Tell us a little about how you grew up. I grew up in Leake County, Mississippi, just south of Carthage, Mississippi. My parents, who did not have a whole lot, taught my three sisters and me to always work hard and "try to have something in life." My very modest beginnings have helped to shape me as an adult. I consider myself a very hard worker who values education.
Why did you choose your career path? I have been a registered nurse for approximately 20 years. Growing up, I always wanted to be in a profession where I could help people. I was either going to be a registered nurse or an English teacher. I gave nursing school a try first. I was successful in nursing school, so that was the career path I took. Also, my grandmother always wanted me to be a medical doctor. I did not have the necessary resources to attend medical school, so I choose nursing as a career path. Most recently, I earned a Ph.D. in nursing, so I was able to give my grandmother a doctor, just a different kind of doctor.
What do you like about working in higher education? I am a huge advocate for education, especially higher education. I like to think of higher education as being the bridge between one's childhood and teenage years to adulthood. Higher education is essential to preparing one to become productive citizens of our society. I love teaching in higher education as I have the opportunity to prepare minds to contribute to society.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Because I am a healthcare professional and a healthcare administrator, the most rewarding aspect of my job is to have a part in educating the minds of future healthcare administrators and professionals. It warms my heart when my former students return to me seeking letters of reference for graduate school or for career opportunities. I also thoroughly enjoy seeing them prosper once they have graduated from JSU.
What do you like about JSU? Obviously, I am an African American who was born and continues to live in Mississippi. I like the fact that JSU is in place to educate the minds of young men and women just like myself. Many of these individuals come from the same type of background as myself and need nurturing and a family-oriented environment that is so often part of the culture of HBCUs such as Jackson State University.
What is your favorite motto or form of advice? My favorite motto is actually one that my mother always instilled in me and my siblings. She would always say: ‘You can do anything you put your mind to.’ This has stayed with me throughout my 43 years of life, and I firmly believe it and live by it. What she was telling us is that we are in control of our own destiny. We just have to have the mind to work toward and achieve it.
What are you most proud of accomplishing? On March 25, 2020, I successfully defended my dissertation, titled "Perceptions of Rural Community-Based Nurses and Perceived Family Stigma Related to HIV/AIDS: A Mixed-Methods Study at Hampton University." On this day, I became the first African American to successfully defend a dissertation in the Hampton University School of Nursing to earn a Ph.D. in nursing. Additionally, there is only one other HBCU in the country that offers this program, Southern University. They have not yet had a black male to successfully defend a dissertation in their Ph.D. nursing program. I was extremely proud of this moment, not only because of its historical significance, but I was also the first in my family to earn a doctorate degree. I'm proud just to know that I've made my family proud.
What is your favorite pastime? My favorite pastime involves watching documentaries based on events in history, especially related to the Civil Rights Movement. I also enjoy gardening. I have a vegetable garden behind my home that I spend many evenings and weekends tending.
What is your favorite food and why? My favorite food is any home-cooked meal prepared by my mother. In my mind, my mother is the absolute best cook. I grew up eating her food, and I still enjoy it as an adult.
What's the most recent movie you've watched and why? The most recent movie I watched was 'The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel.' I watched this movie because I am an avid listener of gospel music. The Clark Sisters are one of my favorite gospel groups.
If you did not need sleep, what would you do with the extra time? If I didn't have to sleep, I would use my extra time to write a book about my life, which I plan to do at some point. I want to write a book about my life to encourage, inspire and motivate others, especially African-American males, to strive for excellence. I just have not had the time. Now that I have completed my doctorate, I will certainly have the time to devote to doing so.
Is there anything else you want to include? I'm just honored to work for JSU and to contribute toward educating the minds of future leaders in various capacities and disciplines in our society.
