Dear Liberty University School of Nursing (LUSON) family,
Reflecting on the past year, I am filled with immense gratitude for the unwavering dedication and compassion that define our School of Nursing. Our commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in our community has never been more evident.
Nursing is not just a profession; it is a calling to serve others with empathy, skill, and commitment. Our students, faculty, and alumni exemplify these values every day — providing comfort, care, and hope to those in need.
This year, we continue to build on our strong foundation of service. From wellness expos and mental health first aid training to Hands and Feet clinics and poverty simulations, we are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our community.
To support this mission, Dr. Dana Woody was named Director of Community Outreach to help guide our intentional engagement.
Jesus modeled this for us throughout His life. In Matthew 25:35-40 He said, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me food, I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me, I was naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you visited Me, I was in prison, and you came to Me. ... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.” This Scripture beautifully
encapsulates the essence of our mission and the profound impact of our service.
In alignment with Liberty University’s mission, we seek to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills needed to impact the world through nursing. Let us serve with excellence, integrity, and Christlike love in all we do.
I encourage each of you to embrace the opportunities to serve and to lead with compassion, remembering that every act of kindness, no matter how small, contributes to a healthier, more connected community. Together, we can make a difference and inspire others to join us in our mission.
Thank you for your hard work and commitment to excellence. Your empathy, skill, and dedication to serving others are a testament to the values Christ showed us and that LUSON holds dear. As always, you are forever a part of the LUSON family. We appreciate you and continue to pray for you.
With appreciation,
Dr. Tracey Turner
EdD, MSN, RNC-OB Dean, Liberty University
Training Champions for Christ through Compassionate Care
LUNSA: A Year for the Record Books
DR. DANA WOODY
The LU Nursing Student Association (LUNSA) has over 200 active members, making it one of the largest associations of its kind in the nation. Our commitment as a student association is to leadership, scholarship, and philanthropy, and to support a professional voice, growth in knowledge, and acts of service — all for the glory of God!
The 2024-25 academic year was one for the record books. During the fall, we welcomed over 100 new freshmen to campus during our Welcome Week Nursing Bootcamp. This event showcases our program and brings students together early in their education.
In September, we welcomed the University of Tennessee Medical Center as our career sponsor at our membership meeting and took part in the annual LU Homecoming Parade. Our hearts were moved to action in response to Hurricane Helene during this time as well. We collected items for victims with our new “LUSON Loves” initiative.
October was full of all things fall. Mrs. Lindsey Frett took home the coveted Chili Cookoff trophy for the third year in a row. We enjoyed a “Thriftastic Thursday” and prayer walk on Liberty Mountain.
We hosted our first Veteran’s Day event in November, honoring LUSON’s servicemen and women — retired professor, Cindy Drohn, was the keynote speaker. Other events included our first LUSON Prayer Wall and a cancer awareness event, supporting our students and their families as they face the trying season of a cancer diagnosis.
The fall semester ended with our LUNSA Winter Gala, full of great fellowship, food, and fun. We honored LUNSA VIPs — Very Inspiring People — Taylor Barth, Dr. Cindy Goodrich, Mariana Bendinelli, Kate Duke, and Emma Rodemeyer as well as celebrated our graduating seniors.
In February 2025, LUSON hosted the 73rd annual Virginia Nursing Student Association conference and we represented our school well. We finished spring with our largest active membership, participated in Research Week, and published a national resolution. It was certainly a year for the record books. Here’s to another year of growth, excellence, and service — all for Him!
Finding Refuge
DR. DANIELLE MOORE
A picture in my office depicts the Blue Ridge Mountains of my hometown in western North Carolina, paired with Psalm 121. On September 27, Hurricane Helene changed this region forever. Remarkably, just one week before, Samaritan’s Purse was on our campus demonstrating its emergency response capabilities.
Amid this, our LUSON Bible study explored the concept of “refuge.” Psalm 121:1–2 reads, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord.” This became more than a verse — it became a lived reality. Our true refuge isn’t in a place but in Christ Himself. No matter the storm, He remains our shelter.
Alumni Spotlight:
MINISTRY ON THE MERCY SHIPS — ELLEE ROLLINS (BSN, 2015)
written by Dr. Mary Lynn Clarke
Ellee Rollins joined Mercy Ships in 2018 after hearing from a co-worker about its mission — a floating hospital offering free surgeries in underserved regions. Mercy Ships’ mission statement is: “We follow the 2,000-yearold model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor” (MercyShips.org). Ellee signed up thinking that Mercy Ships would be a perfect combination of her upbringing as a missionary kid and her love for nursing as a profession.
Ellee has served in Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Madagascar in various nursing roles — helping patients after hernia repairs, lipoma removals, head and neck surgeries, and with orthopedic surgeries. During each of the trips to the ship, she has experienced God’s hand moving in a powerful way. She was guided by 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.” Her ministry includes prayer and presence, often helping patients heal from both physical ailments and emotional scars of shame.
