Gov. Reeves Appoints Southern Miss’s Baskin to State Nursing Board

Fri, 07/18/2025 - 10:00am | By: Dr. David Tisdale

Dr. LaWanda Baskin, executive associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), has been appointed by Governor Tate Reeves to serve on the Mississippi Board of Nursing, pending confirmation by the state Senate. She was sworn in today at the board’s meeting in Ridgeland.

Baskin’s appointment is effective immediately and will continue through June 30, 2027, completing the remainder of a four-year term.

“Being appointed to the Mississippi Board of Nursing is both a professional honor and a personal privilege, allowing me to contribute to the board’s vital mission of protecting the public through the regulation of nursing practice and education,” said Baskin, who is also an associate professor in the college’s School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice. “As a nurse educator, I welcome the opportunity to help uphold high standards that ensure safe, competent care across our state.”

“This appointment is also a meaningful way to serve the community and support the continued growth and excellence of the nursing profession in Mississippi,” she added. “I’m grateful for the trust placed in me, and I am committed to serving with integrity and dedication.”

In her role as a board member representing nursing education, Baskin will help review and establish rules and policies governing nursing practice and education in Mississippi. She will also participate in decisions related to licensing, disciplinary actions, and oversight of nursing programs to protect public safety and uphold the integrity of the profession.  

Baskin’s nursing philosophy includes a steadfast devotion to safe, competent practice; continued investment in nursing education and faculty development; and strategic partnerships across the state.

“The Mississippi Board of Nursing plays a critical role in safeguarding public health and safety by regulating the practice of nursing throughout the state,” she said. “Its work ensures that all nurses are well-prepared, competent and held to high professional standards. The board’s commitment to protecting the public also strengthens the health care system, making its work essential not just to nurses, but to every Mississippian.”

A native of Natchez and resident of McComb, Miss., Baskin joined the Southern Miss CNHP faculty in 2018. As executive associate dean for academic affairs, she oversees curriculum development, accreditation, and student recruitment and retention. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate nursing courses, and currently teaches advanced pathophysiology for advanced practice. She also mentors graduate students, serving as chair or committee member on numerous dissertation and doctoral project committees, guiding them through the research process and supporting their scholarly development.

In 2024, Baskin was named CNHP’s Alumna of the Year and was selected as a Fellow in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing program. She is active in professional organizations including the Mississippi Nurses Association, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the Transcultural Nursing Society, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. She also serves on the Mississippi Council of Deans and Directors of Schools of Nursing Strategic Planning Committee.

Before joining the Southern Miss faculty, Baskin was an assistant professor of nursing at Alcorn State University from 2013 to 2018. Her clinical experience includes serving as a PRN family nurse practitioner at Natchez After Hours (2014-present); family nurse practitioner at Community Orthopedics (2012-13); registered nurse at Natchez Community Hospital (2006-12); and various other registered nursing positions, including medical-surgical, surgery, occupational health and emergency care.

According to Baskin, nursing in Mississippi and across the nation is at a critical crossroads. “Our state faces significant workforce challenges, with many nurses leaving the profession,” she said. “In this environment, it's more important than ever to reinforce public confidence in health care by consistently delivering safe, competent and compassionate care.”

She emphasized that Southern Miss is playing an essential role in meeting these challenges. The university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination in 2024, and its Accelerated BSN program continues to prepare practice-ready graduates efficiently. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program also reported a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam for its December 2024 cohort.

Growing up in a family immersed in health care, Baskin said she was drawn to her profession at an early age, having spent countless hours around hospitals. She knew she wanted to “be part of helping people” and is proud to be a member of the Southern Miss nursing education team.

“By continuing to deliver high-quality, innovative programs, producing practice-ready graduates who are ready for life, and building strong partnerships statewide, Southern Miss is helping to meet Mississippi’s critical health care needs and shape a stronger, more resilient future for the nursing profession,” she added.

Dr. Lachel Story, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, praised Baskin’s appointment and said her colleague is “an excellent choice to serve on the board.”

“She is a lifelong Mississippi resident who has worked hard to improve the health of the state at many levels and brings years of nursing experience to this post, including as a nurse practitioner and her work in a variety of settings from the community to surgery,” said Story. “Her vast expertise will help inform the board and the work they do in a unique way.”