Interview with Dr. Kelly Smith, Founding Chair and Dean for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Southern University New Orleans

Hustle Skirt

Dr. Kelly Smith is the Founding Chair and Dean for the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Southern University at New Orleans since its opening in 2022. In response to the ever-present nursing workforce shortage, Dr. Smith and her team are working to answer the call for solutions by offering another pathway to educate students as a solution to this problem in healthcare, while ensuring that there is a diverse workforce that reflects the racial/ethnic composition of the community and state to provide culturally competent care to minority populations. Dean Smith is committed to promoting upward mobility and professionalism for SUNO's School of Nursing students, by delivering a high-quality nursing education program through teaching, scholarship and service. She is a native of New Orleans and has over 29 years of professional nursing experience in various nursing roles in public and private sectors, with the last decade primarily in nursing education.