NLNAC BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Grace G. Newsome, EdD, APRN, BC, FNP
Biographical Sketch


Grace Newsome earned a diploma in nursing from Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, a BS from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, an MSN from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Georgia in Athens. A post-masters certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner was obtained from Georgia Southern University.

Dr. Newsome has been employed in nursing education for 25 years with experience at the associate, baccalaureate and masters degree level. She is currently a professor of nursing and MS Coordinator for Nursing at North Georgia College & State University where she teaches in the Family Nurse Practitioner program and Nursing Education program.

Grants include the Robert Wood Johnson Ladders in Nursing Careers grant, obtained in partnership with the Georgia Hospital Association. She served as project director for the grant for four years. In addition, she received 1.33 million dollar funding from HRSA for a nurse managed center of which she is now the project director. Other smaller grants inlcude a Kellog Foundation grant for a nursing skills lab, HRSA traineeship grants for student support, an NLN research grant and numerous small grants for project support.

Professional activities include serving as the president of the Georgia Association for Nursing Education as well as holding several positions on its board to include secretary, treasurer, and director at large. In recognition of her service she received two Mabel Korsell Awards for service to the organization. She also served on the Georgia Board of Nursing Education committee for six years. Other activities include membership and committee service to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the National League for Nursing, and the Georgia Nurses Asssociation. She is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau International and received the Leadership award for the NGCSU Honor Society. She has served as a consultant to all nursing program levels.

She was appointed by the Governor to the state’s Health Strategies Council and also serves on three national task forces in nursing. She has published both book chapters and refereed journal articles and has served as a manuscript reviewer for a number of publications. She has made numerous presentations at the state and national level.

She has served as an NLNAC accreditation site visitor for both associate degree and baccalaureate and higher degree. She was elected to the NLNAC Commission in 2002 and began a second term in 2005. As a commissioner she has served on a number of committees and as chair of the Board of Review panel. She is the commission representative to several national advanced practice committees/task forces. Other accreditation work includes serving as chair of her University’s accreditation reaffirmation and as its liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.