Lee Hardin is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and has worked as a registered nurse and nursing leader for the past 25 years. She is a Samford alumnus with clinical and leadership experience in adult and neonatal critical care, orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation, and medical-surgical nursing. Her professional interests include leadership, education, organizational management and compliance, healthcare quality and safety, incivility, grief, and DE&I. Her love of teaching formally began in 2011 when she became an adjunct instructor for a nursing school at a small university in West Virginia. In this role, she taught associate, bachelor's, and master's level business, health care administration, and nursing courses. Her favorite scripture is Hebrews 4:16, "Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need".
Degrees and Certifications
- DNP, Nursing Administration, Samford University
- MBA, International Business, Salem International University
- MSN, Nursing and Health Systems Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- BSN, Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Post Master’s Certificate: Nursing Education, Samford University
- Nurse Executive – Board Certified, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Certified Online Instructor
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) - National League for Nursing
Expertise
- Nursing Administration
- Nursing Education
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Grief and Loss
- Incivility
Honors and Awards
- CNE Grant Project Mentor, 2023
- Academic Achievement Award, Samford University, 2017
- Birmingham VA Medical Center Special Contribution Award, 2016
- Outstanding Nursing and Health Systems Administration Graduate Student in Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2004
- Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society for Nursing
- Sigma Alpha Pi, National Honor Society for Business Administration
Involvement
- Birmingham Regional Organization of Nurse Leaders, Member
- Birmingham Black Nurses Association (BBNA), Member
- Alabama State Nurses Association, Member
- American Nurses Association (ANA), Member
- Alabama Organization of Nurse Leaders (AlaONL), Secretary – Elect (2021-2023; 2024-2025); Secretary (2023-2024)
- Phi Kappa Phi, Membership Secretary
- Sigma Alpha Pi, Member
- Sigma Theta Tau – Gama Eta Chapter, Member; Treasurer (2021-2023)
Recent Publications
- Hardin, L., Gurley, L., Cortes, C. (2022). Innovative team approach for achieving DNP competencies for distance learners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing Education Perspectives 43(5). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nep.0000000000001007
- Wynn, S., Ratcliffe, C., Hardin, L. (2023). Ready, set woo: Refining nursing students' communication skills. Teaching and Learning in Nursing 18(3). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2023.03.004
Recent Presentations
- Hardin, L., Chatman, S., Wynn, S. (2024, January). Utilizing technology to improve student engagement in online education. Presented at the 2024 Hawaii International Conference on Education (Kona, HI).
- Hardin, L., Chatman, S., Coleman, J. (2023, August). Simulation Theater: A Faculty Production to Foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Presented at the 2023 Samford University Faculty Connect: Mini Conference on Teaching and Learning.
- Hardin, L., Chatman, S., Wynn, S. (2023, August). Enhancing Student Engagement with Audio and Text Announcements. Presented at the 2023 Samford University Faculty Connect: Mini Conference on Teaching and Learning.
- Gurley, L., Hess, M., Hardin, L., Daffron, C., Crocker, L. (2021, October). Utilizing Mobile Health Technology to Improve Rate of Adherence to Blood Glucose Level Documentation. Presented virtually at the Alabama State Nurses Association Annual Convention.
- Gurley, L.E., Cortes, C., & Hardin, L.M. (2021, March). Innovative Educational Team Approach for Achieving DNP Program Competencies for Distance Learners. Presented virtually at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Annual Conference.
Research Areas
- Student Engagement
- Innovative Communication Technology
