Dr. Lisa Hawthorne serves as the Regional Dean of Prelicensure Nursing at Galen College of Nursing and resides in Frisco, Texas. She previously served as the Director of Nursing for Louisiana State University. She began her nursing career as an associate degree nursing graduate of Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ and practiced in orthopedics in San Diego, CA. She found her passion in nursing working in community health, and eventually in faculty / leadership roles in nursing academia. She holds certification as a Certified Nurse Educator and Public Health Nurse. Dr. Hawthorne earned her PhD in Nursing through the Hahn School of Nursing at the University of San Diego, where her dissertation research was based on the success of licensed practical/vocational nurses in pursuit of earning an associate degree in nursing. She is an advocate for online learning, allowing nurses to expand their education regardless of location. She has held faculty positions in all levels of online nursing education. She serves as a member of the executive committee and board of directors for the Organization of Associate Degree Nursing, a director on the Louisiana League for Nursing board of directors, and state nursing co-lead for Louisiana Action Coalition to advance the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 recommendations, as well as holds membership in several national and state nursing organizations.