El Camino College Director of Nursing Wanda Morris was recently honored with the "Lifetime Achiever" award by the Council of Black Nurses (CBN), Los Angeles at the organization's 49th Anniversary & Scholarship Luncheon.

"Wanda's passion and dedication have made a positive and lasting influence on the nursing programs at El Camino College and Compton College," said El Camino Community College District Superintendent/President Dena P. Maloney. "Encouraging students to be the best that they can be, Wanda utilizes her extensive experience to educate our nursing students, preparing them for the field of nursing."

The CBN, in collaboration with the National Black Nurses Association, is a professional organization of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and student nurses who contribute to improving the quality of life for those who share the African heritage and other ethnic groups. Advocating for health care, educating and mentoring, and facilitating the professional development and career advancement of nurses are part of the CBN mission.

"I am proud to be a nurse because I have had the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others every day, in the community, as a professor, as a dean and now as a director," Morris said.

Morris was also named an "Extraordinary Woman" by the Golden State Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star this past April. The award celebrates women who have made a difference in their community or in an organization serving the community. Morris was also inducted into the West Coast Cities Branch of the National Association of University of Women Hall of Fame in April 2016.

"Dr. Morris has done an outstanding job as the nursing director for both the El Camino College and Compton programs," said Jean Shankweiler, ECC's vice president, academic affairs. "It is difficult to manage one nursing program, much less two. The requirements to maintain accreditation from the Board of Registered Nursing are rigorous, and she demands those high standards of our students and instructors. Dr. Morris' knowledge in this area has brought improved quality and great stability to both programs. She supports students and provides the encouragement to get them through the programs. Her determination and dedication to the profession of nursing and to student nurses are an inspiration to us all."

Morris became El Camino College's director of nursing in January 2016, bringing more than 20 years of teaching and higher education experience to the position. She previously worked with the Compton Community College District as dean of student learning in the Health, Natural Sciences and Human Services Division. In that position, she oversaw the Child Development Program, the Child Development Center and the Nursing Department. She also served the Compton district as nursing director, supervising the associate degree nursing program, vocational nursing program and nursing assistant/home health aide educational programs.

Additionally, Morris previously served as assistant director of nursing for the El Camino and Compton community college districts. She was hired as a nursing instructor at Compton College in 1994. Morris worked as a registered nurse for nearly four decades after graduating from Compton College. She also holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from California State University, Dominguez Hills, a master's degree in nursing from UCLA and a doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University.

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