including as Federal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health under President Bill Clinton. She serves as vice chair at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Board of Directors, co-leads the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Health Professional Education and Communication Working Group, and serves on NAM’s Steering Committee.
“This is the opportunity to step into greatness,” Dr. Malone said. “This is the time to say, ‘What door is going to be opened to me by this event. What is my next step? How can I step into greatness?’ Do not put blinders on yourself, do not contain yourself. Understand that this is your opportunity, your option, to step up into greatness.”
Following the ceremony, Frontier hosted a postcommencement celebration on the FNU campus in nearby Versailles. There, graduates showed their families around campus and re-connected with classmates and faculty.
Frontier Nursing University held the investiture of Dr. Brooke A. Flinders as the university’s second president on September 25. The event was held on Frontier’s campus in Versailles, Kentucky.
The presidential investiture ceremony is a formal event that is typically held during a new president’s first year. The ceremony signifies the beginning of a new chapter of leadership for the university, and it provides an opportunity for the university, guests, and community to witness the formal installation of the new leader.
Special guest speakers included:
• Dr. Peter Schwartz, FNU Board member
• Dr. Susan Stone, FNU President Emerita and Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing
• Dr. Joan Slager, FNU Dean Emeritus
• Dr. Diane John, Retired faculty and former Interim Dean
• Dr. Cathy Bishop-Clark, Dean Emerita, College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science, Miami University
• Dr. Joan Fopma-Loy, Professor Emerita, Miami University
After FNU Board Chair Marcus Osborne presented the investiture and acclamation, Dr. Flinders acknowledged the visionary leadership of Kitty Ernst and Susan Stone and the importance of building upon an already strong foundation.
“Today, we must recommit ourselves to that legacy yet recognize that the crossroads between higher education and healthcare are different today than they have ever been. We will continue to face our own unique challenges, and we will navigate them in new and innovative ways,” Dr. Flinders said. “I recognize that today is not just a celebration of a new presidency. It is a celebration of all that Frontier Nursing University stands for. Together, we will honor our past, embrace our present, and shape our future. Let us move forward with purpose and let us continue to be a beacon of hope, healing, and health.”
“Thank you for entrusting me to be the second president of Frontier Nursing University. It is truly my honor.”
— Dr. Brooke A. Flinders
On September 25, Frontier Nursing University inducted its first Alumni Hall of Fame class at the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25 at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky. The first FNU Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are Dr. Pat Caudle, Kitty Ernst, Dr. Kerri Schuiling, Dr. Joan Slager, and Dr. Susan Stone.
“As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Frontier Nursing Service, this is the perfect time to recognize some of those who are responsible for the establishment, growth and success of Frontier Nursing University,” FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders said. “The five women comprising the first class of the Alumni Hall of Fame have distinguished themselves as impactful educators, pioneers, innovators, and groundbreaking leaders. Their collective passion for and commitment to the university and its mission is unsurpassed. They inspire so many of us who aspire to follow in their footsteps.”
The introduction of each of the Alumni Hall of Fame inductees included a summary of their accomplishments and contributions to Frontier. An accompanying video further journaled their stories as told by themselves and those closest to them.
PAT CAUDLE
Dr. Pat Caudle, DNSc, CNM, FNP-BC, grew up in Ballinger, Texas, and graduated second in her class from Shannon West Texas Memorial Hospital of Nursing in San Angelo, Texas, in 1968. She went on to attend Texas Christian University where she earned her BSN.
She served as a nurse in the U.S. Air Force from 1969-71, beginning as a second lieutenant and finishing as first lieutenant. Shortly after she was honorably discharged from the Air Force, the first of her two sons was born in an Air Force hospital. After her second son was born, she earned her master’s degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and went on to teach at the University of Louisiana in Alexandria while her husband worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. She also taught at Northwestern in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her interest in women’s healthcare led her to become a family nurse practitioner focused on women’s health, and she became certified in 1981. She went on to earn her Doctor of Nursing Science degree from the University of San Diego in 1985. Not long after, she discovered Frontier’s Community-based Nurse-midwifery Education Program (CNEP) and became a nurse-midwife.
Dr. Caudle’s extensive education and experience made her an ideal candidate to teach. She joined the Frontier
faculty in May 2000, where she taught for 18 years before retiring at the age of 71. Beloved and respected as an instructor, she was a six-time recipient of a Student Choice Award (2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013, and 2015) recognizing the students’ favorite instructors. One of her many former students is current FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders.
“Pat was an incredible educator who supported and inspired us as students as we were beginning our journeys at Frontier,” Dr. Flinders said. “She encouraged me to return to FNU for the DNP program when it began and, years later, she welcomed me back again when I returned to serve as President. Over the years, Dr. Caudle has had a profound influence on my growth as a practitioner and on my understanding of the critical role of the nurse educator and nurse leader.”
Dr. Caudle’s contributions to the professions of nursing, midwifery, and education are enduring. She has shared her extensive knowledge and passion for the nursing profession with countless students across the country and the globe, authoring chapters in medical-surgical, prenatal-postnatal, and pharmacology books. She also served on the American Midwifery Certification Board for seven years, including two years as secretary.
“Frontier was very good to me,” she said. “I support Frontier because of their mission and what they are trying to do, in regards particularly to helping people from all backgrounds and cultures to achieve midwifery. I think that’s a very important goal and I’m pleased to be able to help. And I support Frontier because I want to see more midwives and family nurse practitioners in this country.”
EUNICE KATHERINE “KITTY” MACDONALD ERNST
A native of Waltham, Massachusetts, Eunice Katherine “Kitty” Macdonald Ernst graduated from the Waltham Hospital School of Nursing and then began working at Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) in Kentucky. During her time as a nurse at FNS, she was introduced to nursemidwifery and was inspired by the nurse-midwives who traveled on horseback in the rural mountains of Kentucky to deliver care to mothers and families. This led to her decision to attend the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery, a part of the FNS, in Hyden, Kentucky, in 1951.
