Overview
Dr. Tonya Willingham is a seasoned nurse educator with more than two decades of experience in pre-licensure nursing education. She holds a BS in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, an MA in Counseling Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, an MS in Nursing from Queens University of Charlotte, and an Ed.D. in Nursing Education from the University of West Georgia. Her clinical foundation in orthopedics and perioperative nursing provided the groundwork for her transition to academia, where she has developed and taught courses across the nursing curriculum, including fundamentals, pharmacology, pathophysiology, medical-surgical nursing, and senior practicums.
Dr. Willingham is recognized for her expertise in course design, program evaluation, and NCLEX-RN preparation. She has created and implemented student success initiatives that improved outcomes and earned commendations from accreditors, drawing on evidence-based practices, data analysis, and collaborative engagement with institutional support services. Her scholarship and national presentations focus on testing analysis, active learning, concept mapping, and fostering clinical judgment, reflecting her commitment to innovative pedagogy and equitable student learning.
A dedicated mentor, Dr. Willingham supports faculty, graduate students, and future nurse educators through precepting and professional development. She has served in leadership roles at the state and national levels, including as president of the North Carolina League for Nursing, and was selected for the National League for Nursing Leadership Institute (2015) and AACN’s Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing program (2022). Her work reflects a passion for cultivating inclusive learning environments, preparing practice-ready nurses, and advancing the future of nursing education.