Leslie Jackson began her career at Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) in 2012.

The associate professor of nursing always considered going back to school to get her doctorate degree, but the opportunity never felt right.

All of that changed when Melissa Arthur, dean of Nursing, Health, & Science at SVCC, surprised her colleagues with a plan to enroll in Northern Kentucky University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

"I was sitting in my office one day, and I got a call from [Melissa]," she says. "She said, 'Hey, we’re all going back for our doctorate. Are you in?'"

During her one-hour drive on the way home, she easily made her decision.

Jackson, who is a first-generation college student, found encouragement from her husband, Bobby, and her son, Carter.

"None of my family went to college," she says. "Being a first-generation college student, it feels like the cards are stacked against you when you don’t have family that went through a similar process. It was very new. But for me, it really proves that I can do anything I set my mind to."

Jackson was also able to find guidance and support from two NKU faculty members: Dr. Jennifer DellAntonio and Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee.

"All of the faculty stand out," she says. "Dr. DellAntonio is phenomenal. There was never a wait to get an answer. She was spot on and was quick to respond to make sure we had what we needed. And Dr. Benton-Lee was instrumental with our faculty at Southside."

Jackson credits her success in the program to the closeness of the core six that entered the program at the same time.

"It truly brought us closer," she says. "I feel like we’re closer now than when we were in the program. It’s nice to have done it with such a great group. We all have the same goals. We all want to make sure we do our best to be the best for our students. If I had to do it all over again, I absolutely would."

The DNP program not only provided Jackson with insights that could help her teach nursing students at SVCC but also reinforced the idea that the classroom is where she’s meant to be.

"It really helped me to educate my students even more and gave more insight into the level of expectation as you level up," she says. "My greatest passion in nursing is definitely education. It’s frustrating—as I’m sure all nursing faculty can attest so—but it makes it worthwhile when that lightbulb turns on and students start to grasp concepts. That’s where my heart is. I don’t see myself getting out of higher education."