As a student at FNS, Ernst realized the impact of midwifery on the health of women and families. Following her time at FNS, Ernst went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education from Hunter College in 1957 and a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University in 1959. From 1954-58, Ernst served as a nurse-midwife for the Maternity Center Association (MCA) in New York City.
She started her own family, marrying Albert T. Ernst in 1961. Together, they had three children, Rosemary, Albert “Ted” Jr., and Kate.
During this time, Ernst worked as a parent educator, teaching some of the first childbirth education groups of the International Childbirth Education Association. As a field consultant for MCA, she developed family-centered maternity care provided by an obstetrician nurse-midwife
team at the Salvation Army Booth Maternity Center in Philadelphia.
Ernst was passionately committed to birth centers as a key solution to challenges in maternity care. Generations of midwives learned from Ernst that birth centers are safe options to practice midwifery model of care and must be a part of the health care system. Ernst co-founded the National Association of Childbearing Centers (NACC) in 1983, now called the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC). As Director of the NACC, she steered the development of the Commission for Accreditation of Freestanding Birth Centers in 1985.
In the 1980s, Ernst became particularly concerned about two issues: the small number of nurse-midwives being educated each year, and the fact that the majority of nurse-midwives being educated in large tertiary care centers had a lack of out-of-hospital experience.
To address these issues, she led the design and implementation of the first distance education program for nurse-midwives, which was adopted by the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, now known as Frontier Nursing University. Over many years, Ernst graciously shared her personal story, her passion, and her vision with every single class of incoming FNU students.
Ernst, who often quoted one of the key beliefs of FNS that “all health care begins with the care and education of the mother,” maintained strong ties with FNU throughout her life. She served on FNU’s Board of Directors from 1975-2021, was awarded an honorary doctorate from FNU in 2011, and occupied the Mary Breckinridge Chair of Midwifery.
“Kitty’s impact was significant and everlasting upon every person she met and every organization she served,” said Dr. Susan Stone, FNU President Emerita and Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing.
“For me, she was a dear friend, mentor, and mother figure. For Frontier, she was the innovator who led the creation of our distance learning model, our loyal supporter, inspirational leader, and was kind and gracious to all.
We are thankful for her countless contributions to FNU and to midwifery. She will forever be part of the Frontier Nursing University community and will live on in our hearts and many traditions.”
Ernst served as the president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) from 1961-63 and again from 2007-2008. Since 1998, ACNM has annually presented the Kitty Ernst Award to “an exceptional, relatively new CNM/CM who is an ACNM member, has been certified for less than ten years and has demonstrated innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery and/or women’s health clinical practice, education, administration, or research.”
She was a leader in education and administration, conducting the first wave of accreditation for nursemidwifery education programs and developing the first “What is a Nurse-Midwife” brochure. Her impact spread far and wide. She traveled across the U.S. and abroad to Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Belgium, Russia, and Haiti to provide consultation and workshops on the midwifery model of care in birth centers.
Ernst’s many accolades included the Martha Mae Elliot Award for Exceptional Health Service to Mothers and Children from the American Public Health Association. ACNM presented Ernst with the Hattie Hemschemeyer Award in 1988. She received the Childbirth Connection Medal for Distinguished Service and was awarded the Maternity Center Association’s Carola Warburg Rothschild Award.
“Kitty Ernst led with passion, perseverance and commitment, and perhaps most importantly, by her presence,” said Dr. Joan Slager, former FNU Dean of Nursing (2018-2025). “She always made herself available and tirelessly shared her wisdom and advice with students, alumni and friends. As we celebrate her legacy, it is important that we continue to learn from her example and adopt the same vision for the future that she had.”
KERRI D. SCHUILING
Dr. Kerri Schuiling, PhD, CNM(ret), NP, FACNM, FAAN,
earned a baccalaureate degree from Northern Michigan University and began working in labor and delivery in a small hospital in Petoskey, Michigan. She continued to advance her education, becoming a family planning nurse practitioner in the 1970s, followed by a master’s degree in maternity nursing from Wayne State University in 1980 and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan in 2003.
Dr. Schuiling was just the third nurse practitioner to work in western Michigan. When the certification process was developed, Dr. Schuiling became one of the very early practitioners to take the examination and become a certified NP.
In 1991, Dr. Schuiling graduated as a member of FNU’s first Community-based Nurse-midwifery Education Program (CNEP) class. Dr. Schuiling continued to work in the same OB-GYN practice and at the same time, began teaching women’s gynecologic health at FNU.
Dr. Schuiling went on to become the first credentialed nurse-midwife in Grand Rapids. She later moved to Boulder, Colorado, where she helped develop the guidelines to credential nurse-midwives. She then returned to Grand Rapids, and began practicing with Bronson Women’s Service in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Dr. Schuiling went on to enroll in the University of Michigan’s PhD in Nursing program, focusing on
women’s health. Adding to her trailblazing legacy, she was in the first Women’s Health cohort offered by the university and completed her PhD in 2003. Throughout her postgraduate years, Dr. Schuiling maintained her connection to Frontier, teaching physiology courses and eventually becoming the curriculum coordinator.
Dr. Schuiling and fellow Frontier graduate Dr. Francie Likis collaborated on four editions of Women’s Gynecological Health (now titled Gynecologic Healthcare). The book has twice received the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Book of the Year Award and also received an American Journal of Nursing Award. It is often referred to by clinicians as the ‘Gold Standard’ for GYN care.
Today, Dr. Schuiling is an Emeritus Distinguished Professor at Northern Michigan University, most recently completing a term as President of the University following seven years as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and serves as the Vice Chair of the FNU Board of Directors.
