Dr. Danita Potter is a member of the Carroll High School Class of 1988. While at Carroll, Danita participated in several leadership capacities such as Captain of the Majorettes, Captain of the Softball Team, and Captain of the Track Team. During her senior year she wore the crown of Miss Majorette. Danita was the recipient of a band scholarship as a featured Baton Twirler for the Grambling State University Tiger March Band. Danita participated in outstanding half-time performances for the New York Giants, Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Tokyo Japan games. She is happily married to Mr. Dexter Potter of Monroe, Louisiana. Together they are raising four energetic and wonderful children.
Dr. Potter received her BSN from Grambling State University in 1995 and her MSN with High Distinction in Nursing Education from Alcorn State University in 2005. In 2010, she earned the Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Nursing from Hampton University in Virginia.
After teaching for 10 years at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM), Dr. Potter has returned to her Alma Mater, Grambling State University (GSU), as an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. There she teaches Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Advanced Nursing Theory, and Junior Seminar Courses. While at ULM, she taught across the nursing curriculum and was the holder of the Sister Anne Marie Twohig Endowed Professorship in Nursing. Also during her tenure at ULM, Dr. Potter served the School of Nursing in several capacities including committees such as Academic and Admissions Standards, Safety, Awards, PR, Nursing Gala, and Assessment & Evaluation; Treasurer of Lambda Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau; Student Counselor of Lambda Mu Sigma Theta Tau; Chair of the Convocation Committee, Faculty Advisor for NAACP; and Mentor of the Emerging Scholars Program. In 2008 and 2009, Dr. Potter was twice selected to receive the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Johnson & Johnson Minority Faculty Scholarship to support her dissertation.
In addition to her professional career, Dr. Potter is very active in the community having served on a local advisory board for Unitech Training Academy, as a nurse consultant for a local assisted living agency, as Member-at-Large and Executive council for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, on church-based committees, and elementary/junior high school PTOs. She has also co-chaired the first, second, third, and fourth Annual Community Health Fair for Omicron Iota Omega Chapter of AKA, and Co-Chaired ULM School of Nursing’s health fair.
Dr. Potter has contributed to youth education and health by conducting community health fairs as well as local and regional presentations related to: Teen Awareness Drugs and Alcohol, Teenage Pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases & HIV/AIDS, First-Time Teenage Mothers, and Nurse Caring Behaviors. On February 22, 2012, Dr. Potter will present her Dissertation work at the 26th Annual Conference of the Southern Nursing Research Society in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Through her many accomplishments, Dr. Danita Potter exemplifies what it means to be an accomplished nurse educator, community leader, and Outstanding Carroll High Alumnus.