Today, Jonas Nursing, a leading supporter of doctoral nursing education in the U.S., and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), announced that University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing PhD students Chelsea Horn and Sue H. Coltrain have been selected as Jonas Scholar’s for the program’s 2024-2026 cohort. This program aims to improve health care by expanding the pool of PhD and DNP-prepared nurses needed to educate the next generation of nurse leaders.
Horn and Coltrain join a select group of 63 of the nation’s most promising doctoral nursing students chosen for their passion for teaching, academic excellence, and research prowess. As Jonas Scholars, Horn and Coltrain will receive financial support, mentorship, and a curriculum tailored to providing students with the learning experiences they need to successfully transition into a faculty role.
“The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is deeply appreciative of the support from Jonas Philanthropies for these two PhD students who are preparing for faculty roles at this time of serious faculty shortage in the nursing profession,” shared Sandra Thomas, PhD program chair.
Horn and Coltrain join an incredibly diverse group of doctoral nursing students, with over 50 percent of its 2024-2026 cohort representative of Black, Latino, and other communities of color, ensuring that burgeoning nursing leaders reflect the patient population of their diverse communities. This group of 63 Scholars contain a multitude of research interests focused on some of the country’s most pressing challenges, including underserved populations in nursing, mental health, and veterans’ health.
Horn’s research focuses on exploring implicit biases towards breastfeeding women with opioid use disorder. Horn began her nursing career by earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisville in 2015. She immediately began her clinical work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she cared for critically ill premature infants and neonates across several states at various acuity levels.
Her seven years of clinical experience in the NICU have driven her research interest. During this time, she also discovered a passion for education, which led her to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Education from Bellarmine University in 2022. Her education experience includes being a clinical nurse educator, clinical instructor, and transition-to-practice coordinator. Additionally, Horn was a CAPES attendee at Emory University and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Coltrain’s research interest is in pediatric immigrant mental health and resilience. As a Hispanic individual, she is deeply connected to her research area and passionate about making a difference in the lives of immigrant children. Coltrain is an experienced nurse with 18 years in the nursing field. Over the past 14 years, Coltrain has specialized as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, providing exceptional care and expertise in pediatric health. Coltrain’s extensive background includes significant experience in the pediatric Emergency Department, pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and work in a primary care mobile medical clinic. Coltrain graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2006 and went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2009. Throughout Coltrain’s career, she has demonstrated a commitment to improving pediatric health outcomes and addressing their unique health needs and challenges.
In addition to her clinical work, she has a strong desire to teach and has gained teaching experience in clinical settings. Coltrain’s goal is to combine her clinical expertise, research findings, and passion for education to develop targeted interventions and policies that address the root causes of mental health disparities among Hispanic immigrant children.
For more information about the Jonas Scholars program, please visit https://www.aacnnursing.org/jonas-nursing.
About Jonas Nursing
The mission of Jonas Nursing is to enhance the nursing profession by developing nurse leaders who will address the nursing shortage by educating the future nursing workforce and by investing in the health and well-being of our most underserved communities. For more information on Jonas Nursing, visit www.aacnnursing.org/jonas-nursing.
About the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
AACN is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice. For more information about AACN, visit aacnnursing.org and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and/or X.
C O N T A C T :
Kara Clark Cardwell (865-974-9498, kmclark2@utk.edu)