Shannon B. Smith

Ware-Rhaney Building, Suite 103
Mondays - Friday  •  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

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Dr. Shannon Bright Smith, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNE is the Dean of the School of Nursing at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and a distinguished leader in nursing education. With a career spanning clinical practice, academia, and leadership, she is dedicated to advancing nursing education and improving healthcare outcomes for diverse populations.

Dr. Smith earned a BSN and MSN from MUSC and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Organizational Leadership and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science from the University of South Carolina. She is Board Certified by ANCC as an Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist and by NLN as a Certified Nurse Educator.

Prior to joining FAMU, she led nursing at Claflin University from its inception in 2016. Under her leadership, Claflin achieved national accreditation, launched a Master of Science in Nursing program, and was recognized for excellence in diversity, inclusion, and sustainability in nursing education. Her efforts secured over $8 million in funding for nursing education projects, including funds to build a school of nursing building, the development of a simulation center, and scholarships for students. Her research focuses on reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors in African American emerging adults, with a novel approach known as UPSTREAM CVD.

Her mission is to secure the future of nursing by preparing nurses to serve diverse communities and address critical healthcare disparities. Dr. Smith's greatest joy lies in student success, and she continues to inspire the next generation of nurses through her leadership, faith, and dedication.

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• Nursing Education and Leadership
• Cardiovascular Nursing Research
• Funding and Development for Nursing Programs
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Healthcare Disparities
• Student Success and Mentorship

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• Professor • 2024 – Present
  Florida A&M University
  
  
• Professor • 2023 - 2024
  Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC
  
  
• Associate Professor of Nursing (Tenured in 2018) • 2016-2023
  Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC
  
  
• Assistant Professor • 2012-2016
  Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing
  
  
• Instructor • 2010-2011
  Trident Technical College

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GRANTS/RESEARCH

2024 Linking Industry and Nursing Education, PI, Florida State University System, $375,000
2024 Claflin University Rallying the underrepresented to Restore healthy Approaches to Living (CU RURAL) Nursing – Phase 2, PI, SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, $590,000
2022 Claflin University Rallying the underrepresented to Restore healthy Approaches to Living (CU RURAL) Nursing, PI, SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, $290,000
2022 Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention-Mobile Health Training Program (NEPQR-MHTP) in Collaboration with Clemson University – Doctoral scholarships for up to 5 Claflin MSN graduates per year, Collaborator, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), $125,000
2022 Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention-Mobile Health Training Program (NEPQR-MHTP) in Collaboration with Family Health Center, Inc. – provides scholarships for 15 students per year, Co-PI, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), $900,000
2022 Research Education Grant, PI, National League for Nursing, $8,000
2022 UPSTREAM CVD (Unlocking Population Specific Treatments to Render Equitable Approaches and Management in Cardiovascular Disease). Dissertation research in African American emerging adults. PhD Dissertation, PI, Claflin University Title III, $50,000
2013-2016 Promise of Nursing for South Carolina, Nursing School Grant Program; designed to assist nursing students in transition to Accelerated BSN program with online learning environment orientation modules, Co-PI, Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association, $22,271

 

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Smith, S.B., Magwood, G.S., Abshire, D., Tavakoli, McCutcheon, G., A., Jenerette, C. (In Review). Discrepancies in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Perception among African American Emerging Adults: Implications for Personalized Prevention Strategies, submitted to Nursing Research
Smith, S.B., Tavakoli, A., Abshire, D., Magwood, G.S., Jenerette, C. (In Review). More Than Just the Heart: An Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Upstream and Population Factors in African American Emerging Adults, submitted to Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Smith, S.B., Abshire, D., Herbert, L.L., Tavakoli, A., Magwood, G.S., Jenerette, C. (2023). Unlocking population specific treatments to render equitable approaches and management in cardiovascular disease (UPSTREAM CVD): Development of a situation-specific theory for African Americans. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. PMID: 37052582, DOI: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000986
Smith, S. B. and Kennedy, S. (2019). Authentic Teaching to Promote Active Learning: Redesign of an Online RN to BSN Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Course. Journal of Professional Nursing. doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2019.07.005
Smith, S.B., Kelechi, T., Edlund, B., Hollerbach, A., Atz, T., & Donato, A. (2016). Streamlining Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Procedures to promote early career faculty success. Journal of Professional Nursing, 32(3), doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2016.01.011
Smith, S. B. and Williams, T.H. (2014). Ministering to struggling students, Journal of Christian Nursing, 31(1), 60.
Duffy, N. and Smith, S.B. (2013). Leading at the bedside and beyond. American Nurse Today, 8 (12). Available online at http://www.americannursetoday.com/leading-at-the-bedside-and-beyond/
Smith, S.B. (2013). Integrating simulation in a BSN leadership and nursing management course. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 3(11), 121-132.
Smith, S. B. (2013). Discharge planning for the patient with chronic pancreatitis (continuing education offering - 2.3 CH nursing education). Gastroenterology Nursing, 36(6), 415-419. DOI: 10.1097/SGA.0000000000000014
Smith, S. B. and Alexander, J. T. (2012). Nursing perception of patient transitions from hospitals to home with home health, Professional Case Management, 17(4), 175-185. DOI: 10.1097/NCM.0b013e31825297e8

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• 2024 Exemplary Teacher Award, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church
• 2023 South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2022 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Lectureship Award
• 2022 Wharton Executive Fellow, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• 2022 2020 Mary E. Mahoney Nursing Award, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Honor Society, Orangeburg, SC (selected in 2020 but ceremonies postponed due to COVID19).
• 2016 W. L. Bonner College Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2015 U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award for Healthcare Community Service.

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• NUR 4830E Leadership and Management in Complex Systems

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• LinkedIn
• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate