NLN Foundation for Nursing Education and Johnson & Johnson's "Campaign for Nursing's Future" Faculty Leadership & Mentoring Program Announce 2009-2010 Participants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — October 28, 2009 — The National League for Nursing Foundation for Nursing Education has announced the selection of 10 nurse faculty to participate in the 2009 - 2010 NLN/Johnson & Johnson Faculty Leadership and Mentoring Program. The program, which began in 2007, aims to help transform the future of nursing education by creating leadership opportunities for nurse educators and building diversity in the nurse educator workforce.

Each year, through a highly selective national application process, five early to mid-career nurse educators are chosen as protégés and matched, according to their interests and experience, with a mentor selected from fellows — recognized leaders in nursing education — in the NLNs prestigious Academy of Nursing Education.

Between October 2009 and September 2010, protégés will work with their mentors on individual leadership development, as well as work collaboratively as a group on a project to be presented at the 2010 NLN Education Summit in Las Vegas.

"The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education is thrilled to embark on this successful initiative for a third year," said foundation chair Fran Hicks, PhD, RN, FAAN. "We value our innovative partnership with Johnson & Johnson and the Campaign for Nursings Future. Together we have created a model program that will have an impact on nursing education and ultimately health care for many years to come."

"I extend my congratulations to all of this years winners in the contest for these coveted spots," said Dr. Beverly Malone, CEO of the NLN and NLN Foundation for Nursing Education. "I believe that everyone who has participated in this valuable leadership and mentoring program would agree that the experience is as valuable for the mentor as it is for the protégé. Ultimately, it is our students who perhaps benefit most of all from having faculty who care enough to spend time on their own professional development."

The five 2009-10 protégés are: Sandra Blackstock, PhD, RN, of Greensboro, NC; Linda S. Comer, PhD, RN, LPC, of Candler, NC; Bobbi M. Martin, MSN, RN, CNE, of St. Petersburg, FL; Jacqueline McMillian-Bohler, MSN, CNM, of Louisville, KY; and Nicole B. Zeller, MSN, RN, of Mattoon, IL.

NLN Academy of Nursing Education fellows named to provide leadership and expertise as mentors are: Mary Lou Bond, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, ANEF, of Arlington, TX; Carol Boswell, EdD, RN, CNE, ANEF, of Odessa, TX; Sharon Iris Decker, PhD, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC, ANEF, of Lubbock, TX; Teresa Shellenbarger, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, of Indiana, PA.; and Theresa M. Valiga, EdD, RN, FAAN, of Durham, NC.

 

For more information about the program, please contact NLN Foundation director Andrew Leary at 212-812-0406, aleary@nln.org.

Reporters/Editors: To arrange interviews with awardees, please contact Karen R. Klestzick, chief communications officer, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 30,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.

The mission of the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education is to raise, steward, and distribute funds that promote excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce.

The Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursings Future is a public-awareness campaign designed to enhance the image of the nursing profession, recruit new nurses and nurse faculty, and help retain nurses currently in the profession. Working in cooperation with various professional nursing organizations, schools, hospitals, and other health care groups and providers, the campaign focuses on promoting opportunities within nursing as well as increasing awareness of the value of the nursing profession to our overall society and health care community.