Tracie Kirkland, PhD, DNP, ANP-BC, CPNP is an Associate Dean for Transformational Practice and Partnerships and Kenneth E. Morehead Endowed Chair, with over 30 years of experience as a dual-certified adult and pediatric nurse practitioner. Her research focuses on social determinants of health, particularly food insecurity in medically underserved communities. She holds a dual preparation, DNP-PHD where she can synthesize, translate, and generate new knowledge. Nationally, she is a collaborative author with numerous publications in education and clinical topics. She was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in 2023 and the Academy of Nursing in 2024, a prestigious recognition bestowed upon nursing.  Dr. Kirkland is a servant-leader. She is a two-time elected Board Member-at-Large for the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. She serves as co-chair of the NONPF Leadership Mentor Program. Her passion is leading faculty to train the next generation of nurse practitioners to cultivate critical thinking and to address the complexities in health outcomes. Her faith has sustained her allowing her to live by “too much is given, much is expected.” Faith, family, and community depict her value system which affords windows of opportunities to work collaboratively in building ecosystems.