Skip to main content
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals
Menu

Main navigation redesign

  • Programs
    • Bachelor's Programs
      • Nursing
        • Bachelor Of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online
        • RN to BSN Option
      • BSN Campus Locations
        • Phoenix, AZ
        • Irwindale, CA
        • Sacramento, CA
        • Jacksonville, FL
        • Miramar, FL
        • Atlanta, GA
        • Stockbridge, GA
        • Addison, IL
        • Chicago, IL
        • Tinley Park, IL
        • Indianapolis, IN
        • New Orleans, LA
        • Troy, MI
        • St. Louis, MO
        • Las Vegas, NV
        • Charlotte, NC
        • North Brunswick, NJ
        • Columbus, OH
        • Houston, TX
        • Irving, TX
        • Pearland, TX
        • San Antonio, TX
        • Tysons Corner, VA
    • Master’s Programs
      • Nursing
        • Master Of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
        • Family Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
        • Graduate Certificates
        • RN to MSN Options
        • Accelerated MSN
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Master of Public Health
        • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
        • Master of Social Work
    • Doctorate Programs
      • Nursing
        • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • Certificates
      • Nursing
        • Nursing Certificates
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Public Health Certificate
  • Admission
    • Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • Curriculum and Catalogs
    • Become a Student
      • Military Information
      • Transfer Students
  • Financial Aid
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Tuition and Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Aid Forms
      • Partnerships
    • Financial Assistance
      • Scholarships
      • Federal and State Grants
      • Applying for Federal Aid
      • Work Study
      • Loans
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
  • Why Chamberlain
    • Our Story
      • History
      • Our Vision
      • Chamberlain Care
      • Diversity and Inclusion
    • About Chamberlain
      • Leadership
      • Campus Locations
      • Newsroom
      • Blog
      • Accreditation
      • Student Consumer Information
      • Alumni

Mobile Secondary Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Mobile Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
  • Transfers
  • Military
  • Alumni
  • Partners
  • Employers
  • Transcripts

Top Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Information For
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfers
    • Military
    • Alumni
    • Partners
    • Employers
    • Transcripts
  • Chat
  • 877.751.5783
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Main navigation redesign

  • Programs
    • Bachelor's Programs
      • Nursing
        • Bachelor Of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online
        • RN to BSN Option
      • BSN Campus Locations
        • Phoenix, AZ
        • Irwindale, CA
        • Sacramento, CA
        • Jacksonville, FL
        • Miramar, FL
        • Atlanta, GA
        • Stockbridge, GA
        • Addison, IL
        • Chicago, IL
        • Tinley Park, IL
        • Indianapolis, IN
        • New Orleans, LA
        • Troy, MI
        • St. Louis, MO
        • Las Vegas, NV
        • Charlotte, NC
        • North Brunswick, NJ
        • Columbus, OH
        • Houston, TX
        • Irving, TX
        • Pearland, TX
        • San Antonio, TX
        • Tysons Corner, VA
    • Master’s Programs
      • Nursing
        • Master Of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
        • Family Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
        • Graduate Certificates
        • RN to MSN Options
        • Accelerated MSN
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Master of Public Health
        • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
        • Master of Social Work
    • Doctorate Programs
      • Nursing
        • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • Certificates
      • Nursing
        • Nursing Certificates
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Public Health Certificate
  • Admission

    Admission

    Our team is with you every step of the way, providing the information you need to make the decisions that best serve you.

    • Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • Curriculum and Catalogs
    • Become a Student
      • Military Information
      • Transfer Students
    smiling doctor with a young child
    Find My Program

    Find the path to your healthcare career goal.

  • Financial Aid

    Financial Aid

    Get support as you navigate paying for your education. Request information to connect with our admission team to discuss your financial options.

    • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Tuition and Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Aid Forms
      • Partnerships
    • Financial Assistance
      • Scholarships
      • Federal and State Grants
      • Applying for Federal Aid
      • Work Study
      • Loans
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
    smiling doctor with a young child
    Find My Program

    Find the path to your healthcare career goal.

  • Why Chamberlain

    Why Chamberlain

    Chamberlain University has a 130-year history preparing extraordinary nursing graduates and healthcare professionals. 

    • Our Story
      • History
      • Our Vision
      • Chamberlain Care
      • Diversity and Inclusion
    • About Chamberlain
      • Leadership
      • Campus Locations
      • Newsroom
      • Blog
      • Accreditation
      • Student Consumer Information
      • Alumni
    smiling doctor with a young child
    Find My Program

    Find the path to your healthcare career goal.

