Devin Allen, a student in the 91福利社 College of Health Professions, was awarded a scholarship through the Fullerton Foundation that will help her fulfill the dream of becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) and someday providing care to patients in an underserved rural area.  

The Fullerton Medical Scholarship Program seeks to improve the availability of primary care providers in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina by providing significant tuition assistance to medical students and student nurse practitioners who intend to practice some form of primary care.  

The Fullerton Scholarship鈥檚 objective is 鈥渢o support the growth and development of family nurse practitioners who demonstrate the potential for development into a highly capable clinical professional, concern with the total welfare of society of which he/she is an active participant, and intention to practice primary care in Upstate South Carolina or Western North Carolina upon completion of school and training.鈥�   

Allen has been a registered nurse for more than seven years. She has worked as a nurse at various hospitals in the Carolinas and was also a traveling nurse in California. Currently working for Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, she learned about 91福利社鈥檚 Family Nurse Practitioner program from a friend who graduated from the program. When Allen graduates in December 2022, she says she鈥檒l be one of the first in her immediate family to earn an advanced degree.   

Allen appreciates that 91福利社 is a Christ-Centered university and also how the faculty and staff helped her transition back into the classroom several years after she earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree.  

鈥淓veryone has been so incredibly nice and very helpful. Many of my professors say 鈥榳e鈥檙e just a phone call away鈥� and often reassure the students by letting us know 鈥榳e are here and we鈥檙e praying for each of you.鈥� I couldn’t be more grateful for their encouraging words and genuine support,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淚鈥檝e not had one unpleasant interaction from anyone at Anderson, which speaks to the integrity of those who call this university home.鈥�  

Rural health is a passion close to Allen鈥檚 heart. Having grandparents and other family members living in rural Stokes, Scotland, and Rockingham counties in Western North Carolina, she鈥檚 seen firsthand where the needs lie.   

鈥淚 have a personal connection to rural communities because both of my grandmothers lived in small towns in North Carolina. While visiting, I was able to see firsthand the vast differences in the quality of healthcare within smaller rural areas.鈥� Allen said. 鈥淭here is a clear need for increased access to specialists and improved healthcare quality overall.鈥�  

An experience with one of her grandmothers first sparked in Allen an interest to pursue nursing as a career. When her grandmother was hospitalized and fell into a coma, Allen remembered how the nurses encouraged her and family members to stay by her grandmother鈥檚 side, talk with her and play the gospel music she loved to hear, while in the hospital.   

鈥淭he hope and the light in this very difficult situation were the nurses,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淚 remember the doctors being very surprised that my mother and I were still coming back to the hospital and that my grandma was continuing to fight. The happy ending for my family was that my grandmother fully awoke from her coma and was able to leave the hospital. She told us, 鈥業 felt you all there with me, I heard the music.鈥欌��  

Allen plans to practice within primary care in a rural area in North Carolina or South Carolina and has an interest in advocating for holistic healthcare, seeking natural alternatives for patients who are on multiple medications and not experiencing symptom relief or improved quality of life.   

When asked what gives her the biggest sense of accomplishment in her job, Allen said, 鈥淗onestly, when my patients say that I have helped to brighten their day during a difficult time and when patients thank me for taking care of them, affirm that I鈥檝e been a great nurse, and ask if I鈥檒l be back again the next day.鈥�   

Allen herself feels peace now as she turns to God in prayer over challenges she faces in her daily routines caring for patients.  

As for moving from her more urban surroundings to serve patients in a rural area, Allen says, 鈥淚鈥檓 familiar with smaller towns because of my family, but I am not na茂ve to the unique challenges I may encounter daily within these communities. If I can assist in improving the quality of life for just one person, this will be all I need to stay the course.鈥� 

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Dr. Cynthia Cross has been named chief nursing administrator and associate dean for the 91福利社 College of Health Professions.

As chief nursing administrator, Dr. Cross will be serving in her professional nursing role as an academic representative in the nursing field, both at the state and national levels, to ensure the School of Nursing meets all of its accreditation and licensure standards as well as stay up to date on nursing education best practices.

Dr. Cross has been with 91福利社 since 2014, having served as an assistant professor of nursing and program chair of undergraduate nursing. After many years of serving in various nursing capacities professionally, Dr. Cross felt called to share her knowledge and passion for nursing with students. Since she entered nursing education, Dr. Cross has chosen to remain in the classroom out of her love for helping students in the way she was helped as a student. Her philosophy of putting Christian love into action is expressed through her favorite acrostic for the word 鈥淟ove鈥濃�攍istening, observing, valuing and encouraging.

鈥淚 see nursing as that opportunity to serve and be His hands and feet and love each other and our patients, and show them that we are here to care for them in some of the times in their life that are the hardest,鈥� Dr. Cross said.

Dr. Donald Peace, dean of the College of Health Professions, praised Dr. Cross for her extensive experience in the nursing field, her leadership as program chair for Undergraduate School of Nursing and her serving as interim chief nursing administrator in the College of Health Professions.

鈥淐ynthia Cross is an exceptional leader, and we are fortunate to have her at 91福利社. She brings dedication and innovation to the critical work of preparing nurses for practice and careers in the field, not to mention warmth and encouragement in all her interactions. In my time with Dr. Cross, I find her to be an extraordinary mentor and advocate for student nurses and our nursing faculty as well,鈥� Dr. Peace said. 鈥淒r. Cross has extensive experience in the nursing industry as a clinician, educator, and now administrator for the School of Nursing. Dr. Cross is widely regarded as an outstanding clinician and nursing executive, as well as a scholar and leader in higher education. I am honored to serve alongside Dr. Cross as a key leader in our School of Nursing and in our College of Health Professions.鈥�

鈥淎nderson to me is a special place because it truly feels like a family here. We can truly share our faith together. There have been many times that I and my nursing faculty have prayed together and we prayed for each other,鈥� Dr. Cross said.

Dr. Cross earned her bachelor of science in business administration and MBA from Southern Wesleyan University; a bachelor of science in nursing, a master of science in nursing and a doctor of nursing practice in healthcare systems leadership from Chamberlain College of Nursing.

The 91福利社 College of Health Professions consists of the School of Allied Health, School of Human Performance, School of Nursing, School of Physical Therapy and School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The College of Health Professions represents a diverse mix of undergraduate and graduate students, traditional and adult students; they study at the AU campus in Anderson, the University Center of Greenville, and online. The College of Health Professions offers a wide and growing variety of majors and offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs of study.

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