College of Nursing is proud to announce that Professor Lisa C. Lindley has been selected as a 2026–2028 Jonas Mentor through the Jonas Scholars Program.
The Jonas Scholars Program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of PhD and DNP prepared nurses who will educate and lead the next generation of nurses. Mentorship is a key component of the program, with each Scholar paired with a mentor throughout the two-year program to support professional development, scholarly growth and career preparation.
For Lindley, the opportunity represents a continuation of a longstanding commitment to mentoring emerging nurse scholars and educators.
“Being selected as a Jonas Mentor is both an honor and a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the future of nursing education,” Lindley said. “Throughout my career, mentorship has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.”
Lindley has mentored doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and emerging scholars as they have developed their educational skills and professional identities. Through the Jonas Scholars Program, she will extend that work to a national community of emerging nurse scholars and educators.
The program’s emphasis on leadership, scholarship and nursing education was a natural fit for Lindley, who has previously mentored doctoral students who went on to become Jonas Scholars.
“Having previously mentored doctoral students who became Jonas Scholars, I have witnessed firsthand the impact that the program can have on emerging nurse scientists and educators,” Lindley said. “The opportunity to contribute to that pipeline of nurse educators was incredibly compelling to me.”
As part of the 2026–2028 cohort, Lindley will mentor a group of eight scholars, meeting with the group monthly and serving as a resource throughout the program. Mentoring topics will include scholarly writing, CV development, professional development, postdoctoral and fellowship opportunities, opportunities for DNP students, and applying for faculty positions.
The mentoring relationship is particularly important as doctoral nursing students navigate the transition from rigorous academic and research training into their professional careers.
“Doctoral education is a transformative period, but it can also be challenging,” Lindley said. “Students are not only completing rigorous research training, but for many they are also beginning the transition to nurse educator.”
Through mentorship, scholars will have opportunities to refine their scholarly identities, navigate career decisions and build confidence in their expertise.
Lindley hopes to bring a mentoring approach that combines structure, support and empowerment.
“My mentoring approach focuses on helping scholars build a strong foundation in nursing education, while also encouraging them to develop their own scholarly voice and professional identity,” Lindley said. “I strive to create a mentoring environment that is rigorous, collaborative and growth-oriented.”
The 2026–2028 cohort will also provide opportunities for Scholars and mentors to learn from one another. In addition to monthly meetings, mentor groups will gather at the 2027 Jonas Scholar Leadership Conference for an in-person networking experience.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to learn alongside a talented and diverse group of emerging nurse scholars and educators,” Lindley said. “The collaborative nature of the Jonas scholars community creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue, peer learning and interdisciplinary thinking.”
Ultimately, Lindley hopes the mentoring experience will help scholars develop the confidence and skills.
“I hope my mentees leave the experience with greater confidence in themselves as future educators, scholars, leaders and change agents,” Lindley said. “I hope they recognize their ability to make meaningful contributions to nursing education and science long after the program concludes.”
Lindley will serve as a Jonas mentor from September 2026 through May 2028.