Dr. Schuiling has received several awards for her work, including the Dorthea Lang Pioneer Award from the ACNM Foundation. In 2013, she was named one of the Esteemed Women of Michigan for making extraordinary contributions through personal, volunteer and professional avenues to improve the community and inspire others in the state of Michigan. In 2019 she was a Michigan State Crain’s Notable Women in Education Leadership Awardee, and in 2023 she was honored by Marquette’s local Zonta International chapter for her dedication and work to supporting women’s rights, advocating for equality, education and support of children and families.
“It’s one of the most significant honors I have received,” Dr. Schuiling said of being selected as a Frontier Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee. “There are no words to express how absolutely flattered and humbled and excited I am. It’s the perfect culmination of an absolutely wonderful career.”
JOAN SLAGER
Dr. Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, retired as Dean of Nursing at FNU in February 2025. Dr. Slager has been affiliated with Frontier for more than 35 years. As a student, she was part of Frontier’s first Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) graduating class in 1991, led by fellow Alumni Hall of Fame inductee Kitty Ernst. As a practitioner, she precepted over 100 FNU students. As an instructor and administrator, she returned to Frontier, serving first as a faculty member and Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, and finally as the Dean of Nursing.
“I am so thankful for the support and friendship I have received from the FNU community,” Dr. Slager said in announcing her retirement. “My journey as a nursemidwife began with Frontier and it has been so rewarding to have had the opportunity to come full circle back to FNU at the end of a satisfying and fulfilling career.”
Born and raised on a farm in Lake Odessa, Michigan, Dr. Slager earned her Bachelor of Nursing Science (BSN) in 1980 from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She enjoyed the maternal/child rotations and worked in the neonatal intensive care unit after graduation. She subsequently worked three years (1981-83) with the Kalamazoo County Health Department clinics and later took a position as a staff nurse at the Borgess Medical Center Family Birthing Center (1984-91).
While at the birth center, she worked with Kalamazoo’s first midwife and was inspired to become a midwife herself. Having heard about Frontier’s new Communitybased Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) from Dr. Schuiling, she applied and became part of Class 1.
“I was intrigued that I didn’t have to travel 150-plus miles to go to school, and I could complete my education in my home community. It sounded too good to be true,” she said.
Dr. Slager was part of Frontier’s first CNEP graduating class in 1991. She began working as a nurse-midwife in Battle Creek, Michigan, eventually becoming the Director of Nurse-Midwifery at the Family Health Center of Battle Creek. She assisted Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo in developing a midwifery-led service in 1993, where she served as the Director of Nurse-Midwifery at the Bronson Women’s Service for 27 years, helping build it into one of the largest midwifery practices in the country.
After 28 years as a practicing nurse-midwife, Dr. Slager returned to Frontier. She served as the Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, then became the Interim Dean of Nursing and finally the Dean of Nursing in August 2018.
“Dr. Slager’s expertise and leadership were essential in helping guide Frontier during a difficult time in our history,” said Dr. Stone. “We were in the process of moving to the Versailles campus and dealing with the COVID pandemic. Dr. Slager’s calm professionalism and extensive experience were invaluable to the university.”
Dr. Slager’s long list of accomplishments include being honored as the Dorothea Lang Pioneer Award recipient from the American College of Nurse-Midwives Foundation in 2008 and the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater award recipient from Frontier Nursing University in 2015.
She served two terms as Chair of the Business Section of the Division of Standards and Practice for the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and four years as the Division Chair. She was a member of the ACNM’s Finance
and Audit committee for 12 years including six years as Treasurer on the Board of Directors. She is a Fellow of the ACNM as well as the American Academy of Nursing. In 2007, she was presented with the Best Book of the Year Award for her Administrative Manual for Midwifery Practices by ACNM.
“It’s an honor to be included in such an auspicious group,” Dr. Slager said of her fellow Hall of Fame inductees. “The career pathways we chose don’t typically lead to notoriety, except for whenever or wherever we could make a difference for the families or students that we touched along the way.”
SUSAN E. STONE
Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, began her journey at Frontier in 1991 when she graduated as a nursemidwife from FNU’s first distance learning class. She served as Dean from 2000-2014 and as President from 2001-2024, holding both positions simultaneously from 2001-2014. Today, as FNU President Emerita and FNU’s Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing, she promotes midwifery and nursing both nationally and internationally.
“Dr. Stone is a dedicated advocate for access; access to education for nurses who want to become advanced practice nurses, and access to quality healthcare for all,” said Dr. Schuiling. “She has been nationally recognized for exponentially increasing the number of nurse-midwives and other advanced practice professionals practicing in areas of highest need.”
Dr. Stone came to Frontier in 1991 after 10 years of working as a maternity nurse in a small rural hospital in Upstate New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a master’s in nursing administration from SUNY College of Technology. She served 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 Health Care in Cooperstown, N.Y. After completing her Post-Master’s Certificate in NurseMidwifery at Frontier, she practiced as a full-scope nurse-midwife at Bassett Healthcare for nearly a decade. She later earned 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; and program director of the Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program. She was appointed as the NurseMidwifery Program Director in 1996. She relocated to Kentucky in 1998 to devote her full effort to the education of advanced practice nurses and nursemidwives at Frontier. In 2001, Dr. Stone became president of Frontier, serving as both the president and dean before relinquishing the dean duties in 2014 to focus solely on her role as president.
During Dr. Stone’s tenure as President, Frontier Nursing University transformed from a small school offering one certificate program in nurse-midwifery to one of the largest and most successful graduate schools of nursing in the United States. Under her leadership, five new advanced practice nursing programs were added, the certificate granting programs transitioned to degree granting, and the curriculum transitioned to an award-winning community-based distance-education model. This innovation allowed students to pursue their advanced degrees at Frontier while remaining in the communities where they lived and worked. With students from all over the country able to attend, enrollment rose rapidly from 200 students to more than 2,700 today.
