Donor Spotlight

Lya Stroupe, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC

Director, Nursing Professional Practice and Education
West Virginia University Health System
Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellow

1.    How did you get involved with AONL and AONL Foundation? 
I joined AONL and my state affiliate, West Virginia ONL, in 2013 when I became a manager in nursing administration for an academic medical center. I had learned about our state and national organizations through word of mouth and knew that when I became a leader, I needed to join. I became involved in poster presentations at WVONL and then was elected secretary, president-elect and now I am the current president of WVONL. 
As a local leader, it is important to me to keep the information and engagement in the national organization. It is by connecting with a network of leaders and keeping up to date with the AONL website that I found opportunities to serve the national organization.
I was also looking for resources to connect my work at my local organization to the work at the national level. I found the AONL Foundation’s work to be relevant.

2.    What inspired you to donate to AONL Foundation? 
After attending AONL conferences and hearing the work the Foundation does, the mission really resonated with me because as a nurse leader we are always looking for ways to shape the future of nursing leadership and health care. The AONL Foundation supports nurse leaders in a variety of ways: research grants, gratitude for front-line leaders, continuing education financial aid grants for nurse leaders, as well as hosting avenues for nurses and other disciplines to discuss health care challenges. 
I believe the work of the AONL Foundation is inspiring and I wanted to be part of something bigger that could impact the profession of nursing.

3.    What are you reading right now?
For professional development, I am re-reading “Owning the Room” by Roger Gerard. Dr. Gerard recognizes that leadership is challenging work and reminds us that it is not just about the knowledge of leadership, it is also about the caring aspect of leadership. Connecting with people is one of the most important skills a leader can use to make colleagues feel heard. 
For leisure, Morgan Richard Olivier’s books.

4.    What is your best tip to travel comfortably? 
Have a great pair of walking shoes!

5.    What is your favorite place to visit? 
The beach - specifically Isle of Palms near Charleston, SC.

6.    What do you do to balance work and life? 
Nursing is a second career for me – music was my first. So, I balance my work and life by continuing to enjoy making music with others. As a trained concert pianist, my love is collaborating with other musicians in many different genres of music including classical and sacred music.