Biography
I am Dr. Melissa Phillips, PhD, RN. I am a native of southeastern Louisiana but have lived in several states over the years. I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. I have been a nurse for over 15 years and have worked in various areas of nursing such as med-surgical, managed care, public health, and nursing education.
I received my Bachelor of Science in nursing degree at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, La. I received my Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in nursing leadership/healthcare systems management from Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana. I received my PhD in Nursing at Hampton University, Hampton Virginia. My dissertation topic was “The lived experiences of Hispanic, Latino, and Afro-Latino female migrant workers accessing healthcare in Maryland and the family impact.”
My academia experience expands to Hampton University School of Nursing(Hampton, Virginia) and Bowie State University School of Nursing (Bowie, Maryland) and now Tulane University- Program of Nursing. I have had the privilege of teaching across the curriculum at each level of a BSN program which has allowed me to have a broad view of how students think, learn, and master nursing competencies while also gaining the confidence to practice as registered nurses upon graduation and receiving licensure.
I am member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and served as the faculty advisor to undergraduate students in the past. I am also a member of the American Public Health Association and was selected as a roundtable presenter at the November 2026 Annual Meeting. Other organizational affiliations include National League for Nursing, American Nurses Association.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, sewing, fishing, community service, and a plethora of spontaneous and adventurous events with my husband.