Dwayne Hooks earned a Doctor of Philosophy focused on nursing from The University of Kansas. His dissertation title is, “Understanding the Patient’s Recalled Experience of an Acute Episode of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.”

With a nursing career spanning more than 35 years — including more than 20 years as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner – Hooks has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made enduring contributions across clinical practice, healthcare administration, education, scholarship, and policy advocacy.

“Dr. Hooks has proven himself a transformative leader in nursing and healthcare delivery,” said Michelle Nelson, director of graduate programs at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. “Having served in multiple senior executive positions, including Chief Nurse Executive for large, multi-hospital systems in Georgia and North Carolina, he has led efforts that have improved operational efficiency, enhanced team-based care, and advanced patient outcomes.”

Nelson added that Hooks’ ability to blend clinical insight with strategic vision is recognized through his induction as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Academy of Nursing and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) —honors that reflect his national influence on advancing the nursing profession.

Currently, Hooks serves as dean and tenured professor at Clayton State University, where he leads two academic colleges encompassing programs in arts and sciences as well as health professions such as nursing, dental hygiene, and healthcare management. Under his leadership, academic offerings have grown, and curricular standards have been strengthened.

As a board-certified FNP, nurse executive, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, he brings invaluable clinical expertise into the classroom, preparing students for the complex demands of modern healthcare.

Hooks is also a dedicated scholar and principal investigator. He has led multiple federally funded Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants focusing on building the healthcare workforce, expanding nurse-led ambulatory services, and integrating behavioral and physical health care in underserved communities. His research reflects a strong commitment to health equity and innovative, community-based care models.

In health policy, Dr. Hooks continues to drive meaningful change. He has served on the Board of Directors for the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and currently chairs the APRN Committee of the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition. A graduate of the NONPF Leadership Fellowship and the University System of Georgia’s Executive Leadership Institute, he brings a strategic voice to policy advancement.

His recent recognitions include the 2023 AANP Georgia State Award for Excellence and his 2024 induction into the Georgia Nurses Association’s Hall of Fame.

Jessi Loucks graduated from the KU School of Nursing BSN program in 2019, received her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in May 2025, and works now as an advanced practice provider at The University of Kansas Health System. Jessi is deeply committed to advancing the profession of nursing, improving the healthcare system, and giving back to the academic community that has shaped her path.

After graduating with her BSN, she worked as an RN in the Preoperative Assessment Clinic at The University of Kansas Health System. She also worked at the School of Nursing as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in clinical as well as in the simulation lab from August of 2020 through December 2024. While there, she co-wrote and implemented several simulations for the undergraduate students, including a multi-patient simulation.

For her DNP project, she spearheaded a research project titled "Implementation of a Data-Driven Preoperative Blood Type Ordering Algorithm: Impact on Unnecessary Ordering and Waste of Resources within the Obstetric/Gynecologic Surgical Service.” Outdated blood ordering practices led to 83% of surgical patients receiving preoperative blood typing, despite only 7% requiring transfusions. Working in collaboration with her clinic’s medical director, she reviewed more than 44,000 surgical cases spanning two years, focusing on blood testing trends, transfusion rates, and surgical blood loss.

Using these data, she created and implemented a new, data-driven Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule (MSBOS) tailored to the institution’s needs.

The results of Jessi’s project have been substantial. In just the first five months post-implementation, projected annual savings reached $300,000, with an additional $2.5 million in potential savings once the MSBOS is fully adopted. Within the Obstetric/Gynecologic service line, annual savings are projected at $43,500, with further potential savings of $300,000. These changes not only reduce institutional costs but also improve patient comfort and safety by minimizing unnecessary procedures.

“This work has had a meaningful impact on the health system and has elevated the role of nursing in leading evidence-based, system-wide improvements,” said Kesa Herlihy, Ph.D. associate professor in the School of Nursing. “The visibility of this project has contributed to interdisciplinary respect for the nursing profession and strengthened the reputation of KU-trained nurses as leaders in quality improvement and research.”

Louck’s contributions have also supported the mission of the KU School of Nursing. Through project presentations, mentorship of nursing colleagues, and the application of academic principles in clinical settings, she has served as a living example of the school's emphasis on leadership, inquiry, and lifelong learning. Jessi has also served as the president of the Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau since 2023.

She regularly shares her work with faculty and students, aiming to inspire the next generation of nurses to pursue projects that combine data-driven practice with compassionate care.

“As the president and CEO of AACN, Deb Trautman leads an organization that sets standards for nursing education,” said Jean Foret Giddens, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of KU School of Nursing. “AACN supports academic-practice partnerships, leads advocacy efforts in policy to support nursing research and workforce development and provides extensive resources for faculty and leadership development. The KU School of Nursing — along with all schools of nursing in the country — directly benefit from Dr. Trautman’s exceptional leadership for academic nursing within the AACN.”

Armed with her BSN from West Virginia Wesleyan College, an MSN from the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD in health policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Deborah Trautman has taken on the challenges of the nursing world at every stage of her career.

Previously she served as Executive Director of the Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Transformation at Johns Hopkins Hospital and other leadership positions at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurse Leader Scholarship was created in her honor at Duke University and recognizes graduate nursing students who aspire to leadership positions in academic nursing.

She also is a member of several professional societies and serves on high-profile boards and advisory groups, including the Research!America Board of Directors, the Joint Commission Chief Nurse Executive Council (CNEC), and is past Treasurer and Chair of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative. 

Trautman is a member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Well-being and Resilience, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Special Medical Advisory Group, which advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters related to healthcare delivery, research, education, and related areas. She also is program director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s New Careers in Nursing project.

She has authored publications on health policy, leadership, nursing practice and nursing education. In 2020, Trautman was invited to the White House, along with a handful of other nursing association leaders, to discuss the critical role of nurses in the pandemic.

Trautman is a 2007/2008 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow who worked for the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.  She is also a Distinguished Nursing Fellow in the National Academies of Practice.