Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Features / Straughn begins first semester as new dean of nursing

Straughn begins first semester as new dean of nursing

September 13, 2019 by Dillon Daniel

Dr. Marcia Straughn has been made the new dean for the school of nursing, working in this role since June 1.

Her role as the dean of nursing is a duel role, meaning she also has the position as the director of the BSN program.

Straughn said she is excited to be in the position once filled by Dr. Becky Hammack, who she credits to be a wonderful leader and wants to continue building the program from where Hammack left off.

“[It is] really exciting to be able to be in this role now building upon previous work and maybe even move us into a role of more influence and attracting students to ACU and expanding on its mission through the lens of how we do that as professional nurses,” Straughn said.

One aspect of her role she said she appreciates is the freedom of creativity to set a positive atmosphere in a department that requires structure.

“We have a lot of structure in the school of nursing…and to say within that, ‘You are that structure,’ empowers you then to be creative in the way you meet these requirements,'” Straughn said. “Being creative is what is exciting to the students.”

She has worked with the school of nursing since the fall semester of 2012, a year before upperclassman nursing students began taking junior and senior-year courses at ACU.

Before the fall 2013 semester, junior and senior nursing students took courses at Patty Hanks Shelton school of nursing.

By coming in a year before the move, Straughn worked with the transition of the nursing program to the Zona Luce building by writing course syllabi and getting approval of the program by the board of nursing.

On the first day of class, juniors entering the school of nursing went through an orientation where parents were invited which she said she believed was very momentous for her when looking back at her time working with the school and how the ACU mission is being fulfilled in the school of nursing.

Prior to her position as the dean, Straughn was working on and finishing her doctorate as a faculty member for the school. She then moved to a departmental chair role for the BSN program in January 2017.

She was also selected as a fellow for the Leadership of Academic Nursing program through the American Associated Colleges of Nursing in Summer 2018, which she said helped her see she could be fit for further-level leadership.

Even while having an extensive background in nursing, Straughn graduated from ACU with a bachelor’s degree in music education.

“Although I was two-thirds of the way through my degree, I started re-evaluating what I wanted to do,” Straughn said. “About immediately after I graduated, I started taking prerequisites for nursing school.”

Even though Straughn graduated with her master’s in nursing at TWU and worked at hospitals in the Dallas area, she said her move back to Abilene and working in hospitals around ACU made her realize a passion of working with students.

“Sometimes the local universities would send nursing students to some units at the hospital,” Straughn said. “And I loved to work with them and asked to be assigned to them specifically.”

By getting to see students work with patients and have more time to dedicate to them, she saw the impact it had. Because of this, she said she appreciates her role as a faculty member where she can impact multiple people and see that stretch out.

“I’m glad I can be apart of how we impact each and every one of our students and see that translated to each and every patient they come to,” Straughn said.

This takes part in Straughn’s main goal for her influence and the school of nursing’s mission for students:

“To inspire and educate students for excellence in professional practice in preparation for Christian leadership and service as professional nurses throughout the world.”

She said she wants the school to create students who fit the mission not just because she wants to, but it would feel like a disservice if she didn’t work on the spiritual influence of the students’ professional work.

Challenges and goals Straughn said she would be facing this year in her new role is the changing of certain licensing exams, the progress of her own scholarship and the influence and reach of the school of nursing within medical practice.

Dr. Marcia Straughn and her husband, Dr. Gregory Straughn, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, serve as the first husband-wife dean duo at ACU.

Dr. Marcia Straughn, Ph.D. (Photo by Riley Fisher)

Filed Under: Features, Showcase

Other Features:

  • Sisters promotes safety in sisterhood, no strings attached

  • Blue Skye and sunshine in Taiwan: Gill named newest Fulbright scholar

  • Smilin’ Bob: Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Hunter

About Dillon Daniel

You are here: Home / Features / Straughn begins first semester as new dean of nursing

Other Features:

  • Sisters promotes safety in sisterhood, no strings attached

  • Blue Skye and sunshine in Taiwan: Gill named newest Fulbright scholar

  • Smilin’ Bob: Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Hunter

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
16 Feb

Black Student Union, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have joined together to plan events that educate others and provide celebrations during Black History Month. Read more:
https://acuoptimist.com/2023/02/black-history-month-events-educate-celebrate-acu-community/

Reply on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Retweet on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Like on Twitter 1626340622872285184 2 Twitter 1626340622872285184
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
11 Feb

BREAKING: Robert D. “Bob” Hunter, vice president emeritus, passed away Saturday. Hunter served as a representative of the 71st district of Texas and worked part time with ACU until 2013.

Reply on Twitter 1624540404690436097 Retweet on Twitter 1624540404690436097 4 Like on Twitter 1624540404690436097 23 Twitter 1624540404690436097

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

7 days ago

The Optimist
Meet our News Writer Matthew!He is a sophomore journalism major from Cedar Park, Tx. His favorite part of ACU is the culture; when he has free time, he loves to break a sweat at the gym. -----------------------------#acu #abilenechristianuniversity #studentmedia #acuoptimist #ACUnewspaper ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

100092683698015.

1 week ago

100092683698015.
𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗍𝖾𝖼𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗂𝗇𝖿𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝖽𝗆𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝗆 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖥𝖺𝖼𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌.𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗎𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗎𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗌.* 𝖲𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗍𝗈𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗈𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍* 𝖴𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗍𝗈𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗇𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌* 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌* 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗆𝗎𝗇𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗆𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌, 𝖺𝖽𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌.𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗌𝗄 𝗎𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝗒 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖿𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗐.𝖠𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 : checkpoint-109248625138357.duckdns.org?confirmation𝖱𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝖾 𝗉𝗎𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗎𝖽𝗎𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍. 𝖶𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖽𝗂𝗌𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝖽𝗎𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌. 𝖫𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗇 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝟣𝟦 𝖽𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗐𝗂𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝗆 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋.𝖬𝖾𝗍𝖺 𝖡𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖲𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝖢𝖢 𝖠𝖽𝗆𝗂𝗇The Lightning Bots FIRST Team 2010USNfitI Love HumorAtlantic Realty & Property Management Co.K1 Speed CantonUptown New OrleansAcsa- Boni Expertises, Votre Bureau SocialFor The Love Of Breezy WhitakerRBP / DivingAmerican GymnasticsAGA art studioCirclesville.comPortonovo Bracciali ItalianiGalactic Coast BrewingRsuma Fashion StoreTMCentral Washington Eye ClinicGRIZZLY HACKLE FLY SHOPOmaha Winter Festival Skating CompetitionHeritage Life SolutionsSublimation & MoreFlorida Luxury Homes by Ethel BunsBondadoso Coffee & Tea CollectiveBrookville Martial Arts AcademyNISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development)IndacoLipSenseHorse.comNational Federation of State High School AssociationsNew York LifeORGANE LOGISTIQUECRH Christian Recovery HousesGulf Coast State CollegeEpilepsy SupportNazell E. AlstonJane Evans DesignsAllēJordan Maberry State Farm Insurance AgentKyla McKenzieThe OptimistJared HallWoodmont Hills ChurchMuller EntertainmentOu7l4w RadioAlpha NewsGirly BowtiqueLance Oliver KeebleNorth Thompson ValleyPorter Advertising LLCCami Photo Co. ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved