Who's Who

Faculty & Staff

Dr. Susan Stone, President

Dr. Susan Stone is President of Frontier Nursing University. Under her leadership, Frontier has evolved from a small school offering a certificate program for nurse-midwifery to become Frontier Nursing University, one of the largest graduate schools of nursing in the country granting MSN and DNP degrees. Under Stone’s leadership, five new advanced practice nursing programs have been added, the certificate-granting programs transitioned to degree-granting, the curriculum transitioned to an interactive, web design based on the Community of Inquiry theoretical basis, and the student body grew from 200 students to over 2,400 today, including graduates in every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries.

Dr. Joan Slager, Dean of Nursing

Dr. Slager accepted the position of Dean of Nursing in August 2018 after serving as interim dean beginning in March 2018. As Dean, She is addressing healthcare gaps by educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners amidst the transition to a new campus in Versailles, Ky. Dr. Slager is an Alumnus of Frontier Nursing University, graduating in 1991 as a member of Class 1.

Dr. Lisa Chappell, Chair of the Department of Family Nursing

Dr. Chappell, PhD, FNP-BC, CRNP has been a nurse for 45 years including 25 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She obtained a BSN from Auburn University and MSNs from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, one as a Maternal-Infant CNS and a second as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned a PhD in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia in 2007. Dr. Chappell has taught NPs for 22 years; 11 years at FNU and the Chair for the Department of Family Nursing for 6 years.

Dr. Tonya Nicholson, Chair of the Department of Midwifery and Women's Health

Tonya Nicholson, DNP, CNM, WHNP- BC, CNE has a rich history with FNU as a 1999 graduate for midwifery, the first DNP graduate in 2009, and a post-graduate WHNP graduate in 2011. Tonya served the women of central Florida in full-scope practice from 2000-2006 where she also directed the midwifery service. In 2006, she joined the Frontier faculty where she has served as faculty, Program Director, Associate Dean, and Dept Chair. She currently continues in part-time full-scope practice in Dublin, GA

Dr. Geraldine Young, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Dr. Young holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2010), an MSN from Alcorn State University (2005), and a BSN from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (2001). Dr. Young is a board-certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) (2005). She is also a certified diabetes educator (2011). She has performed an abundance of leadership, scholarship, service, practice, and educational activities over the course of her career.

Angela Bailey, Chief Advancement Officer

Angela holds a BA in Communication Studies from Eastern Kentucky University, an MA in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive. Angela has been with FNU for 6 years and is in her second year as the Chief Advancement Officer.

Linda Barnes, Senior Development and Alumni Relations Officer

Linda Barnes is a native Kentuckian with over 15 years of experience in educational fundraising and alumni relations.