We are so proud of Ellee. Join us in praying for her continued service and impact as she returns to Africa in 2025.
Reaching Across Continents:
GLOBAL COLLABORATION WITH
MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH COLLEGE OF NURSING
In February 2021, Liberty University’s School of Nursing (LUSON) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) College of Nursing in Kerala, India. Legal advising from Liberty University and the involvement of several layers of leadership personnel were instrumental in finalizing the MOU. Several educational and research collaboration initiatives were planned between the institutions. Despite COVID-related challenges, virtual educational exchanges flourished.
One of these initiatives was a forgiveness symposium hosted by LUSON in 2021. Dr. Robert Enright, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was the main speaker, and he was joined by Dr. Jichan Kim from our Psychology Department. The results of the LUSON forgiveness study were presented at the symposium, and about 300 faculty and students from the partner organization joined as academic collaborators.
In 2024, an educational webinar titled Bridging Cultures in Healthcare: International Insights on Transcultural Nursing was hosted by MOSC College of Nursing over 2 days, where 4 LUSON faculty members — Professor Lisa Gazan, Dr. Angie Holloman, Dr. Deidra Simpson, and Dr. Rachel Joseph — spoke on different topics, along with speakers from the U.K., the Middle East, and Ireland. Ms. Gazan spoke about ethical dilemmas and her experience of living in Kenya and South America. Dr. Holloman discussed cultural considerations in nursing care and shared her life experience in Jordan. Dr. Simpson shared her experience as a missionary in China and how culture affects patient care. Dr. Joseph, having been born and raised in India and having spent several years in Middle Eastern countries in several roles, talked about her experiences and how each culture perceives other cultures.
DR. RACHEL JOSEPH
Mosaic Nursing Club: EMBRACING DIVERSITY IN NURSING
FACULTY ADVISORS:
felt need for emotional connection further motivated the start of this club.
We need nursing graduates from all walks of life to impact the ever-increasingly diverse and complex patient population, but many of our diverse students have barriers that traditional students do not. The Mosaic Club was formed to provide mentorship and community for non-traditional nursing students — first-generation students, commuters, married students, international students, missionary kids, and ethnic minorities. This club creates a space for the gift of presence, support, and connection to remove some of these barriers.
Virginia Henderson Symposium: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF NURSING RESEARCH
On Nov. 15, 2024, Centra Health celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Virginia Henderson Research Symposium, honoring the legacy of nursing scholar Virginia Henderson, who has strong ties to the Lynchburg area. A few of Miss Henderson’s many contributions include developing a definition and theory of nursing. She was a prolific writer with many books and publications to her credit.
Virginia Henderson is buried in the St. Stephen’s church cemetery in Forest, Va. The research program at Centra was named in her honor, as Miss Henderson’s family has financially supported nursing research at Centra over the years.
Just as mosaic art is composed of unique pieces, nursing thrives on diversity. Every student is a vital part of the whole. The loss of even one tile would diminish the beauty of the whole. Each person is unique and special, created by God, and has a special place in the overall design.
The Journal of Christian Nursing — in their July/Sept. 2024 issue — published a study on the perspectives of minority nursing students attending a Christian nursing school and what they perceived as supports and barriers. Their findings of felt isolation and the
Monthly meetings follow a “lunch n’ learn” format, encouraging fellowship and growth. God is at work raising up a new generation of nurses for His glory to shine as stars serving in excellence, holding out the Word of Life in the humility of Christ (Philippians 2)! Together, we’re preparing nurses to reflect Christ and serve a diverse world.
Citation: Kunnen, K. E. E., Miller, K., & Oh, Y. (2024).
Minority student perspectives of barriers, supports, and Christian virtues in an undergraduate Christian nursing program. Journal of Christian Nursing, 41(3), 152–159. https://doi.org/10.1097/cnj.0000000000001089
Over twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to start the nursing research council at Centra in collaboration with two other colleagues. The research symposium was started a few years later. As a part of the 20year anniversary celebration, these colleagues, who had worked for many years developing the research program, were asked to participate in a panel where the history of the research program was shared. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk about the challenges and opportunities that are entailed in program development and profile how past history has supported the robust research program that exists today at Centra. I have the privilege of serving as the LUSON representative on the Centra Research Council.
LISA GAZAN DR. MARY DOWELL
DR. CINDY GOODRICH
New Faculty and Staff
We are blessed to welcome the following individuals to our School of Nursing family:
Ben Bingham – Director of Online
Admissions
Please help us welcome them and pray for their success as they contribute to the mission of LUSON.
Kathie Colling – BSN Simulation Cen ter Coordinator
Susan Rauscher – Administrative Assistant
Kristen Dixon – Assistant Professor of Nursing
Lorraine Hoy – Practicum and Clinical Coordinator II
