College of Nursing Associate Professor Selected to Participate in UK WELD Program
Associate Professor and Director of Diversity and Inclusivity Jenna Hatcher, PhD, MPH, RN, was one of 26 people at the University of Kentucky selected to participate in the Women’s Executive Leadership Development (WELD) program during 2017.
“I look forward to working with this talented group," said Hollie Swanson, director of WELD and professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences in the College of Medicine. "Our applicant pool was very strong, as so many well qualified individuals had applied. Our Selection Committee had a daunting task.”
The WELD Selection Committee was composed of Terry Allen, former interim vice president for institutional diversity; Nancy Cox, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment; Penny Cox, director of housing project implementation and new strategies; and Janie Heath, dean of the College of Nursing. Forty-three employees applied for the WELD program this year.
Now in its second year, the eight-month WELD program is designed to develop the next generation of University of Kentucky leaders through retreats, monthly meetings, conversations with upper level administrators and a group project. The upcoming WELD Kick-Off Lecture April 6 will feature Deneese Jones, vice president for academic affairs at Trinity University and former University of Kentucky faculty member.
Jenna Hatcher received both a BSN and MSN from West Virginia University. She received her MPH and PhD from the University of Kentucky and is now an associate professor in the College of Nursing. Dr. Hatcher’s dissertation examined mental health disparities found in African-American single mothers. This work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including The Journal of Mental Health Nursing.
Continuing her research interest in health disparities experienced by vulnerable populations, she is currently the principal investigator of a five-year project funded by the National Cancer Institute—SEEDS (Sisters Educated in Emergency Departments). The project focuses on promoting mammography for African-American women while they visit the emergency department for nonurgent care. She is also co-investigator on an NIH-funded project (Faith Moves Mountains) which promotes breast and cervical cancer prevention for Eastern Kentucky women and Heart Health a multi-year project designed to promote heart health in vulnerable Kentucky residents.
Dr. Hatcher is the vice president and a founding member of the Lexington Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. She is active in the local, regional and national arena in improving the health of vulnerable populations through research and community service.
