The National League for Nursing (NLN) has announced that Fairfield University associate professor of nursing Jessica Planas, PhD, RN, MPH, CHES has been selected, through competitive application, for its year-long professional development program, the NLN Leadership Institute.
Associate Professor of Nursing Jessica Planas, PhD, RN, MPH, CHES has been selected to participate in the NLN Leadership Institute’s year-long LEAD program track. Now in its eighth year, the LEAD program is designed for nurses in education and practice who have rapidly ascended into leadership positions or hope to advance into leadership administrative positions.
“I am so proud of Dr. Planas as she continues her brilliant career at Fairfield. As a new associate professor, she’s mobilized her nursing and public health education to launch our new Public Health program and serve as its first director,” said Dean Meredith Kazer, PhD, APRN, FAAN. “Admission to the competitive NLN LEAD program provides the perfect recognition and education to advance her leadership skills and ensure the success of our Egan School health studies programs.”
The 2019 NLN Leadership Institute cohort consists of 46 nurses from colleges, universities, and health care institutions around the world. During the yearlong program, participants will examine organizational and leadership processes, identify personal and professional goals, and strategize how to use skill sets and experiences to achieve individual benchmarks. Each participant receives intensive one-on-one executive coaching and will attend conferences and webinars throughout the year.
“I am very excited to be part of the 2019 cohort, said Dr. Planas. "I saw the LEAD program as an opportunity for both personal and professional development in relation to my leadership growth. Not only am I hoping to strengthen my leadership abilities, but also better understand organizational processes that contribute to the development of productive work environments.”
Dr. Planas is a community and public health nurse who has worked in various low-resourced communities both locally and abroad for the last twenty years. Her primary area of interest involves working with vulnerable and marginalized populations, with a focus on chronic disease management, health literacy, and health education. She is a member of the AACN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Group, which is a panel of experts that provides guidance for academic nursing.
