Dr. Laura Polk

Dr. Laura Polk is a Director with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). In this role, Dr. Polk interfaces with faculty and program leaders of nursing education programs to facilitate the interpretation and understanding of ACEN policies, processes, and the Standards and Criteria.

Prior to accepting her current role, Dr. Polk was an active volunteer for the ACEN as a peer evaluator and member of the Evaluation Review Panel for over 10 years.

Education & Military Service

Dr. Polk holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing from Georgetown University, with a master of science degree in nursing education and a PhD in nursing science, both from The Catholic University of America.

She began her nursing career in the Army Nurse Corps, serving 6 years on active duty. She transitioned to nursing education following a clinical career in pediatric and maternal-child nursing.

Academic Leadership

Dr. Polk served as faculty at Howard University prior to moving to the College of Southern Maryland where she worked as nursing faculty, Health Sciences department chair, and Dean of the School of Science and Health during more than 20 years of service.

Awards & Recognition

Dr. Polk is the recipient of numerous awards for nursing education including:

• MNA District 9 Grace E. Brown Nurse Educator of the Year
• Nurse of the Year awards
• National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence award
• Selected as an AACC John E. Rouche Future Leaders Fellow in 2022

Professional Service

At the state level, Dr. Polk participated with the Maryland Association of Health Sciences Deans and Administrators and the Maryland Association of Associate Degree Nursing Directors, serving as Chair from 2013-2015.

Other professional activities include serving as a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classification, and being appointed to and serving on the Maryland Board of Nursing for a 4-year term.

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