A Culture of Leadership at Every Level
“Leaders Defining the Art and Science of Nursing” is more than a slogan. It reflects a deep-seated institutional philosophy rooted in the vision of Florence Nightingale and advanced by a dedicated faculty.
“Our leadership, faculty and staff make this the focus of our work each day by leading, teaching and mentoring our students and each other via lectures, presentations, clinical experiences, conferences, serving in leadership roles, scholarship and volunteering,” says Paula A. Kensler, PhD, DNP, MBA, RN, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing and Director of the Clinical Nurse Leader and Executive Nurse Leader Programs.
“At the School of Nursing, we cultivate a culture where leadership is nurtured at every level, empowering faculty, staff and students to grow, lead and serve with purpose, whether within our walls or out in the world,” adds Clair Millet, DNP, APRN, PHCNS-BC, Director of Nursing Professional Development & Entrepreneurial Enterprise and Robert Wood Johnson Public Health Nurse Leader.
Courses That Spark Transformation
Faculty, staff and students can engage in specially designed leadership programs like the Leadership Scholars Academy, where they are introduced to Kouzes and Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership by a certified Leadership Practices Inventory-Trained Coach. Faculty present on the Baldrige Criteria for high-performing organizations, offer grant writing and publishing workshops and host Emergenetics sessions to build self-awareness and teamwork capacity.
This fall, the School of Nursing is working to give all full-time faculty and Doctor of Nursing Practice students in the Health Outcomes course access to the IHI Open School, which includes 81 courses and the option to earn the Basic Certificate in Quality and Safety. This summer, the school hosted a Nursing Informatics Boot Camp, which prepared nurses to take the certification exam in Nursing Informatics. Two national speakers led the training. Additionally, select faculty are participating in a robust training series through the Six Sigma Global Institute, which includes certification programs in Lean Six Sigma Healthcare (Yellow and Green Belts), Project Management and Data Analytics. These programs focus on process optimization, quality improvement and data-driven decision-making – skills that are increasingly valued in health care today.
Mentorship With Impact
Mentorship is a cornerstone of the School of Nursing experience. Through initiatives like Tiger TRAX Mentoring and the Leadership Scholars Academy, participants connect with seasoned leaders across campus and the profession.
“At the School of Nursing, we cultivate a culture where leadership is nurtured at every level, empowering faculty, staff and students to grow, lead and serve with purpose, whether within our walls or out in the world.”
Clair Millet, DNP, APRN, PHCNS-BC, Director of Nursing Professional Development & Entrepreneurial Enterprise and Robert Wood Johnson Public Health Nurse Leader
“Mentorship is not just about guidance; it’s about creating space for emerging leaders to grow, take risks and lead with impact,” says Benita Chatmon, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, Assistant Dean for Clinical Nursing Education and Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing. She says support from Dean Demetrius Porche, DNS, PhD, ANEF, FACHE, FAANP, FAAN, for her role as Region 6 Coordinator for Sigma Theta Tau International exemplifies what it means to champion leadership in action.
Kendra M. Barrier, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, Associate Dean for Engagement and Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing, echoes that sentiment, pointing to institutional encouragement for faculty to participate in national leadership networks.
“Dr. Porche and the School of Nursing have supported leadership opportunities both locally and nationally,” she says. “I’ve served on national committees like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Organizational Leadership Network and the Doctoral Pre-Conference Steering Committee because of that support.”
Mentorship extends into research as well. Students regularly co-author and present scholarly work alongside faculty.
“Graduate student Katie Bass worked with me on my qualitative study and is a co-author on the article we submitted,” says Jolie Harris, DNS, RN, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing. “We co-presented at the Scholarly Roundtable: An Overview and Early Lessons Learned in a Qualitative Research Study on the Impact of Nurse Practitioners in Louisiana’s First Institutional Special Needs Plan in February 2024, providing the student and faculty perspectives in conducting a research study. She presented again as a student in June 2024, sharing A Qualitative Exploration of the Challenges and Benefits of Louisiana’s First Institutional Special Needs Plan.”
Student Engagement That Inspires
Few student stories better capture the spirit of opportunity than Stephen Douglass, a Traditional BSN Junior 2, leader of seven organizations and an active member of multiple committees at LSUHSC. From president of the Student Veterans of America and Men in Nursing Organization, to vice president of the Student Government Association, his leadership is backed by mentorship, travel funding and academic flexibility offered by the School of Nursing.
“The LSUHSC School of Nursing has empowered me with exceptional opportunities for leadership, professional development and personal growth, many of which are not available at other institutions,” Douglass says.
“I’ve built an expansive professional network and secured a nurse tech position in a trauma ICU, all while representing LSUHSC at national conventions and serving as a student panelist for the Louisiana Board of Regents.”
Empowering Faculty to Model Leadership
The School of Nursing invests equally in its faculty, ensuring students learn from mentors who embody leadership in action.
Beyond campus, faculty and students serve in leadership roles across organizations like the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National League for Nursing and more.
Faculty are not only encouraged to serve; they are celebrated for it.
Jennifer Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE, FCNS, Associate Dean for the Undergraduate Nursing Program; Program Director, Baccalaureate Articulation Program; Program Director, AGCNS Concentration; and Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing, describes her journey to becoming president of the National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists.
“The leaders from LSU taught me never to sell myself short and to embrace the possibilities in front of me,” Dr. Manning says.
“I have surpassed my expectations by following these simple guiding principles, and I will look back proudly on the work I have done mentoring future leaders.”
Shaping the Future of Nursing
From foundational coursework to national leadership roles, the School of Nursing equips students and faculty alike to lead with confidence, integrity and purpose. The result? A new generation of nurses who are not only clinically excellent but also courageous advocates, researchers and changemakers.
Here, leadership isn’t a destination; it’s a journey that begins the moment you walk through the door.
