We have spent the last several weeks spotlighting the recipients of the Fall 2014 Faculty Research Grants. Get to know these distinguished faculty members below!

Name: Audrey Tolouian

University: University of Texas at El Paso

Title of Proposal: Factors Influencing Retention Rates for RN to BSN Students

Bio: Dr. Tolouian has been a nurse for 11 years. Prior to that, she was a social worker with a BSW from Trinity College. She obtained her ASN from Naugatuck Community College and she worked med-surge and cardiac drug research for several years. She then moved into Quality Management (JCAHO and Core Measures, and in-house quality issues- along with patient complaints). She then took a position as a travel nurse working with bariatric patients while completing my BSN and MSN. She has been working at the University of Texas at El Paso School of Nursing for seven years. Over the past several years, she has been teaching online classes and focusing on completing her dissertation. She has obtained an EdD from the University of Phoenix focusing on stigma issues related to chronic illness. Her research interests will focus on chronic illness.

Name: Bradley Davis & Ernest Johnson

University: University of Texas at Arlington

Title: Exploring the Career Paths of Leadership Preparation Program Graduates

Bios:

Dr. Bradley Davis is a mixed-methods researcher with an emphasis on critical, quantitative methodology. His research interests include social justice leadership, public school administration (particularly the principalship), leadership policy, and education law. His research seeks to bridge the work conducted by equity-minded, qualitative educational administration scholars with the analytic approaches finding increased influence in current educational policy development. Prior to joining The University of Texas at Arlington, Dr. Davis was a Texas public school educator, and most recently a researcher with the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Ernest Johnson

is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies department at The University of Texas at Arlington. He was a practicing public school teacher and administrator for 20 years and has been at UTA for 19 years. He is the Academic Program coordinator for the ELPS masters with principal certification program.

Name: Brinda McKinney

University: Arkansas State University at Jonesboro

Title: Academic Partnerships: RN-BSN Program at A-State Jonesboro

Bio: Brinda McKinney is a healthcare professional who has a passion for life and people. Brinda began her career in healthcare as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Seeing a need to use knowledge to make a greater difference, Brinda completed AAS and ASN degrees and entered the field of nursing education. While teaching in a Practical Nursing Program, Brinda attained a BSN degree from Arkansas State University and became the Nursing Program Chair for the local community college. After 13 years of academia, Brinda joined the administrative team of a not-for-profit 139-bed community hospital as a change agent. Over the next 4 years Brinda coached, mentored, and hardwired accountability into the hospital systems and watched as the hospital moved from being in the bottom 10% of the nation to the top quartile of the nation. After 10 years the hospital had retained its outstanding rankings. During this same time, Brinda’s hunger for excellence and desire to make a difference fueled her to complete a MSN degree from Walden University. Brinda’s service excellence skills, positive attitude and enthusiastic zest for life have earned her several opportunities to present at Service Excellence Conferences all over the United States and Canada. Brinda also attained Assisted Living Administrators License and was the first CEO and Director of Chateau on the Ridge, a premiere Assisted Living Community that allows seniors to age in place and in style. Most recently Brinda has joined the faculty at Arkansas State University as an Assistant professor or Nursing for the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Brinda is a board member and officer for the local homeless shelter and the Northeast Arkansas Federal Credit Union. She is an active member the Greene County Coalition and is the immediate past president of Greene County Business and Professional Women. Brinda volunteers for the Children’s Miracle Network, Civitan, St. Jude’s, American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association. In her spare time, Brinda is pursuing a PhD in Health Services from Walden University.