Paula Bryant, senior lecturer in the Georgia Southwestern State University School of Nursing, is the recipient of the inaugural William B. King Faculty Scholar Award for nursing faculty. The award comes with a $9,000 stipend distributed evenly over three years.

When the late William B. King was president of Georgia Southwestern College, his desire was to increase the number of doctoral faculty. The funds from this award will do just that, as Bryant is working on her Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Alabama. She has completed her comprehensive exams and will soon begin working on her dissertation.

“I am very humbled and honored to receive this award,” Bryant said. “It will be of great help as I begin my research.”

The monies for this award are given from the William B. King Family Fund within the GSW Foundation. The Fund’s purpose is to support nursing faculty. For the duration of her award, Bryant will be identified as the William B. King Faculty Scholar in all publications and presentations.

“Paula is very deserving of this award,” said Sandra Daniel, Ph.D., GSW School of Nursing dean. “Completing doctoral education studies is challenging and involves a large commitment of time and monetary resources. I am delighted that she has been named the first William B. King Faculty Scholar. Since she joined the faculty at GSW, her past experiences in nursing education and administration have quickly earned the respect of faculty, staff and students.”

Bryant’s tenure at GSW began in 2013, coming from Middle Georgia State College. She earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Middle Georgia College and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing from Georgia College and State University.

The Georgia Southwestern School of Nursing is located in GSW’s Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex. For more information about the program, visit www.gsw.edu.