President's Pen—Building on Our Tradition of Inclusive Excellence

It is a great privilege to begin my tenure as President of the Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS). In my 13 years of membership, I have witnessed the organization go through challenging times, such as during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as successes that have defined our collective resilience and adaptability. I feel especially grateful to begin my tenure as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of SNRS. At our most recent annual conference, we highlighted the excellent research and scholarship in which our members are engaged. I could not be prouder of everything we have accomplished together. Building on this tradition of inclusive excellence, I want to remind our membership about the platform on which I ran for President. Now more than ever, I believe that providing strategic leadership will be pivotal in helping our organization reach the highest levels of success, influence, and impact. Our pursuit of success will be driven by strong and meaningful member engagement and leadership driven by inclusivity. My goal as President is to provide LEADERSHIP that leverages our strengths and fortifies our areas of opportunity. Consider below the specific ways we will raise the caliber of our organization. L – provide strategic leadership for growth and innovation. E – encourage research and scholarship that promotes health equity (health for all) in the populations we serve. A – provide accountability for capacity building and resource management. D – increase the diversity of our membership to reflect the populations we serve. E – provide meaningful member engagement opportunities. R – build organizational resilience to weather tough times. S – promote a shared vision that galvanizes members into action. H – embrace humility and a collaborative attitude with all members. I – promote inclusive excellence that yields belongingness. P – build new and strengthen existing partnerships that strategically position SNRS for greater influence and impact. As was evident at our 2026 annual business meeting, our extensive bylaws and policy and procedures revisions signify the SNRS Board of Directors' commitment to ensuring organizational health and alignment with the mission and vision of the organization. Moreover, we are dedicated to ensuring our organization maintains the values that have built this tradition of excellence while leaving room to evolve in order to better respond to the needs of the times we are living in. Speaking of the board, I would like to congratulate all our newly elected directors. I believe their fresh ideas and dedication to the organization will not just build on the strong foundation laid by previous boards, but also catapult us into the next levels of excellence. I also sincerely thank the returning directors for their impeccable service to our great organization. In the coming months, I will be sharing through the President's Pen more about how we will achieve each of the areas highlighted above. As we consider our path forward, I am grateful to our members for their engagement and high regard for excellence. Together we will build upon our strengths as we look for new opportunities to grow and shape our organization. I remain accessible to all our members and look forward to the incredible journey we are embarking on together. Until next time…With Gratitude.