About Louisiana Nurses Foundation

Possessing more than 48 years of clinical experience in hospitals, health plan medical management, and executive leadership, Coletta Barrett currently serves as faculty in the Southeastern Louisiana University School of Nursing Graduate program. Coletta, a cardiovascular nurse specialist, maintains her nursing license. She is a fellow of the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.  Coletta received her DNP from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2024 and a Master of Health Administration from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 1994.  She served as the National Chairman of the Board of the American Heart Association from 2003-2004.  Coletta was the 2004 Alumnus of the Year for Southeastern Louisiana University and was inducted into the Louisiana State Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2015.  Coletta is the 2025-2027 President of the Louisiana Nurse’s Foundation and is currently Chair of the Louisiana State Nurses Association Workforce Effectiveness Initiative.

Coletta currently holds the position of Emeritus Chairman of the Board for the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative in Baton Rouge. Tasked with enhancing the city’s health outcome measures, she led an 84-member coalition of community stakeholders.  In recognition of their exceptional work, The Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative was bestowed with the 2015 NOVA Award from the American Hospital Association. This award was a testament to the Initiative's unique achievement of a Joint Community Health Needs Assessment and a Joint Implementation Plan among multiple competing hospitals, a feat unmatched in the United States.  The 2024 CHNA identified Zip Code Inequity and Social Determinants of Health as a priority health need.   The Board of Directors for MHCI was responsible for addressing SDOH through community-based Anchor Strategies.  The Collective Impact Model used for Community Health Improvement also extends to grant funders. A JOINT grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation and the Humana Foundation funded a 3-year grant to address the grocery gap in disinvested zip codes. Coletta's leadership style, which brings competitors together as collaborators for the community’s health, is a hallmark of the work of the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative. 

In 2015, when Legislative efforts to curb predatory practices in payday lending fell short, Coletta played a pivotal role in establishing a multi-sector private approach to payday lending. In collaboration with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, MetroMorphosis, and Our Lady of the Lake, the Faith Fund was born in 2018. This micro-lending alternative was a beacon of hope for previously financially exploited individuals with interest rates exceeding 1000%. The Faith Fund provided services to break the cycle of poverty and liberate members from predatory payday loans.  With financial education at its core, the program empowered participants to make better decisions and embark on new life chapters.  This program has helped team members avoid over $6.7 million in fees and interest from payday lenders to date. Coletta serves as the community representative on the Faith Fund Board of Directors, further underscoring her commitment to social justice and financial empowerment.

Term: 2023-2026

Deborah Ford is an accomplished and proven senior executive with a solid history of achievement, holding the role of Chief Executive Nursing officer at three large academic medical centers spanning nearly twenty years and most recently at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.  She is noted as achieving the coveted nursing excellence award of Magnet status not one, but five times. 

 

Some of her other major accomplishments are: development of a staffing bidding system to provide sufficient coverage for hospitalized patients as well as rolling out key employee engagement strategies.  She has received several noteworthy awards to include most recently: 2024 Women We Admire “Top Women Leaders of Louisiana,” 2024 Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement award, 2023 Becker’s Healthcare “Top 153 CNO’s to Know,” and 2021 NOLA City Business “Woman of the Year Honorees.”  For her work during COVID, she was featured as a 2020 Dear World COVID Healthcare Heroes. A fun fact, she was the first person in Louisiana to receive the COVID vaccine. 

 

She currently serves on the board of the La. Nurses Foundation, as President-Elect, and nationally as a Health Equity Ambassador for the  AARP Center for Health Equity through Nursing Volunteer Program.

She has previously served as a past President of the La. State Board of Nursing, a past President of Louisiana Organization of Nurse Leaders, and various positions on Louisiana State Nurses Association and the Louisiana Action Coalition.

Term: 2023-2026

Term: 2023-2025

Dr. Jennifer Manning is the current Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) School of Nursing. She has over 30 years of experience in the nursing field, with expertise as a nurse faculty, nurse administrator, nurse regulator, nurse researcher, and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) leader.

Education and Certification

Dr. Manning started her nursing career in 2000 as a critical care nurse. She also has extensive research experience, focusing on hypertension’s impact at LSUHSC from 1994 to 2006. She obtained her MSN degree and Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification in 2007. In 2014, Dr. Manning completed her Doctor of Nursing Science Degree with a dissertation on the influence of nurse manager leadership on RN outcomes.

Academic Teaching and Administration

Dr. Manning’s academic career at LSUHSC School of Nursing started in 2007. She held various leadership roles, including RN to BSN program director and the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) Program coordinator. Since 2015, she has served as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Programs. Dr. Manning is actively involved in teaching across undergraduate and graduate levels and is dedicated to mentoring students, new faculty, and academic leaders.

Service

Dr. Manning holds the position of Clinical Nurse Researcher at LCMC Health East Jefferson General Hospital. She has been an influential leader in nursing organizations, serving as President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), President of the Epsilon Nu chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, and on the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN). Additionally, she has been involved in the National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) board and holds the position of Associate Editor for the Clinical Nurse Specialist Journal. Dr. Manning is a Clinical Nurse Specialist Fellow.