“Susan Stone has left a legacy of growth and transformation at Frontier,” said former FNU Dean of Nursing and fellow Alumni Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Joan Slager. “She has demonstrated vision and leadership that have resulted in the exponential expansion of our programs while remaining staunchly true to our mission.”
Dr. Stone was inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Medicine Class of 2018 as one of only two nurses in her class. She served as president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) from 20192020. She is a Fellow at both ACNM and the American Academy of Nursing. She was the recipient of ACNM’s Kitty Ernst Award in 1999, which recognizes “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 advocacy on behalf of reproductive health and rights.
She has presented at such prestigious events as Beyond Flexner (2018, Atlanta); the American College of NurseMidwives annual meeting (2017, Chicago, Ill.); the International Midwifery Conference in Education in Research (2012, Nottingham, England); and the International Confederation of Midwives 28th Triennial Congress (2008, Glasgow, Scotland).
“Being a member of the first class of inductees into the Frontier Nursing University Alumni Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” Dr. Stone said. “Graduating as part of the first class in Frontier’s distance learning program was a life-changing opportunity. It not only allowed me to achieve my dream of practicing as a nurse-midwife but also opened the door to a deeply fulfilling career—one focused on educating Frontier students and helping expand access to high-quality health care across communities near and far. To be recognized for that work is truly humbling and profoundly meaningful.”
The evening also included a celebration of the university’s annual Distinguished Service Awards. This year’s eight honorees were Victoria Burslem, Michael Carter, Cathy Cook, Torica Fuller, Eric Lakomek, Jenkins Michelle Lawhorn, Samanth Paradis, and Dorothy E. Trefts. As Board members, instructors, practitioners, and preceptors, the recipients were honored for their significant contributions to their communities, professions, and to Frontier Nursing University.
“These eight individuals epitomize Frontier’s mission and vision in action,” said Dr. Flinders. “We are honored to recognize them as distinguished members of the FNU community.”
VICTORIA BURSLEM: Lifetime Service Award
In honor of her nearly two decades of service on faculty at Frontier Nursing University, Victoria Burslem, MSN, CNM, CNE (cl), FACNM, was named a recipient of FNU’s Lifetime Service Award. The award recognizes an individual or organization providing long-standing support and commitment to the mission and work of Frontier Nursing University.
Burslem holds an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and attended graduate school at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She worked at The Birth Center in Wilmington, Delaware, for several years until she was invited to become an instructor at Frontier in 1989.
Burslem went on to be an instructor in the Frontier Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) for seven years before returning to her own fullscope clinical practice. She served in full-scope midwifery practice for over 35 years.
She returned to the FNU faculty in 2015. She currently serves on Frontier’s Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning faculty team and is Co-Coordinator for the Labor Skills Workshop. She is also Co-Chair of FNU’s Admissions Committee.
Burslem is a Fellow of the American College of NurseMidwives (ACNM) and was the 2013 recipient of ACNM’s Dorothea M. Lang Pioneer Award. She is also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
“Receiving this recognition and honor of an award from colleagues, those who know you well and have served alongside you in the trenches through the years, is the highest professional honor one can receive,” Burslem said of the FNU Lifetime Service Award. “I receive this Lifetime Service Award humbly, for it truly does take a village, and with gratitude for the gift that the Frontier community has always been to me professionally and personally. I do not take lightly the privilege I have been given to educate and impart to the next generation of nurse-midwives and nurse-practitioners the mission, principles, and practices that Frontier holds dear.”
MICHAEL CARTER: Lifetime Service Award
In honor of his more than two decades of service and leadership to Frontier, Dr. Michael Carter was named a recipient of FNU’s Lifetime Service Award. The award recognizes an individual or organization providing longstanding support and commitment to the mission and work of Frontier Nursing University.
Dr. Carter, who passed away in June of 2025, served as Chair of the Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors from 2009 to April 2025. Dr. Carter’s long history with Frontier Nursing University dates to 2003 when he joined what was then the Frontier Nursing Service Board of Governors. Dr. Carter’s leadership was marked by his determination, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his extraordinary passion.
“Michael was respected for his excellence as a practitioner, educator, and leader,” FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders said. “He was loved for his kindness, generosity, grace, and beloved storytelling ability. Dr. Carter will be terribly missed, but always fondly remembered.”
Dr. Carter grew up on a farm in Missouri and went on to attend the University of Arkansas College of Nursing, earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1969 and his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 1973. He served in the United States Army Nurse Corp from 1968-71 during the Vietnam War. He earned his doctorate in 1979 from the Boston University School of Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Tennessee in 2009. He completed a Fellowship in Primary Care Health Policy with the United States Public Health Service.
Dr. Carter practiced as a family and geriatric nurse practitioner and served as the Dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing from 1982-2000. He held many teaching positions including serving as an adjunct professor at the Curtin University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Perth, Australia. He also worked to develop nurse practitioner education in Australia. In recognition of his expertise and dedication to nursing in Australia, he was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners.
Dr. Carter’s extensive list of awards and honors include but are not limited to: Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 1982; Outstanding Alumnus from the University of Tennessee College of Nursing in 2000; Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Student Government Association in 2005; Lifetime Achievement Award, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties in 2015; the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. Shortly before his passing, Frontier Nursing University selected Dr. Carter as the 2025 recipient of its Lifetime Service Award in recognition of his unyielding support over many years.
During his more than 20 years at Frontier, Dr. Carter was instrumental in many milestone moments for the university. He was on the Board of Governors when what was then known as the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing launched the Doctor of Nursing Practice
program in 2008. Notably, he was the Board Chair when the university officially changed its name to Frontier Nursing University in 2011.
