Click Here To Listen Nashville Business 100 Leading Women Dr LaWanda Jenkins
Dr. La’Wanda Jenkins graduated as the 1st African American Valedictorian at West Carroll High School in 1991 in West Tennessee. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and graduated Summa Cum Laude at MTSU in 1995. In 2000 she graduated Magna Cum Laude at Vanderbilt University and received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). She obtained a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2016 with Magna Cum Laude honors.
She is the wife of William Jenkins and mother of two sons—Kolton Jenkins and Ladarius Vanlier. She is the daughter of Margaret and Joe Williams of Trezevant, TN. She is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) and a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute (MTMHI) where she has worked for 17 years. She has served as a coordinator and simulation instructor for multiple schools of nursing (TSU, Belmont University, Cumberland University, David Lipscomb, Nashville State Community College, Columbia State Community College, Aquinas College, and Vanderbilt University) and currently is the coordinator and simulation for TSU, Cumberland University, Austin Peay University and Vanderbilt University. She works as an Adjunct Faculty Member for Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She teaches Handle with Care and CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS) for MTMHI (and the American Heart Association). Dr. Jenkins has been trained as a Forensic Evaluator of Sexual Assault & Neglect in the past. She attends job fairs, facilitates forensic competency groups and provides individual and group therapy (Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Co-Occurring Disorders) with a specialty in Personality and Depressive Disorders) at MTMHI. She conducted a qualitative research study at MTMHI that generated invaluable data concerning Trauma-Informed Care. Dr. Jenkins is presently working on an editorial about suicide and provides individual and group therapy for Rivergate Psychiatry in Goodlettsville, TN. She also volunteers for health fairs and as a community spokesperson for Carroll and Davidson Counties.
Dr. Jenkins has served as the church musician at Wingo Missionary Baptist Church in West Tennessee for over 33 years. She is currently a basketball coach for the Special Olympics in Sumner County, a past basketball coach for the Raptors (local special needs basketball team in Hendersonville), a member of the Raptors Bowling Team (local special needs bowling league in Hendersonville), a Director at Large board member for the Raptors Special Needs Sports Foundation, a Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a Board Member for Taylor & Taylor Family Resource Center, a Board Member for the Epilepsy Foundation of Middle & West Tennessee and a Spokesperson/panelist for Vietnam Veterans of America. She has served as the past PTA President and Treasurer for Tom Joy Elementary School for 3 years, a Member of Middle Tennessee Advanced Practice Nurses (MTAPN), a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a member of the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA), a member of Golden Key National Honor Society, a member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing, an occasional Panelist for the Annual College Access for Black Females at The Oasis Center and was honored as one of the Tennessean’s Salute to Nurses in 2012-2013.