ATLANTA – The Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University has selected first-year Ph.D. student Amanda Reichert as its second Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar.
The Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program at the College of Nursing is made possible by a grant from the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence and Veterans Healthcare. The program represents the nation's largest effort to address the critical shortage of nursing faculty.
The grants, made through institutional awards, prepare today's most promising graduate students to become tomorrow's nursing faculty. The program has grown to include a total of 600 scholars representing all 50 states.
“We are very proud of Amanda Reichert, and she is most deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. Linda Streit, dean of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing. “The Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program will provide her with additional opportunities and resources to support and enrich her career as a nurse educator.”
While enrolled full-time in the Ph.D. in Nursing program at the College of Nursing, Reichert is also employed on the nursing faculty at Georgia Gwinnett College's School of Health Sciences. Reichert earned her associate's and bachelor's degrees from Georgia Southwestern College, before obtaining a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Mercer in 1997, and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from North Georgia College and State University in 2012.
“Being named a Jonas Scholar allows me the opportunity to represent the many nurse educators who give tirelessly to educating today's nurses,” said Reichert. “I hope this award will provide me with opportunities to be a spokesperson for all of us dedicated to transforming nursing education. This once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment would not be possible without the support of mentors, professors and colleagues who were willing to share their knowledge throughout my career.”
As a Jonas Scholar, she will receive $10,000 per year for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years. The Georgia Baptist College of Nursing contributes matching funds to reach an overall award of $20,000 per year. Additionally, Reichert will receive support to attend an upcoming joint conference of the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence and Veterans Healthcare and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in Washington, D.C.
In 2012, Natasha Laibhen-Parkes was the first student in the Ph.D. in Nursing program to be selected as a Jonas Scholar. She is on track to complete her doctoral degree in May 2014.
About the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program
Barbara and Donald Jonas, philanthropists and art collectors, made a dedicated decision to increase their giving during their lifetime. In May of 2005, the couple worked with the Jewish Communal Fund and Christie's to auction 15 of their abstract expressionist artworks. The auction generated $44 million, which led to the establishment of the Barbara and Donald Jonas Family Fund. In 2006, the couple established the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence, a first-of-its-kind philanthropic program dedicated to advancing the nursing profession.
About the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
Founded in 1902 as a school of nursing, the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing is the oldest nursing program in Georgia. Over its 111-year history, the College has graduated more than 7,350 nurses. Since its founding, the College remains dedicated to educating the person, fostering the passion and shaping the future of nursing. The College merged with Mercer University in 2001 and offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing, a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Ph.D. in nursing. The College of Nursing is one of four academic units within the Mercer University Health Sciences Center. nursing.mercer.edu