In 2017, under Dr. Carter’s visionary leadership, FNU made the pivotal decision to purchase property in Versailles, Kentucky, an investment aimed at expanding student access and supporting the university’s growth. That same year, FNU began taking applications for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree. Then, in 2022, after the completion of renovations and construction, Frontier held the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the Versailles campus. Most recently, Dr. Carter initiated the successful search for and transition to FNU’s second president, Dr. Brooke A. Flinders, in 2024.
Dr. Carter was a staunch supporter of FNU over the years and provided many financial contributions to support students and FNU’s campus. In 2021, Dr. Carter, his wife Dr. Sarah Carter, and their daughter Elizabeth Carter, JD, announced a $500,000 donation to further the mission of FNU. The gift furthers Dr. Carter’s commitment and lifelong work to enrich the nursing profession across the globe.
CATHY COOK: Distinguished Preceptor Award
In honor of her commitment to precepting nursing students, Dr. Cathy Cook, DNP, APRN-FPA, CNM, FACNM, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Preceptor Award. The award recognizes a graduate providing long-standing support and commitment to the mission and work of FNU through precepting students.
Dr. Cook, who is a obtained her Certified Nurse-Midwife and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees at FNU, worked as a certified nurse-midwife from 1998-2020, primarily practicing in Galesburg, Illinois. She specialized in natural childbirth and providing individualized education and prenatal care to expectant mothers. She has since received Full Practice Authority and opened her own aesthetic and hormone optimization clinic.
While maintaining this demanding career, Dr. Cook has been eager to give back as a preceptor. Preceptors are experienced licensed clinicians who supervise nursing students during their clinical practicum. In total, Cook has served as a preceptor to an incredible 270 Frontier students.
“Students teach us as much as we teach them,” said Dr. Cook, who is also on faculty at Frontier. “They help us see things through new eyes. Some of us who have been practicing for a long time may not know the newest items in healthcare. Students can teach us those things if we are open and willing to learn from them.”
Dr. Cook was previously presented with FNU’s Distinguished Service to Alma Mater award (2021), in recognition of her wide range of contributions to the university. The award specifically honors graduates who have supported Frontier through volunteer efforts and/or donor support.
Dr. Cook’s additional awards include the Kitty Ernst Scholarship (1997), induction in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society (2017), and American College of Nurse-Midwives Fellow (2022).
TORICA FULLER: Distinguished Service to Society Award
In honor of her commitment to providing healthcare to those who are uninsured and underinsured, Dr. Torica Fuller, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FNP-C, WHNP-BC, CDP, CGRN, CPN, NRCME, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Service to Society Award. The award is given annually in recognition of a Frontier Nursing University graduate who gives above and beyond to provide exceptional service in his or her community.
Dr. Fuller was born in Fremont, North Carolina, and now practices in North Carolina as a family nurse practitioner and a women’s healthcare nurse practitioner. She works primarily in public health, caring for patients across the lifespan. Her clinical focus includes women’s health, child health, preventive care, communicable
disease, epidemiology, and patient education. She is also a Carolina Hepatitis Academic Mentorship Program (CHAMP) provider and is the sole provider in her clinic to provide Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment.
Dr. Fuller earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University (ECU), her Master’s and FNP Post-Masters certification from Indiana Wesleyan University, and her DNP from ECU. She completed her Post-Graduate Women’s Health Care Certificate at FNU in 2023. Dr. Fuller joined FNU faculty in April 2023.
She balances her time between clinical practice and teaching to stay current and bring real-world experience into the classroom. She serves as Clinical Transition Coordinator and Assistant Professor at FNU.
“Being both a provider and an educator allows me to keep my work meaningful and impactful every day,” Dr. Fuller said. “I’m committed to lifelong learning and helping others find their path in this incredibly rewarding profession.”
In 2025, Dr. Fuller was selected by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to participate in the organization’s 2025 Diversity Leadership Institute.
ERIC LAKOMEK: Unbridled Spirit Award
In honor of his remarkable service to community, Dr. Eric Lakomek was named a recipient of the Unbridled Spirit Award. The award is given annually to a former Courier who has perpetuated the mission and spirit of
Frontier in their own lives. The award recognizes dedication to serving others, ongoing stewardship of FNU, and a zest for adventure.
In 2019, during the summer between his sophomore and junior years at Wabash College in Indiana, Dr. Lakomek was selected to participate in FNU’s Courier program. The summer program immerses undergraduate students from around the country in a public health and volunteerism internship.
“That experience was transformative,” said Dr. Lakomek, who is a first-year pediatric resident at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. “It gave me firsthand exposure to the challenges rural communities face and showed me how meaningful a physician’s role can be, not only in providing medical care but also in building trust and strengthening communities.”
While at Wabash College, Dr. Lakomek founded the Red Shoe Project, which is dedicated to providing sporting equipment to children and families who cannot otherwise afford it.
Dr. Lakomek graduated magna cum laude from Wabash, majoring in psychology with minors in chemistry and global health. He then attended Marian University’s Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was inducted into Sigma Sigma Phi, the honorary osteopathic service fraternity, as well as the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
During his time at Marian, he worked with underserved populations, serving in free clinics that provided essential care to those who were otherwise without access to care.
Dr. Lakomek is trained in both inpatient and outpatient pediatrics, with exposure to general pediatrics as well as subspecialty services. He manages acute illnesses, chronic medical conditions, and preventive care needs while maintaining a strong emphasis on family-centered care.
“I am deeply committed to a career in pediatrics,” Dr. Lakomek said. “I see pediatrics not only as caring for children’s medical needs, but also as advocating for their growth, development, and overall well-being. Whether through direct patient care, community engagement, or broader policy initiatives, I hope to dedicate my career to advancing equity, amplifying the voices of children and families, and making a lasting impact in the field.”
