Lorinda Sealey

President's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Role model passionate about her students

Starting a new graduate program is no easy task. And adding a largely online teaching component designed for working nurses complicates the process even more.

When Southeastern introduced its doctorate program in advanced nurse practice in 2012, associate professor of nursing Lorinda Sealey was called upon to serve as graduate coordinator and to help develop the curriculum and implement the program.

Sealey

"Lorinda was integral in establishing policy, development of recruitment plans and implementing the curriculum components. She is known for her clear insight into seemingly complex situations, she frequently voices the rights of students, and has a moral compass by which we should all live," said Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
A member of the Southeastern faculty since 1989, Sealy – who holds the Sarah K. Thornhill Endowed Professorship in Nursing -- is being honored with this year's President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Recognized by others in the nursing profession, in 2011, Sealey was awarded the Helen Johnson Cremeens Excellence in Teaching Award by the Baton Rouge District Nurses Association.

"Dr. Sealey has proven her commitment to nursing education through her years of successful service, said former student Pamela Woods of Prairieville. "She remained dedicated to the success of her students through unconventional wisdom and resourceful planning, qualities only the most devoted educators possess."

"She is dedicated to helping students achieve success," said colleague Staci Anderson, assistant professor of nursing. "She challenges her students to higher levels of critical thinking and problem solving. She is very passionate about her students, the pursuit of learning and serves as an excellent role model."

"Dr. Sealy has taught courses across the curriculum, from undergraduate to doctorate, and much of her teaching and research has focused on global health and cultural competence in nursing," said Professor of Health Education and Promotion Linda Synovitz.

Synovitz said Sealey exemplifies her interest in cultural issues by leading study abroad programs in Honduras. In her capacity as a project team member, she worked with nursing students to help them understand cultural perspectives, role model cultural competency, and to assist with onsite translation.

"I used evidenced-based information to update courses to reflect population and professional trends and standards," Sealey said. "I designed Nursing 360, 'Essentials of Cultural Competence in Nursing Care,' to provide students a framework and the skills to assess and provide culturally competent care for individuals and families from diverse cultural groups."
Sealey draws on her experience gained over the years from working at institutions such as Cornell Medical Center's New York Hospital, Arizona State University, the Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and the New York City Department of Health.

In addition to course development, instruction and mentoring of students, Sealy has also helped secure grant funding for teaching methodologies and to provide scholarship opportunities for students. Most recently, she has been awarded $24,000 in 2011 and $637,328 in 2012 for the Advance Education Nursing Traineeship grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. This has provided scholarship monies for graduate nursing students.

As clinical course coordinator, Sealey mentors and orients new faculty members regarding course documents, operations and standards, and the learning management system. She also developed the Online Orientation Module for new and part-time clinical faculty.

In addition to her teaching load, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the graduate nursing program, which includes the master's and the post-master's programs, and the doctorate program in collaboration with the DNP coordinator. She coordinates the selection, admission and orientation of all master's students, makes all teaching assignments, orients new faculty members to policies and procedures, and compiles data and writes reports to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and other accrediting bodies.

When asked about her success in teaching, Sealey said her love for nursing and education and her belief in collaboration and professional development through continuing education have all contributed to her success.

Her peers note that Sealey's teaching demonstrates excellence in merging all areas necessary to be recognized as an outstanding nurse educator for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her teaching activities facilitate learning and learner development and utilize appropriate assessment strategies. She promotes scholarship, and her leadership has been instrumental in student and program success.

"Dr. Sealey is an ambassador for the School of Nursing," Synovitz said. "She truly exemplifies excellence in teaching."