Accolades
James A Cleveland, M.S.N. RN., was named director of the Center for Simulation Innovation (CSI) in the School of Nursing. He will oversee the design and implementation of high-fidelity, mid-fidelity and low-fidelity training of students in the CSI as well as interprofessional training and skills training for outside agencies. Cleveland will also lead the CSI staff and adjunct professors and will continue in his role as an assistant professor teaching undergraduate courses in acute care and leadership and management. Cleveland will complete his Ph.D. in Adult Professional Community Education at Texas State University next year.
Lark A. For d, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.N., RN, was among 17 outstanding women inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. Established in 1984, the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame inducts each year selected women in recognition of their service and contributions to their communities. Dr. Ford was honored in the Health Professions category for her exceptional mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students, nursing faculty and community partners. Throughout her career and service in the Army, Dr. Ford has earned numerous additional honors, including the prestigious Order of Military Medical Merit Medal and the San Antonio Express-News’ “Salute to Nurses.”
Sara Gill , Ph.D., RN, IBCLC, FAAN, was appointed as the new assistant dean for graduate programs in the Office of Academic Affairs. In her new role she will work with a team to develop, implement and evaluate the School of Nursing’s graduate-level academic programs. Dr. Gill has been a faculty member since 1998 and continues to work with nursing, medical and health professions students. She is also an award-winning and internationally published researcher who focuses her studies on improving the health of mothers and infants.
Janie Canty-Mitchell , Ph.D., RN, FAAN, received the Texas Diversity Council’s 2015 DiversityFIRST Award. The Texas Diversity Council, part of the National Diversity Council, promotes diversity and leadership and honored Dr. Canty-Mitchell for her success and efforts to help others follow in her footsteps toward professional and personal achievement. This year, Dr. Canty Mitchell was named chair of the board of the National Healthcare Diversity Council, which also is an arm of the National Diversity Council. As a member of the council since 2013, Dr. Canty Mitchell’s leadership has contributed to the council’s expansion to eight states within the United States.
Cynthia O’Neal , Ph.D., RN, has joined the School of Nursing as assistant dean for undergraduate studies in the Office of Academic Affairs. She will be responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of undergraduate programs and program evaluation plans, and integration of professional organization standards to ensure program quality, including credentialing requirements. Dr. O’Neal previously was an associate professor and department chair of undergraduate programs in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. She brings more than 25 years of professional nursing experience and more than 23 years of teaching experience. She was educated at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Vanderbilt University.
Mark Soucy, Ph.D., RN, APRN, FAANP, was inducted as a 2015 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) at the organization’s national conference in New Orleans. The AANP impacts national and global health by engaging nurse leaders who make outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research, education or policy. The creation and development of leadership and mentorship programs to advance nurses and students is an AANP priority. Dr. Soucy is an award-winning educator who has authored or co-authored more than 18 peer-reviewed scholarly models of clinical practice and interprofessional and nurse practitioner educational strategies presented nationally and internationally.
