Howard Payne University’s Lajeana Long, assistant professor of nursing at HPU, was selected as Faculty Member of the Month.

“Lajeana is a highly engaged educator whose commitment to student success extends far beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Laci Sutton, dean of the School of Nursing and assistant professor of nursing. “Her dedication to mentoring students as future nurses and professionals, paired with her humble and servant-hearted approach, beautifully reflects HPU’s core value of Called to Service.”

Long has served at HPU for three years and teaches juniors and seniors who are admitted into HPU’s nursing program. She is grateful for the way HPU allows her to teach nursing students through the lens of faith.

“I love teaching at Howard Payne,” she said. “I love the way it lets us incorporate our faith in our teaching.”

Long’s goal is to teach her students how to treat the whole patient. She wants her students to not only care about their patient’s physical health, but their emotional and spiritual health as well.

“That is something that Howard Payne really brings out and allows me to bring out in my teaching,” said Long.

HPU’s lower student-to-teacher ratio allows Long to care for each student individually. The intentional care she provides to her students is one of her favorite things about serving at HPU.

“I love the way HPU allows us to get close to our students, to interact with them and get to know them individually rather than as big numbers,” she said. “It’s just a great place to be.”

For more information about HPU, visit www.hputx.edu.