Theresa Kyzar, assistant professor of nursing at Northwestern State University, has been named North American Region 6 coordinator for Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of nursing and the second-largest largest professional nursing society in the world. STTI North American Region 6 includes Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas encompassing 8,500 members, 36 chapters and 38 colleges of nursing. As coordinator, Kyzar’s role is to support chapters in fulfilling the organization’s call to action, advancing global health and nursing through advocacy, policy, lifelong learning and philanthropy to promote STTI’s global health mission. STTI has approximately 135,000 active members in 98 countries.
Kyzar completed training in Indianapolis, Indiana, last month and will travel in her region presenting scholarly presentation. She will serve a two-year term in which she is responsible for leadership development, membership retention and supporting STTI’s global call to action. Scholarly research is an important component in STTI, which has the largest nursing library in the world and dedicates funding to nursing research.
Kyzar said her involvement with STTI has a direct impact on her students and she encourages them to be involved in professional organizations.
“I tell my students that they will get to work with and be among some of the greatest nursing scholars and leaders in the world,” Kyzar said. “I sat across the table with people from Japan, Wales, Lebanon and Australia and listened to their stories about what they are experiencing in healthcare and I share those stories with my students. It helps nursing really come alive for them.”
Kyzar has been a member of STTI since 2005 and previously served as is past president of NSU’s Beta Chi chapter, celebrating its 40th anniversary in April.
Kyzar earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington and holds two master’s degrees in nursing and business administration from the University of Phoenix. She will complete her Ph.D. in healthcare administration from Capella University in August. Her research topic is “The Effect of conscience and hospital ethical climate in registered nurses in the acute care setting.”
In addition to STTI, she is also a member of the American Organization of Nursing Executives and served on that group’s international committee working with professionals in Croatia, Romania and Qatar to help them build baccalaureate nursing programs.
“I love my students and I hope I inspire them to make contributions beyond what we are doing. It is why I do what I do and the reason I love being at NSU and representing this university nationally and internationally in my leadership roles,” Kyzar said.