School of Nursing Launches Initiatives for Community Education, Student Success

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 7, 2026) – Entering the new year with strong momentum, the School of Nursing (SON) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is building on a series of transformative initiatives launched over the past year to enhance clinical training, community engagement and nursing innovation.

“The School of Nursing is emerging as a key player in community engagement and health education. I’m excited about the initiatives supported by the school’s leadership and faculty that are advancing the wellbeing of the communities that we serve, and generating interest in healthcare careers for our youth,” said Elimelda Moige Ongeri, Ph.D., dean of the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences.

Led by Tiffany Morris, DNP, M.S. Ed., MSN, RN, CNE, director of nursing and Clara Adams Endowed Professor, the school – which is housed in the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston School of Health and Human Sciences – continues to expand opportunities for students while advancing research and workforce development in nursing.

“The main thing for me is that all of the nursing students who walk through this building will know why they chose North Carolina A&T, why they chose nursing, and how they can make an impact on the greater community,” said Morris. “It is about service. It’s about the development of the next generation of nurses. It is about being that catalyst for change for underrepresented communities.”

For community education, service and student success, the SON:

• Piloted the “Wellness Wednesdays,” a free community health initiative serving residents in Guilford and Rockingham counties in North Carolina, in partnership with the YMCA of Guilford and Rockingham counties. The school sent teams of eight nursing students to into the communities to offer a range of healthcare services including free health screenings for blood pressure and glucose, wellness education for all ages, and interactive learning stations focused on topics such as nutrition, physical activity and dental hygiene.
• Acquired two new 37-foot mobile care units as part of the school’s Clinical Advancement & Resources for Expanding Nursing Education & Simulation, or NCAT C.A.R.E.S. program, which is designed to expand clinical experiences for nursing students. One unit, equipped with two private examination rooms, serves to expand the school’s capacity for clinical education, training and experiential learning for nursing students and practicing nurses through technology and simulation, while the other mobile unit further broadens students’ hands-on clinical opportunities by providing health education and services directly to members of the community.
• Hosted a community health fair in collaboration with the university’s Center of Excellence for Integrative Health Disparities and Equity Research with the theme “Generational Health is Generational Wealth.” This networking and partnership-building fair provided community members with health education and wellness resources, and screenings.

Last year, the accelerated BSN cohort also achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN examination.

To engage future generations, the SON:

• Hosted a one-week inaugural medical career camp designed to teach 35 community youth about medical career pathways and give them hands-on medical training and experience. Through the SON Affinity Group’s partnership with Cone Health, campers learned through simulation opportunities at Hines Hall and the Carelink ambulance. Participants received their own stethoscopes and earned CPR certification. They worked in teams to create a circulatory system model.
• Carried out a pediatric-focused healthcare initiative with Solomon’s World, an afterschool and summer enrichment programs dedicated to nurturing and developing the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and social needs of the children in the greater Greensboro area. Led by Vilma Ferrel, DNP, SON assistant professor, nursing students provided specialized health education for children. This initiative expanded the school’s pediatric outreach and education.

As an example of the SON’s commitment to innovation and research for their students and faculty, seven students participated in the eight-week University of California, Irvine Summer Research Intensive, gaining full immersion in hands-on scholarly research.

Throughout the program, these students engaged in data collection, literature synthesis and secondary data analysis under the mentorship of UC Irvine and A&T faculty. The experience culminated in a research presentation day, where each student showcased their project.

One participant, Janae Frank, earned additional distinction: her project, “Biofeedback Practice and Anxiety Outcomes in Trauma-Impacted Adolescents: A Secondary Analysis of the GRIT Intervention,” was accepted for a poster presentation at the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses 2026 International Conference. Frank was mentored by SON faculty members Dana Carthron, Ph.D., and Yvonne Ford, Ph.D.