As Dr. Diane Raines retires after five transformative years at Jacksonville University's Keigwin School of Nursing (KSON), her departure marks a legacy of what makes JU's nursing programs exceptional: deep partnerships with leading healthcare organizations that transform academic theory into real-world leadership.
Raines' brief but impactful journey in academia exemplifies JU's commitment to experiential learning. Drawing from her 42-year career at Baptist Health, she bridged the gap between classroom and hospital floor in ways that only someone embedded in both worlds could achieve.
JU's mission to provide experiential learning through healthcare partnerships came alive in Raines' classroom. She collaborated directly with employers at organizations like Baptist Health and Mayo Clinic to ensure graduates were workforce-ready.
"I had the privilege of partnering with Dr. Raines in the MSN in Nursing graduate program," shared Rebecca Monteau, director of nursing academic affairs at Mayo Clinic. "Her passion for educating the next generation of nursing leaders was evident in the way she fostered student engagement and advanced their knowledge and skills.”
When Raines joined JU in 2019, she brought a vision to reimagine nursing education. Based on direct feedback from students and healthcare partners, she integrated hands-on experiences into four critical leadership domains: business, human resources, quality and safety. She also helped design JU's doctoral-level business of healthcare courses, preparing students to navigate the complex intersection of clinical excellence and organizational leadership.
"I love teaching. I had always wanted to teach, but my career was always so busy," Raines said. "This gave me the opportunity to do it for a while."
Reflecting on her time at JU, Raines articulated what distinguishes the institution: "The Keigwin School of Nursing has faculty and leaders who are committed to innovation in education and practice and who partner with healthcare providers to prepare nurses to function at the highest level of practice upon graduation. The reputation JU nurses enjoy in this community speaks volumes about the focused approach of the Keigwin School of Nursing."
Even after retiring from Baptist in 2018, Raines returned as a consultant during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop crisis response strategies, experience she then channeled back into her JU classrooms.
Dr. Lindsay Wolf, associate dean of nursing and chief academic nurse at KSON, reflected on Raines' impact. " Dr. Raines brought decades of hospital and corporate experience to the classroom which, provided the students opportunities to apply academic concepts to real-world problems. This was invaluable. Her wisdom, leadership and generosity have left an indelible mark on KSON and on me personally.”
As Raines transitions from academia, she leaves a blueprint for how universities can partner with world-class healthcare organizations to create graduates who arrive as leaders ready to meet the moment. The partnership-driven, experiential approach Raines exemplified at KSON continues to position JU's nursing programs at the forefront of healthcare education.
