OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Dr. Danita Potter
757.727.5654
danita.potter@hamptonu.edu
Dr. Danita Potter, Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing, has over 28 years as a registered nurse and 23 years in higher education where she has served as faculty, Dean, Associate Dean, Program Director and professorship holder over her tenure. During her time in higher education she has lead graduate and undergraduate programs to earned national nursing accreditation and has serve the profession as a national accreditation site reviewer. She completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Grambling State University (’95), Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Alcorn State University (’05), and the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Hampton University (’11). Dr. Potter is a Leader in Academic Nursing Programs Fellow (AACN) and as a PhD student she was named a national minority nurse faculty scholar by AACN. She is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and a certified autism specialist, CEO and founder of Reframing for Life LLC of Louisiana.
She is happily married to Mr. Dexter Potter of 29 years, and together they have four amazing children and three gorgeous grandchildren.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
Graduate Nursing (PhD and MSN) Education Chair | PhD, RN, LNHA
757.727.5672
Dr. Latonya Dickerson Hughes, a healthcare professional with over three decades of experience, is a two-time graduate of Hampton University. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing in 1991 and her Masters of Science degree in Nursing Administration in 1999. Dr. Hughes earned a PhD in Health Services with a concentration in Leadership from Walden University. She has served in many healthcare leadership roles to include Administrator, Chief Nurse, Director of Nursing, and Regional Director of Quality. Dr. Hughes, a Virginia Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and is well diverse in healthcare regulatory compliance. She has served as a national healthcare accreditation surveyor, with The Joint Commission, inspecting over 200 healthcare facilities across the United States. Dr. Hughes has authored and published three books and have been recognized for her research in The Caregivers’ Perception of Person Centered-care. Dr. Hughes was instrumental in the development and state approval of Hampton University’s first Certified Nursing Assistant Program. The program is the first of its kind, to be offered by a HBCU in the state of Virginia. Hampton University is currently the only four-year university in state of Virginia to offer the course.
Dr. Barbara Blackwell
Undergraduate Chair, Executive Director Simulation Learning & Research | EdD, RN, NPD-BC, CHSE
757.727.5251
Dr. Blackwell is the Chairperson/Assistant Professor Undergraduate Nursing in 2017. She has over 37 years of experience in Nursing, Nursing Education and Staff Development and is certified in Nursing Professional Development. Her clinical specialty is Critical Care and Trauma nursing. Dr. Blackwell worked in a Level I trauma unit for almost 30 years in New York City. For the last 7 years she served as the Director of a small school of nursing in Northern New Jersey, where they achieved advances in the areas of integrating technology into all aspects of student’s education, introducing electronic testing, and incorporating the use of iPads as a clinical and didactic tool. Students were introduced to active textbook learning and she advanced the agenda of the incorporation of simulation into didactic and clinical learning. Dr. Blackwell has published on simulation and recently reviewed the latest edition of Urden’s Critical Care Nursing textbook. Dr. Blackwell is an active member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INASCL) where she serves as an abstract and research review. Dr. Blackwell has presented webinars on technology in nursing education and the use of data as a tool to guide student performance. She is a strong advocate of technology, data usage, and active learning principles as tools to enhance student learning.
Dr. Denise W. James
Director of Student Academic Support Services
Assistant Professor | PhD., QMHP-C
757.637.2577
Dr. Denise W. James is a Student Affairs professional in higher education with over two decades of experience at Hampton University and a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP-C) with an emphasis on children (up to age 22) with the VA Board of Counseling. She is a strong advocate for educational success. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University, Master of Arts in Counseling from Hampton University, Master of Divinity from Liberty University Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Hampton University in Counseling Education and Supervision in 2022. Dr. James has extensive skills, experience, and areas of expertise include college student development, student affairs, career development, academic advising, mentoring, student advocacy, supervision, management and leadership, program development and implementation, counseling education, and training.