Gibson selected to serve on Jonas Center’s Scholar Alumni Advisory Council

Nicole Gibson, a clinical assistant professor in South Dakota State University’s College of Nursing, is one of 10 individuals chosen to serve on the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare’s Scholar Alumni Advisory Council following a competitive application process. The 10 individuals will formally begin their terms on the advisory council in 2016 and serve a two-year term.

“As a member of the advisory council, I would like to further advance the professional development of Jonas Alumni Scholars through recognition of scholars who desire to serve frontier, rural and underserved populations in an advanced practice role through scholarship, leadership and policy development,” Gibson said. “Frontier, rural and underserved populations face a multitude of challenges when it comes to health care, and preparing and supporting nurses who seek advanced educational roles to address these challenges is a passion I pursue and would like to see advanced by the Jonas Center. This is an exciting opportunity and honor for me.”

Gibson, who earned three degrees—bachelor’s, 2000; master’s, 2005; and a doctorate of nursing practice, 2014, received her two-year Jonas Center scholarship in 2012. Julie Kittelsrud and Kelli Hinsch each received scholarships in 2014. SDSU was recently awarded $30,000 to fund scholarships for three doctoral nursing students.

The Jonas Scholar Alumni Advisory Council will provide strategic direction and make key decisions for the structure of the new Jonas Scholar Alumni group. The group’s mission will be focused on fostering a strong and long-term connection among the nationwide Jonas Scholar network, and maintaining a connection between Scholar alumni and the Jonas Center.

“We’re very pleased to announce the creation of the Jonas Scholar Alumni Advisory Council for 2016-18, charged with leading and organizing communication and events for the more than 600 Jonas Scholar Alumni across the country,” said Donald Jonas, who co-founded the center 10 years ago with Barbara Jonas, his wife. The Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare provides scholarships to support nurses pursuing Ph.D.s and DNPs, the terminal degree and professional practice doctorate in the field. “The council represents every region of the U.S., as well as Ph.D. and DNP graduates, Nurse Leader and Veterans Healthcare Programs.”

The individuals serving on the Jonas Scholar Alumni Advisory Council consist of six graduates from a doctor of philosophy program and four graduates from a doctor of nursing practice program; three are scholars from the Veterans Healthcare Program and seven are from the Nurse Leaders Program.

The group will be a resource for the more than 600 past Jonas Scholars to further their professional development, networking and leadership skills through various online programming, in-person regional meetings and discussion forums.