Research and Scholarship

Dr. Manning has a strong research background, with early experience in studying hypertension using cell and animal models. Her nursing research focuses on nursing simulation, leadership, work environments, clinical nurse specialists, and critical care. She is a prolific author, having published 25 peer-reviewed articles, multiple book chapters, and a book. Dr. Manning is also a frequent presenter at various national and international levels.

For more information, see Dr. Manning’s CV: https://nursing.lsuhsc.edu/Apps/FacultyDirectory/Info/default.aspx?ID=jmanni. 

 

 Term: 2022-2026

Term: 2022-2024

Term: 2023-2025

Term: 2021-2025

Dr. Latonya Darensbourg, DNP, MSN-HCSM, ARPN, FNP-C, is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 13 years of experience in the nursing field. She passionately advocates for health equity and social justice, embodying the belief that every individual deserves access to quality healthcare. As a nurse practitioner, Dr. Darensbourg has made significant contributions to patient care and community health, positioning herself as a professional leader.

A member of the Louisiana Emergency Response Network and the LAVA Team, Dr. Darensbourg plays an active role in enhancing emergency response capabilities across Louisiana. Her involvement ensures that the healthcare system effectively meets the needs of diverse communities, especially during crises. Dr. Darensbourg is also committed to advancing women and minorities within the healthcare sector, working tirelessly to create opportunities for those who have historically faced barriers to entry and success.

In addition to her clinical roles, Dr. Darensbourg is a nursing college professor who strives to inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders. As a mentor for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), she is deeply committed to providing guidance and support to nursing students, fostering their development, and helping them cultivate their skills and passions.

Dr. Darensbourg’s commitment to health equity is reflected in her educational initiatives. She actively works to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, emphasizing the importance of culturally competent care. By engaging with her community through workshops and health education programs, she empowers individuals to be proactive about their health.

Her multifaceted career and advocacy are fueled by a personal mission to champion health equity and improve the status quo within the healthcare system. Dr. Darensbourg believes in the power of education, mentorship, and collaboration as vehicles for change. She is driven by the famous words of General Hazel Johnson-Brown: "Positive progress towards excellence, that's what we want. If you stand still and settle for the status quo, that's exactly what you will have." This quote resonates deeply with her, motivating her to pursue continuous improvement and excellence in all aspects of her work.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Darensbourg resides in Laplace, LA in St. John the Baptist Parish. She is married and is the proud mother of four adult males. She understands the importance of family and community, often sharing her experiences and insights with her students and peers. Balancing her family life with her professional commitments, she serves as a role model for aspiring healthcare professionals, demonstrating that it is possible to make a meaningful impact with dedication and hard work.

 Dr. Latonya Darensbourg is a transformative figure in healthcare. She combines her expertise, advocacy, and passion for teaching to inspire change and promote health equity. Through her leadership, mentorship, and commitment to excellence, she continues to shape the future of nursing and healthcare in her community and beyond.

 

Term 2025-

A senior leader in healthcare management with fifty years of experience in the public and private sector, in behavioral health and primary care settings. In addition to clinical care, she has served as Nurse Executive and Quality Support Services Director at several New Orleans/Northshore facilities ranging from 32-489 beds.  She was Director of Quality Support Services at a FQHC primary-care system consisting of 11 nurse practitioner led clinics across 5 parishes. She specializes in the integration of clinical operations and regulatory readiness with fourteen successful Joint Commission Behavioral Health Hospital accreditations, four Ambulatory Care and two CARF. She is currently semi-retired as a healthcare consultant.

Her teaching experience includes staff development, development of ANCC approved continuing education programs, local, state, and national presentations, PMHN clinical instructor at PRJC, BRGH SON, William Carey College and Southeastern La. University.

She was re-elected to a second four-year term on the Board of Commissioners of Hospital District 2 in St. Tammany Parish and serves on the executive committee, finance committee, chairs the Board quality management committee

She has extensive association management experience recently completed a ten-year term as president of the Northshore District Nurses Association for which she received the 2023 LSNA Outstanding President Award and is now the Director of Publicity. She is a forty-year member of LSNA, is a LSNA Fellow, recent past president, and secretary and currently serves on the LSNA BOD as newly elected secretary, chair of the LSNA Awards committee, member of the LSNA Health Policy Consortium. Trustee for Louisiana Nurses Foundation. Recently completed a third and final term as a member of the ANA Professional Policy Committee.

Term: 2023-2025

Ms. Shannon Brown Joseph is a dynamic and accomplished workforce development liaison with experience in federal and state funded programs, diversity initiatives, and programmatic development. Ms. Brown Joseph incorporates diversity initiatives, strategic partnerships, policy development, and programmatic design into talent pipeline creation.

