Clayton State Dean Dr Dwayne Hooks Receives KU School of Nursing Alumni Award
(October 15, 2025) - Clayton State University’s own Dr. Dwayne Hooks, dean of the College of Health and interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was recently honored by his Alma Mater the University of Kansas School of Nursing. At the event KU School of Nursing honored their alumni award winners and welcomed 120 new members of the class of 2027 who professed their dedication to the profession. Hooks earned a Doctor of Philosophy at KU School of Nursing in 2015.
The event featured a welcome from Jean Giddens, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of KU School of Nursing, comments from Rachel Pepper, DNP, chief nursing officer at The University of Kansas Health System, and a panel discussion with the three alumni award winners.
The alumni award winners were Deborah Trautman, Ph.D., FAAN, winner of the Honorary Alumni Award; J. Dwayne Hooks, Ph.D., winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award; and Jessi Loucks, DNP, winner of the Early Career Alumni Award.
After the ceremony, Dr. Hooks shared “thanks to Dean Jean Giddens, and the entire SON leadership team, for the innovative ceremony and for the dedication to new students and alumni alike. It was great to be back on campus after a decade!”
Trautman is president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. AACN sets standards, provides resources and develops the leadership capacity of member schools to advance nursing education, research and practice. She has authored numerous publications on health policy, leadership, nursing practice and nursing education.
Loucks is a nurse practitioner at The University of Kansas Health System. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2019 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2025, both from KU School of Nursing.
According to KU School of Nursing, the panelists all agreed that the field of nursing offers tremendous growth and a wide variety of career paths. Future challenges include nationwide nursing shortages and health inequities, while future opportunities include advances in technology and increased opportunities for leadership. Students were encouraged to be lifelong learners, to take time for themselves and to seek out mentors and colleagues.
Photography and accounts of the alumni awards event are courtesy of KU School of Nursing.