JENKINS MICHELLE LAWHORN:
Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award
In honor of her dedicated service to her students, Dr. Jenkins Michelle Lawhorn, DNP, CNM, RNC-OB, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Service to
Alma Mater Award. The award honors a nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner who has supported FNU through volunteering and/or philanthropy.
Raised in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Dr. Lawhorn lives and works in North Carolina, where she has resided for over 20 years. She is a two-time graduate of Frontier, where she received both her master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis in nurse-midwifery and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. As a board-certified nurse midwife, Dr. Lawhorn has provided full scope midwifery care in both the community and hospital setting. She holds additional certifications in inpatient obstetrics nursing and electronic fetal monitoring and provides midwifery care at the University of North Carolina Health.
At Frontier, Dr. Lawhorn shares her extensive knowledge as Regional Clinical Faculty in the Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health. She is also the 2025 Inclusive Excellence Faculty Representative to the President’s Cabinet at Frontier.
Dr. Lawhorn gives her time and training without hesitation. Her service to the community has included starting a waterbirth program at a community hospital, volunteering through Junior Achievement to discuss midwifery with high school students and speaking at local elementary schools. She was nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award at the University of North Carolina HealthCare in 2024.
“I enjoy supporting and teaching the next generations of advanced practice nurses,” Dr. Lawhorn said. “I just show up as myself for Frontier and my community, because that is my calling.”
SAM PARADIS: Distinguished Service to Society Award
In honor of their remarkable service to community, Dr. Sam Paradis, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CARN-AP, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Service to Society Award. The award recognizes a graduate who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service to their community.
Originally from Aroostook County, Maine, Dr. Paradis completed their DNP at FNU in 2024, but their experience in healthcare spans the last 20 years. During that time, Dr. Paradis has provided direct care to individuals living with opioid use disorder, military veterans with dementia, LGBTQIA+ adults in rural areas, and seasonal farm workers.
“Nurturing connections with community organizations that amplify the voices of those on the margins has been at the center of my life work,” Dr. Paradis said. “In parallel to my healthcare career, I have always maintained deep community connections, in college even being voted most likely to be volunteering.”
Dr. Paradis’ commitment to public service has led them to help establish the first public library in their hometown; serve as the first queer and youngest mayor of Belfast, Maine; become a therapeutic foster parent; and to help support the passage of Maine’s robust family medical leave in 2023.
“From caregiving for my own children and family to caring for my patients, I have been most enriched by my time spent in community with other people,” Dr. Paradis said. “Sometimes, being a witness to the challenges life presents can be the biggest gift you can give someone.”
DOROTHY “DEDE” TREFTS: Unbridled Spirit Award
In recognition of her remarkable career accomplishments, Dorothy “Dede” Trefts was honored as the recipient of the Unbridled Spirit Award. The award is given annually to a former Courier who has perpetuated the mission and spirit of Frontier in their own lives. The award recognizes dedication to serving others, ongoing stewardship of FNU, and a zest for adventure.
Trefts grew up in East Aurora, New York, and in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She spent the spring of her senior year of
high school as a member of the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) Courier program. There, she assisted the FNS nurses, tended to the horses the nurses used to traverse the mountainous terrain in order to reach their patients, and helped in the office.
“As a seventeen-year-old high school student, I had never heard of an organization that was female-driven from top to bottom,” Trefts said. “What an eye-opening, motivating experience for a teenager to be able to witness the incredible power of women so dedicated to improving the healthcare of the population and the lives of its children in a remote county in Kentucky. It inspired me over the course of my career to have seen the huge impact that women in leadership positions could make in the lives of others.”
Trefts went on to attend Wellesley College in Boston, where she majored in economics and English. She was then accepted at the Harvard Business School. Inspired by her father’s career experiences in engineering and technology, she became interested in how computers could change and improve people’s lives. Later, her career came full circle as she got involved in the acquisition of new technology and services startups into IBM Global Services and was able to utilize her background in starting new ventures to help them succeed in a large company setting.
Trefts retired three years ago but continues to enjoy serving on non-profit boards and volunteering. She has served on the boards of the Chautauqua Institution, Laurel School, her church, Arts for Healing, and Gulfstream Goodwill. She has also donated her time to mentor women and guide them as they advance their careers. Equally impactful is her commitment to mentoring women, guiding and encouraging them as they advance in their own careers.
“What matters the most to me is whether I’m making a difference,” Trefts said. “I am so honored to be remembered by an organization that was so inspirational to me as a young woman about to embark on an important step in my life.
FRONTIER NURSING UNIVERSITY NAMES
KRISTIN ASHFORD AS NEW DEAN OF NURSING
On July 1, 2025, Dr. Kristin B. Ashford, PhD, WHNPBC, FAAN, joined Frontier as the university’s new Dean of Nursing. Dr. Ashford replaced Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, who retired at the end of February having served as FNU’s Dean of Nursing since 2018. Dr. Diane John, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, CNE, served as the Interim Dean of Nursing for four months following Dr. Slager’s retirement.
“After a thorough and competitive search, we are very proud to welcome Dr. Ashford as our new Dean of Nursing,” said FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders. “Dr. Ashford brings a wealth of experience as a practitioner, educator, and administrator. I am excited to see her leadership and expertise advance the tremendous work of her predecessors in service to our students and our mission.”
Dr. Ashford came to FNU from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing, where she is a professor and Endowed Good Samaritan Chair for Community Nursing. She is the founder and director of the UK College of Nursing Perinatal and Research Center, leading an interprofessional team to translate research into practice while informing policy makers on maternal and child health issues. She is also the co-director of UK’s BREATHE (Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments).