She is a recognized thought leader, presenting industry best practices for education, training, and work-based learning to national audiences. Her expertise allows her to support the development of registered apprenticeships and customized talent training for in-demand positions, meeting organizations’ strategic objectives.

Before joining HMA, Ms. Brown Joseph was national director of nursing workforce pipeline for Ascension Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States. She directed nursing and nursing support workforce development programs for the system nationwide, supporting more than 150,000 employees and 2,600 sites of care, including 142 hospitals.

Ms. Brown Joseph previously served as director of workforce development at Ochsner Health. She led her team to not only increase their initiatives by over 500 percent but also implemented the initiatives throughout the system’s entire footprint. Within three years, Ms. Brown Joseph connected more than 2,000 individuals to education, training, and job placement. She accomplished this via resource acquisition efforts throughout her tenure, valued at more than $7 million.

In addition to her health system experience, Ms. Brown Joseph worked in workforce development with state agencies. Receiving an appointment as assistant secretary of labor in Louisiana, Ms. Brown Joseph oversaw all the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s (LWC) workforce development programs. She was responsible for the statewide network of American Job Centers, Business Services, Incumbent Worker Training, Apprenticeship, Veterans’ Services, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Rapid Response, Labor Programs, and state administration of the Community Services Block Grant programs.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Brown Joseph served the LWC as industry sector coordinator, where she successfully established a major partnership within the healthcare sector. This partnership continues to provide medical training and employment opportunities for long-term unemployed citizens. Another partnership Ms. Brown Joseph developed with Delgado Community College ensures intensive services for eligible veterans and their spouses, specifically veterans who are homeless, disabled, low-income, re-entering society following incarceration, recently discharged from the military, or lacking a high school diploma. As part of the program, full-time Disabled Veteran Outreach Program specialists were strategically placed on campus for student assistance. Ms. Brown Joseph convened the first cross-sector partnership in the State of Louisiana between the education and industry sectors. This collaboration led to standardized allied health training between all community colleges statewide.

Ms. Brown Joseph earned her master ‘s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and her bachelor’s degree in business administration-marketing from Loyola University in New Orleans. She is certified in diversity, equity, and inclusion by the University of South Florida and in workforce development by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. Ms. Brown Joseph is a fellow in the William K. Kellogg Foundation Leadership and Community Engagement Fellowship, and she has previously been a fellow in the Louisiana Institute of Politics. Shannon also works to prosper her community by lending her time and talent to several non-profit organizations. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in leadership from Liberty University. She currently serves on the board of directors of the New Orleans Career Center, the Arc of Greater New Orleans and Clover. Shae has served on Advisory Boards for Next Level Nola and Goodwill Industries Technical and Training Programs.

Outside of the office, Ms. Brown Joseph lends her experience and skills to several nonprofit organizations. She currently serves on the board of directors with of the Arc of Greater New Orleans, Algiers Economic, New Orleans Career Center and Clover. Ms. Brown Joseph works with Goodwill Industries Technical and Training, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and sits on advisory boards for Next Level Nola and the National Youth Employment Coalition Steering Committee for New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Dr. Leslie Norman is a seasoned healthcare professional with 37 years of nursing experience, specializing in executive leadership across hospital and ambulatory care settings. Currently, she serves as a graduate-level educator, shaping the next generation of nursing leaders.

Dr. Norman recently retired as the Assistant Vice President of Nursing at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Her distinguished career also includes roles as Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land in Houston and Our Lady of the Lake Ascension in Gonzales, Louisiana, alongside a range of progressive leadership positions.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UTMB-Galveston, a Master of Public Health from UT Health-Houston, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the UT Health Cizik School of Nursing in Houston. Dr. Norman is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is board-certified as an Advanced Executive Nurse (NEA-BC) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

An active member of professional organizations, Dr. Norman participates in the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Louisiana State Nurses Association, and the Louisiana Organization of Nurse Leaders.

Dr. Norman’s vision is to make a meaningful difference in every life she touches, with a focus on patient-centered care. Her passion for healthcare leadership drives her to inspire and influence those committed to advancing patient care, using her expertise to positively impact individuals and communities on a broader scale.

 I hold A NEA-BC certification and am an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow.

Darrell Johnson is an advocate for human rights, an activist for youth in crisis -and a

supporter of social justice. A native New Orleanian, Darrell completed his undergraduate

studies at Loyola University in New Orleans and earned his master’s in communication

at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

In addition to a fellowship with the Nancy M. Marsiglia Institute of Justine (at Loyola

University New Orleans -College of Law), Darrell also completed a 2-year Leadership in

Residence fellowship with the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (at the University

of Louisville -Louisville, KY.)

Currently, Darrell is the Director of Institutional Advancement at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

He also works in Public Relations and Event Planning. He has worked on projects

and events with local agencies such as the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), 100

Black Men of Metro New Orleans, The Tchoupitoulas Flood Wall Mural, Spice Life

NOLA, and the Dr. Eric Griggs Foundation.