Secondary Header Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Featured

group of smiling nurses studying and collaborating
Are RN to BSN Nursing Programs Worth It?
caregiver with patient in a home setting
Preparing for Your Career as a Family…
Three male nurses smiling with their hands on each other's shoulders
6 Reasons Men Are Choosing a Career in…

Tags

Browse articles by category
Alumni
Campus News
Careers
Health Professions
Nursing Today
Tips for Students

Share

Blog Social Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Nursing Today
  • What is Social Mission? Find Out from Chamberlain’s New Associate Provost Kenya Beard

What is Social Mission? Find Out from Chamberlain’s New Associate Provost Kenya Beard

March 01, 2021 by Emily Bond
Kenya Beard

Chamberlain recently welcomed Kenya Beard, EdD, AGACNP, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, as associate provost, social mission & academic excellence. While she is poised to do so many impactful things in this role, Patricia Ferguson, MA, vice chairman of the Diversity & Inclusion Council, recently had the opportunity to sit down with her for a one-on-one chat to learn more about social mission and why it is so important.  

During this time, we also learned more about Dr. Beard, her journey to where she is now and the big plans she has for Chamberlain.   

Her Passion Toward Nursing 

Dr. Beard entered nursing over 30 years ago, believing that nursing had the power to improve the health of the nation. Several years later, she learned many patients die for reasons beyond their control, stemming from a poor quality of healthcare. When she saw that was the case, her feelings about nursing were taken to the next level. 

“I believe that individuals have the right to achieve their highest level of health,” Dr. Beard stated, aligning with Chamberlain’s mission to educate, empower and embolden diverse healthcare professionals who advance the health of people, families, communities and nations.  

But how could that be achieved? 

Her Feelings on Diversity in the Workforce 

“Greater workforce diversity is needed,” said Dr. Beard, who explained that the absence of diversity in nursing explains many of the disparities seen between different races and their health, as well as their views on healthcare. “And I thought ‘I could help diversify the workforce.’” 

Dr. Beard began conducting substantial research on strengthening racial and ethnic diversity in nursing, but soon began to question: what about the needs of faculty as they teach culturally-competent learners? At that, her research widened to examine and disseminate what universities really need.  

  • Read Dr. Beard’s article on Meaningful Inclusion of Diverse Voices 
  • Read Dr. Beard’s article on Using a Social Mission Lens in Nursing Education 
Her Pathway to Social Mission at Chamberlain 

“That's what led me to Chamberlain,” Dr. Beard said.  “We are graduating learners with the capacity to improve the world. 

In her role, Dr. Beard will focus on Chamberlain’s social mission, specifically the contribution the school makes to enhance health equity within a community. Dr. Beard notes that in order for social mission to be effective, it must align with the University's strategic priorities of mitigating structural racism and dispelling the myth of race as a biological construct.  

“[Chamberlain University] is designed to serve as a leader in this space,” said Dr. Beard.  

Dr. Beard is excited to team up with others to come up with innovative strategies to really impact the lives and the learning styles of Chamberlain’s racially-diverse student body.  

Click here to watch the full conversation between Dr. Beard and Patricia Ferguson.

By Emily Bond

More from Nursing Today

View all >
group of smiling nurses studying and collaborating
Are RN to BSN Nursing Programs Worth It?
Read more
Three male nurses smiling with their hands on each other's shoulders
6 Reasons Men Are Choosing a Career in Nursing
Read more
three nurses smile at the camera
What Are the 6 Cs of Nursing?
Read more
group of smiling nurses circled around the camera
Earning Your MSN in Texas
Read more
Show more >

Request More Information

To receive the Chamberlain University Program Guide, including associated career paths, please select a program of study.

Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Secondary Footer Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Student Portal Login

Main Campus
Addison Campus
1221 North Swift Road
Addison, IL 60101 

National Management Offices
233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800
Chicago, Illinois 60606

All Campus Locations
Contact

Footer Menu Column 1

  • Online Programs
  • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
  • Alumni Association
  • Chamberlain Marketplace
  • Military
  • Leadership
  • Catalog & Viewbook
  • Transcripts

Footer Menu Column 2

  • Student Portal
  • Student Consumer Info
  • Accreditation
  • Parent Organization
  • CA Performance Fact Sheets
  • CA BPPE Annual Report
  • CA BPPE Website
  • Cost of Attendance

Footer Menu Column 3

  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Online Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Student Disability Services
  • Office of Nondiscrimination and Access
RELATED CONTENT
  • Removing Barriers for Men in Nursing
  • Nurses Must Commit to Self-Care First So They...
  • A Seven-Year Journey of Creating a Culture of Care

Footer Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

2025 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.

Footer Menu Line 1

  • Online Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • † Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, ccneaccreditation.org. The Chamberlain University Doctor of Nursing Practice (delivered via distance education) is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. Chamberlain University’s Master of Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, www.ceph.org. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. Chamberlain University’s Master of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation, www.cswe.org. Detailed accreditation information for Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) programs can be found at this link

    Certified to Operate by SCHEV. 

    To report unresolved complaints to the Illinois Board of Higher Education visit their webpage at https://complaints.ibhe.org/ or by mail to 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701-1377. View Chamberlain's complaint process.

    Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.

    Chamberlain University is a member of Adtalem Global Education Inc. www.adtalem.com
    ©2025 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.