Commissioner – Dr. Lenetra Jefferson

Dr. Lenetra JeffersonLenetra L. Jefferson, PhD, RN, CNE, LMT

Dr. Lenetra Jefferson began teaching as a means to reach populations beyond her daily in-hospital patient interactions; believing if she could affect future nurses, she could then affect the profession and populations. During her teaching tenure she served as both Educational Coordinator of the Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nursing and Licensed Practical Nursing to Registered Nursing Programs at Delgado Community College and as Interim Chair of the School of Nursing at Dillard University, and in a Contributing Faculty position at Walden University. She currently is serving as a PRN ICU Registered Nurse at Troy Regional Medical Center, as an Assistant Professor at Troy University and has served within clinical positions at Charity Hospital (New Orleans), Tulane University Medical School, Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority, and as a travel nurse at the University of California Medical Center (San Francisco).

Her participation in past research endeavors includes participation as a Scholar-In-Residence at New York University (Faculty Resource Network), work as a clinical research nurse with HIV positive pregnant women and children at Tulane University Medical School, completing her dissertation in the area of hypertension management with a focus on connecting breathing and massage in African American women with stress, blood pressure and anxiety management, and publication of her research in peer-reviewed environments. Her research interests include alternative adjunctive treatment of hypertension in minority women, stress and its impact on chronic illnesses, and evaluation of student success strategies. Her clinical background is in Adult Health Nursing.

Dr. Jefferson is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and formerly served as President of the Louisiana League for Nursing. She has been honored by Great 100 Nurses of New Orleans, Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, by Delgado Community College with the Distinguished Dolphin Award, Delgado Excellence in Teaching Nomination, and the National Institute of Staff and Organization Development. She earned her Bachelor’s and Masters of Science in nursing from the University of South Alabama, her PhD in Nursing from Southern University and A&M College, a Certificate in Higher Education, Teaching and Learning from Laureate International Universities and her Certificate of Technical Studies in Massage Therapy from Delgado Community College.

She is humbled by this opportunity to continue to be of service to the nursing profession through ACEN. As a Program Evaluator she has served as Team Member, Team Chair, and as an Evaluation Review Panelist.