The Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences congratulates our May 2023 graduates! We proudly celebrate the accomplishments of our students, like Diana Singer, a Ph.D. in Health Sciences candidate. She spoke with Harris College about her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral experience and post-graduate endeavors.
Why did you choose your area of study?
I was drawn to nursing as a teenager with a deep desire to help others and be a part of something bigger than myself. I finished my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at TCU in 2010 and started in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network in Fort Worth. Then, I branched into the world of medical education and subsequently completed a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus on nursing education at TCU in 2018. The Ph.D. in Health Sciences program was just starting, and it was the perfect way for me to meld my interests in interprofessional health care education and research.
What brought you to TCU?
I started at TCU in 2006 for my BSN and haven’t left since! I first came for its stellar nursing program, location and overall collegiate experience. I came back not once but twice because of the dedicated faculty, curricular opportunities and individualized support that are so central to the TCU experience.
What have you enjoyed most about being a Horned Frog?
I absolutely love the community, people and spirit of TCU – it’s truly a big family. I love that you can go anywhere in Fort Worth wearing purple and you’ll get a Horned Frogs sign flashed at you. TCU is such a special place and I love that I bleed purple so deeply!
What are your plans after graduation?
I am going to continue in my current roles as the executive director for academic affairs at JPS Health Network and adjunct faculty with TCU Nursing. In addition, I am excited to take on new roles within the Health Innovation Institute at TCU as the director for the Center for Collaborative Practice and coordinator for the Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship.
How did TCU help prepare you for your future career?
TCU has opened so many doors for me. It was actually the last clinical rotation in my undergraduate degree that led me to JPS in the first place. Since then, I have grown from a frontline ICU nurse to an executive director, and I credit both TCU and JPS for helping me grow as a person and as a leader. I am so grateful for TCU’s commitment to Lead On.
Was there any particular experience that was especially helpful?
The mentoring and support from the Ph.D. and TCU Nursing faculty were absolutely the most helpful and impactful parts of my Ph.D. My dissertation chair (Dr. Danielle Walker) and committee members (Dr. Kathy Baker and Dr. Yan Zhang) were critical in my success and for making it such a fun, rewarding journey in the process.
Were you involved in any research during your time at TCU?
Absolutely! I published three first-author articles during my Ph.D. and successfully defended my dissertation “Modifiable Factors Contributing to Belongingness of Undergraduate Nursing Students in the Clinical Learning Environment” on April 4. I am so excited to continue this important research going forward.
What makes TCU so special to you?
It’s so hard to answer this question – TCU is so deeply ingrained in who I am as a person. I have now been a Horned Frog for just short of half of my life and TCU holds such a special place in my heart. I have grown up here and it has truly been such a critical part of my journey. I have so many cherished relationships and have accomplished things I never would have imagined because of the education and support I’ve received from TCU.
Tell us about your proudest accomplishment while at TCU.
Definitely the moment I first heard “I would like to present to you, Dr. Diana Singer.” A Ph.D. is a journey no matter what, but then add in a global pandemic; it was just so exciting to celebrate reaching the finish line. That and I am so immensely proud of my dissertation research and its rich future – it is an incredible feeling knowing you have contributed new knowledge to your field with important, practical implications.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am so, so grateful for TCU Nursing, Harris College and TCU as a whole. It is such a joy and honor to be a student, alum and faculty member with such an incredible group of people. I am so excited for the journey to come and GO FROGS!