“I am honored to accept the position of Dean of Nursing at Frontier Nursing University,” Dr. Ashford said. “Frontier
has a long-standing record of excellence and a wellearned reputation for commitment to its students and the communities they serve. I have a love for teaching and mentoring students. I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to work with Frontier’s students and empower them to positively impact access to quality, compassionate healthcare across the country,” Dr. Ashford said.
Her extensive administrative experience at the UK College of Nursing includes serving as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Health Policy (20222024), Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Interprofessional Education (2017-2022), and Assistant Dean of Research (2015-2017).
Dr. Ashford received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washburn University, her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisville, and a PhD in nursing from the University of Kentucky. Among her many accomplishments, she is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Medicine in 2021. She received the Florence Nightingale Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award from the University of Louisville in 2016.
Dr. Ashford is a dedicated researcher with over 60 scholarly publications and more than $10 million in funding as a primary investigator. The majority of her research focuses on improving health for pregnant and postpartum women with addiction, primarily tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and opioid use disorder. She is an internationally known nursing expert in the field of perinatal tobacco use, immune response research, and preterm birth (PTB).
“I am excited and honored to join the Frontier Nursing University community,” Dr. Ashford said. “The mission of Frontier Nursing aligns closely with my values, likely stemming from my rural upbringing and my commitment to improving community health through collaborative partnerships.”
In October 2024, Frontier Nursing University launched an initiative to develop the 2030 strategic plan. The comprehensive process lasted more than a year and incorporated representation and contributions from the entire FNU community, including the Board of Directors, students, faculty, and staff.
“I am honored to represent the entire Board of Directors and to reconfirm our collective commitment to this university, its mission, and most importantly its students,” said Marcus Osborne, Chair of the FNU Board of Directors, of the Board’s role in the strategic planning process. “We need to transform healthcare and improve care for people and improve outcomes. We talk about provider and healthcare professional burnout, the aging population of some of those professionals, and we think about the undersupply of providers and health professionals.”
In Phase I, the Board of Directors initiated the process with a strategic planning retreat. A strategic planning outline, including mission, vision, pillars, and universitylevel goals was submitted by President Flinders for approval at the January 2025 Board of Directors meeting.
Phase II of the process included surveying the university’s faculty and staff to identify strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, threats, and common themes. In Phase III, faculty and staff co-leaders were appointed to focus on each of the three pillars:
Pillar I: Academic and Clinical Excellence
Pillar II: Student Success
Pillar III: Innovation, Operational Excellence, and Strategic Positioning
Phases IV and V included committee and subcommittee recommendations for shared definitions, goals and priorities within each established pillar. The President’s Academic Fellows reviewed and synthesized several external environmental scans to share with the steering committee. Finally, the steering committee analyzed the proposed goals for each pillar and completed a gap analysis to refine and solidify the university-level goals.
In October and November 2025, the unit leaders from each program, track, and staffing team developed Year One Outcomes and metrics for 2026. On January 28, 2026, the Frontier 2030 Strategic Plan was accepted by the Board of Directors.
PILLAR I: ACADEMIC AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
• Priority 1: Academic Programming
• Priority 2: Curriculum
• Priority 3: Simulation
• Priority 4: Clinical Placements and Precepting
PILLAR II: STUDENT SUCCESS
• Priority 1: Access
• Priority 2: Academic Empowerment
• Priority 3: Retention
• Priority 4: Engagement
“We are intentionally building relationships with healthcare systems, rural and underserved clinics, and academic partners to expand clinical training, strengthen workforce pipelines, and improve access to care.”
— Dr. Kristin Ashford, Dean of Nursing
“Once enrolled, students need more than admissions; they need connections, support and clarity about their journey ahead. This is where student engagement becomes critical.”
— Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Dean of Student Success
“We are blessed with a tradition of stability and long-term strength, as well as making an impact on healthcare outcomes. We have a lot of work to do, but we have a strong foundation to stand on.”
— Kylie Waters, Chief Financial Officer
PILLAR III: INNOVATION, OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, AND STRATEGIC POSITIONING
• Priority 1: Innovation
• Priority 2: Operational Excellence
• Priority 3: Strategic Positioning
“Our goal is to give you software that works for you, fostering better communication and efficiency across the university.”
— Marc
Blevins, Chief Information and Digital Officer
“We envision a campus that is welcoming and secure for all, supporting both employees and students. Together these efforts move us forward on all three of our core commitments: supporting our employees, campus services and safety, and operational excellence. This work positions us to meet today’s needs while building a stronger, more responsive university.”
— Shelley Aldridge, Chief Operations Officer
“We are beginning a full market analysis because we need strong, evidence-based information to guide our decisions. It will inform program development, pricing, recruitment strategies, and our national position. We need everyone to be a fundraiser, a marketer, a recruiter, and a champion for Frontier.”
— Bobbi Silver, Chief Advancement Officer
FRONTIER NURSING UNIVERSITY INTRODUCES OFFICE OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, ACCESS, AND SUCCESS
In 2025, Frontier Nursing University established the Office of Student Engagement, Access, and Success. This strategic initiative places student success as the university’s central priority while ensuring comprehensive support from enrollment to graduation and beyond.
“The development of this new office underscores Frontier Nursing University’s commitment to students,” FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders said. “Frontier fosters a culture and an environment where every student is empowered to thrive and make a lasting difference.”
The Office of Student Engagement, Access, and Success positions key student services under unified leadership, ensuring seamless support throughout each student’s academic journey. Students benefit from integrated academic coaching and advising, mental health and wellness programs, peer-to-peer mentoring, student interest groups and accessibility services. These services are all designed to work together rather than in isolation. By centralizing these essential functions, the university creates clear pathways to success while eliminating barriers that might otherwise prevent students from reaching their full potential.
