The list of accolades for the nursing department at Sampson Community College is not a well-kept secret. From its high-ranking position among best nursing schools in the state to graduating its largest class ever just last month, nursing has been one of the jewels of SCC for a long time.
This success is well represented by the number of upwardly mobile members of its department recently. This week, yet another longtime member of that staff was promoted at the college. Dr. Lisa Smith, who has served as nursing faculty in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program for almost two decades, has earned the title of department chair of nursing at the college.
This comes weeks after two other members of that department received promotions.
On March 1, Wanda Capps, who had served as division chair for health programs, was promoted to the position of vice president of academic affairs. Capps brought three decades of experience from Sampson Community College to her new role. Dr. Veronica Stevens, who had served as a nursing instructor at SCC for more than two decades, earned the role of division chair for health programs.
“For much of my life, I’ve been passionate about serving others and advocating for those in need,” says Smith, whose previous role also included being Course Coordinator for first-year ADN students over the past decade. “I recognize that nursing students are our future and as a nurse educator, I feel empowered to leave my footprint in this profession by leading and directing students that are dedicated to a lifetime of serving and caring for others.”
A Sampson County native, Smith graduated with an associate degree in nursing from SCC. She then graduated from Barton College with a bachelor of science degree in nursing with Cum Laude honors. She then earned a master of science in nursing degree with a concentration in nursing education from East Carolina University. In May 2016, she completed her terminal degree, doctor of nursing practice with a concentration in education leadership, from Gardner-Webb University. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society.
