Featured Alumni

In 2015, I was serving in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a large, faith-based hospital in Florida. During that time, I met a newly graduated nurse who had just joined our unit. She stood out immediately. She was bright, compassionate, and radiating the love of Christ through her care and her character. When I asked where she had earned her BSN, she shared that she was a graduate of Liberty University. As someone who had never heard of LU before, I was intrigued.

Not long after, I met another PICU nurse from a neighboring hospital who was also a LU graduate and currently enrolled in their MSN program. She spoke so highly of the experience that I felt led to explore it myself. After investigating the website, I applied to the MSN Nurse Educator track, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I was deeply blessed by the program, especially by the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Whorley, whose guidance and encouragement continues to positively impact my life.

Following my graduation from the MSN program in 2019, Dr. Whorley reached out and suggested I consider LUSON’s new PhD program. With my husband’s support, I applied and began the journey in 2020. I graduated in May of 2024, with Dr. Whorley serving as my dissertation chair. The PhD experience was the most challenging academic endeavor of my life, but also the most rewarding. I am profoundly grateful for my time at LUSON and for the faculty who poured their wisdom, faith, and support into my life.

From a young age, I felt a calling to serve others. This desire was nurtured by watching my mother, a dedicated neonatal and pediatric flight nurse. Her example inspired me to pursue pediatric nursing. I’ve also always had a love for learning and teaching, which made the intersection of nursing and education a natural path for me. The opportunity to empower future nurses through teaching felt like a meaningful way to extend my ability and impact beyond the bedside.

As I progressed in my career, I discovered a growing passion for research. I believe that through research, we can elevate the nursing profession, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to the body of knowledge that shapes the future of nursing education and healthcare. When I learned about the PhD in Nursing Education program at LU, I felt an immediate sense of alignment. The program beautifully combined my three passions: nursing, education, and research, all within a Christ-centered academic environment.

LU’s commitment to integrating faith and scholarship deeply resonated with me. I wanted to be part of a community where academic excellence was pursued alongside spiritual growth, and where the love of Christ was reflected in both teaching and learning.

What made this journey even more meaningful was the personal connection I had to my dissertation topic. As a mother of three children who have each undergone life-saving surgery, I have experienced firsthand the value of skilled nursing care. These experiences shaped my perspective towards healthcare and fueled my desire to improve how future nurses are prepared to care for neonates, children, and their families. My dissertation was not just a means to graduate, but rather a reflection of my heart, my testimony, and my calling.

Having been so faithfully stewarded by LU throughout my academic journey, I now have the privilege of serving as a dissertation chair at LUSON. I recently had the honor of guiding my first PhD student through her proposal defense, which is a significant milestone in the doctoral journey. It was a full-circle moment for me, walking alongside her in the very path I once traveled. My prayer is that each student I mentor will not only grow in knowledge and skill, but also in purpose and faith.