“This is not merely about reorganizing existing services; it’s about creating a unified support ecosystem where every touchpoint reinforces our commitment to student success,” said Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, the inaugural Dean of Student Success. “Our dedicated team has stepped up to transform how we serve students, ensuring that from day one, every student feels genuinely supported and empowered to thrive.”
FNU remains committed to its mission of providing a high-quality education that prepares nurses to become competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. The mission can only be fulfilled through a learning environment that values every individual and honors diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
The Office of Student Engagement, Access, and Success includes academic advising, student engagement and well-being, professional development resources, and
The Office of Student Engagement, Access, and Success
accessibility services among other efforts to make a robust array of resources available to all students.
“We have created a seamless ecosystem for our students that goes from enrollment to graduation,” Dr. AlexanderDelpech said.
Making sure that students feel valued and supported is central to Frontier’s commitment to inclusive excellence. With an enrollment of more than 2,700 students from across the country, it is important to understand and meet each student’s needs to help them succeed and be of service to their communities.
“We have a moral obligation to make sure that our students are prepared to do their job and serve their communities,” Dr. Alexander-Delpech said. “The Office of Student Engagement, Access and Success is here to meet students’ needs and to ensure that they are successful in being a Frontier student.”
Dr. Alexander-Delpech notes that the definition of success is not the same for every student. Through
engagement and better understanding of students’ needs, FNU aims to have a clear picture of what success looks like for each individual.
“We put student success at the forefront of everything that we do,” Dr. Alexander-Delpech said. “It’s not student support, nor is it student affairs. It is student success.”
The Office of Student Engagement, Access, and Success is comprised of five units, each with a specific role in each student’s journey.
The student engagement unit serves as a vital resource, focusing on fostering student involvement and participation throughout the academic journey. The unit provides programs, services, and activities that encourage students to engage academically, socially, and culturally. The unit organizes events, supports student organizations, facilitates leadership development and mentoring opportunities, and promotes initiatives that enhance the overall student experience.
The enrollment management team leads implements a holistic admission process with streamlined systems that identify the most qualified applicants. Guided by data-driven decisions and innovative enrollment strategies, the team aims to expand access and support student success.
The student retention and success unit is a collaborative, studentcentered team dedicated to providing equitable accessibility services that empower students to engage meaningfully in their learning and graduate prepared for practice. Through partnering across campus, supporting services, and data-driven decisions, we champion an environment where students can achieve their academic and professional goals.
Frontier’s academic advisors provide holistic support to all students through a collaborative relationship from admission to graduation. The goal is to ensure that each student feels supported, valued, and empowered to make informed decisions during their academic journey.
The academic records and registrar offices serve as the official stewards of student academic records, ensuring their accuracy, integrity, and security from admission through graduation. This group supports students, alumni, faculty, and staff through services such as registration, transcript processing, degree certification, transfer credit evaluation, and enrollment verification – guiding every stage of the academic journey to help students meet requirements and achieve their goals.
Student Retention and Success team
Academic Records and Registrar team
Academic Advising team
Enrollment Management team
Student Engagement team
In 2025, Frontier introduced its new President’s Academic Fellowship Program . This prestigious initiative was established to recognize and support outstanding faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their field and made meaningful contributions to our academic community.
This selective program offers fellows the opportunity to engage in focused leadership development alongside a small cohort of esteemed colleagues. Participants play an active role in advancing the university’s mission through their participation in our strategic planning processes, helping to shape the future direction of Frontier Nursing University.
The program’s goals are to provide faculty leadership opportunities, to promote faculty growth, and to create space for the advancement of the university’s faculty leaders from across the institution. Each year, Dr. Flinders will select motivated, qualified participants who meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Individuals ready for, and potentially looking for leadership roles
• Faculty with demonstrated leadership ability
• Faculty with current or previous leadership positions, whether academic or clinical
• Faculty from disciplines that are representative of the university
• Faculty with experience or a desire to serve nationally within their professional organization
“The
President’s Academic Fellowship Program is vital to the development of the future leaders of Frontier Nursing University. This program creates an internal pipeline of leaders ready to take on increased leadership roles as positions and opportunities become available.”
—
Dr. Brooke A. Flinders
“I participated in the President’s Academic Fellowship program to further develop my leadership abilities, building on prior leadership experience while challenging myself academically and growing alongside driven, successful, and dynamic peers.”
— Bonni Cohen PhD, DNP, ANP-C, FNP-C, CNE, FAANP
“One of the most important benefits of the fellowship was the intentional setting aside of time: to learn from brilliant colleagues, to process recent and long-ago experiences, to feel the warmth of new and strengthened friendships, to gain a better understanding of how a leader like Dr. Flinders goes about her work, and to open our minds to fresh viewpoints. I finished the experience feeling energized and inspired.”
— Anne Cockerham PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM
“Through the program, I have gained valuable skills such as critical thinking, time management, team building and effective communication. I also developed stronger relationships with faculty mentors and peers, which helped me grow both academically and personally. Additionally, I was exposed to new perspectives and opportunities that broadened my understanding of academic leadership and future possibilities.”
— Torica Fuller DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FNP-C, WHNP-BC, CDP, CGRN, CPN, NRCME
“I found the most valuable aspect of the Fellowship to be the discussions. Having honest and in-depth discussions about the University helped me see a bigger picture than I did through my faculty lens. Each member of the group offered a perspective that helped me grow in my understanding of University systems and stakeholders. Good leaders must hold the overarching vision, and this group helped me see that more clearly.”
— Joanne Keefe DNP, MPH, FNP-c, CNE
“The PAFP was inspiring and wonderful. Being able to explore my strengths, challenges, and academic journey with the support of our president and a small group of extraordinary peers was one of the best experiences I’ve had in academia. It helped me reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m going, and it prepared me to lead as the interim DC for women’s health. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build connections across Frontier with a cohort who became friends.”
— Laura Manns-James PhD, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM
