UNCP to award first doctoral degrees, marking a new chapter in university history

By Staff Report, posted Dec 17, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

UNC Pembroke's inaugural DNP cohort (from left to right) Jennifer Bigger, Lisa Dial-Hunt, Vilma Ferrell, Taren Hunt, Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, Jessica Locklear, Angela Coleman-Talbot, Shelli Spence and Ursula White. Photo provided by: UNCP

UNCP’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Population Health — launched in 2023 as the university’s first doctoral program and one of the few in the state dedicated to community-level health outcomes — is celebrating its first graduating class. DNP-prepared nurses evaluate systems of care, identify barriers and facilitators and design evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes across rural, tribal and underserved communities.

The eight graduates will receive their doctoral hoods during the Graduate School Ceremony at Givens Performing Arts Center on Dec. 19.

“This is a transformative moment for the School of Nursing,” said Dr. Jennifer Jones Locklear, chair of the McKenzie Elliott School of Nursing, in a press release. “Our graduates will carry forward equity-focused strategies that strengthen care in rural and underserved communities and position UNCP to influence policy, practice and systems-level change.”

This achievement marks both an academic milestone for the institution and a new chapter in healthcare in southeastern North Carolina. The first cohort represents working parents, first-generation doctoral graduates, public health advocates and clinicians whose projects are already reshaping care in real-time.

“The graduation of our inaugural DNP class is a major academic achievement for our university and a turning point for healthcare in our region,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings in a press release. “These graduates represent the next generation of nurse leaders who will address critical gaps in care, elevate clinical practice and expand access for rural and underserved populations.”

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