Antonea’ Jackson, PhD, RN, CNE ’04, ’09
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (May 26, 2023) – Antonea’ Jackson ’04 ‘09, clinical assistant professor and undergraduate program director at Prairie View A&M University’s College of Nursing, has been selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute. The NLN is the nation’s premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education.
According to the NLN, the LEAD program is designed for “nurses in education and practice who have recently been challenged with a rapid transition into leadership positions, those in leadership positions who desire a formal leadership program, and those emerging and aspiring to lead.” Jackson, a two-time PVAMU graduate (BSN ’04, MSN ’09), is the sole participant from an HBCU in this year’s cohort.
Jackson has taught in the College of Nursing since 2009. She became director of the undergraduate nursing program in 2022. Her passion for nursing started early—she announced her intention to become a nurse in kindergarten. Her commitment was solidified as a student at Houston’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions and through her health courses and rotations in the Texas Medical Center.
The care her father received in the ICU following a surgery put Jackson on the path to becoming a critical care nurse at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
The seeds of Jackson’s career in education were planted when she was a nursing student. “In my very first semester of nursing school, all of my teachers were so impressive,” Dr. Jackson said. “And they really took a personal interest in us. I thought teaching people how to be a nurse would be something I’d like to do one day.”
In her clinical work, Jackson enjoyed training and working with new nursing school graduates; after earning her M.S. in Nurse Education, she made the move to teaching.
PVAMU was the place. “Working here at PVAMU is my dream job,” Jackson said. “I’ve been so fortunate. I loved working with patients, and I love teaching students. Seeing them go out and be great nurses is so rewarding.”
The teacher hasn’t stopped being a student, though; Jackson earned her Ph.D. in nursing in 2020, and when she took on leadership of the undergraduate program last year, she wanted to develop her skills further. Hearing about the NLN Leadership Institute from her Dean and past participants inspired her to apply for the program.
Participants spend their year engaged in identifying personal and professional goals; learning about effective leadership; and strategizing on how to use their skill sets and experiences to achieve individual and institutional benchmarks. They also develop and begin implementing a leadership initiative at their respective institutions.
“It’s really been amazing,” Jackson said. “Getting to meet and connect with nurse educators from all over the country and to have a sounding board of colleagues is fantastic. And we have mentors and coaching to help us be thoughtful leaders in our institutions and to also be thoughtful about our own career paths.”
Jackson’s initiative is focused on increasing faculty development opportunities. “The opportunities that I had in faculty development were pivotal in my success,” she said. “I want that for all of our faculty because when you have faculty who are immersed in their areas of interest and in the best ways to develop students, that is ultimately best for our students.
“And seeing our students come out of Prairie View as quality, prepared nurses, the ones who I would want to care for my loved ones—to me, that’s the magic of Prairie View. That’s why people choose to go here. That’s why people choose to work here.”
“My story is not just mine. So many people here have poured themselves into my success, our team’s and College’s success, and our students.”
By Kelly Rusk
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