SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Kay Bennett is an RN who is currently enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing. Kay received her BSN/MSN in Nursing and Health Systems Leadership from the University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN. Kay also received a BS in Marketing from Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Kay was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau and was recently awarded the Woman Child Health Initiative Predoctoral Scholarship from the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing. Kay has worked with the community in several positions including Assisted Living Community Nurse in Indianapolis, Indiana, Free Clinic Medical Manager in Carmel, Indiana and most recently as a Nurse Consultant, 2014-2017, Belen Gualcho, Ocotepeque, Honduras where her goal was to reduce maternal and infant mortality in rural Hondurans. As a Woman Child Health Initiative Predoctoral scholar, Kay’s focus is nutrition in early childhood as a foundation for a lifespan of healthy food choices. Good nutrition is the best prevention for many chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Everyone must eat, and pre-school age children are a particularly vulnerable population without autonomy to choose and procure their own food. In a future nursing faculty position, her mission will be to mentor the next generation of nurse leaders.