Graduate Nursing Student Association Names ORU’s Kayce Cordray to Leadership Council

Kayce Cordray with leadership council members at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Graduate Nursing Student Association conference

Kayce Cordray, ORU Doctor of Nursing Practice student

Tulsa, Oklahoma, November 10, 2025—Oral Roberts University’s (ORU) Kayce Cordray, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student, has been selected to serve on the Graduate Nursing Student Association (GSNA) Leadership Council of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)—the national voice for academic nursing. This honor is reserved for only seven nursing students nationwide.

Kayce, one of 47 applicants from across the United States, was chosen for her leadership potential, passion for advocacy, and commitment to advancing graduate nursing education.

“I applied for the Leadership Council,” Kayce said, “because I believe nursing leadership is more than advancing my journey—it’s about standing beside others. I want to advocate for graduate nursing students, address challenges they face, and be a source of encouragement. The Council allows me to support others, show the love of Jesus in action, and use the gifts God has given me to help build up the next generation of nurse leaders.”

Kayce Cordray and GNSA Leadership Council members at the 2025 AACN GSNA conference

Kayce was recently elected Secretary on the GSNA Leadership Council and is one of two nursing students invited to speak at an upcoming AACN Board meeting. Through her experience, Kayce says she has discovered that leadership in nursing is “rooted in collaboration and community,” emphasizing that “our most significant impact happens when we come together, share ideas, and support one another.”

Crediting her leadership to ORU’s holistic approach to nursing education, Kayce stated:

“ORU has instilled in me the Theory of Nursing for the Whole Person (developed by Dr. Tomine Tjelta, the founding dean of the Anna Vaughn School of Nursing), which goes beyond clinical skills and emphasizes caring for individuals in body, mind, and spirit. This has shaped how I view leadership—not just as managing tasks or people, but as guiding and uplifting others in a way that recognizes their full humanity.”

Dr. Brenna Bohatec, ORU DNP Director and Associate Professor in the Anna Vaughn School of Nursing, commented on Kayce’s success:

Kayce Cordray at the 2025 AACN GSNA conference

“Kayce embodies what our DNP program strives to graduate: godly, doctoral-prepared nurses who hear God’s voice and bring His healing power to the world. Her love for the Lord shines through all she does. Her drive for excellence and zeal for learning are infectious. I have no doubt she will be, first, a devout follower of Jesus, and second, a nurse practitioner who takes Him with her into practice.”

This fall, Kayce will be inducted into the Mu Iota chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the international honor society of nurses, joining a global community of nursing scholars committed to transforming healthcare.

“I am excited,” said Kayce, “about joining a community of nursing scholars and leaders who share a passion for advancing the profession and transforming global healthcare. The Sigma Theta Tau community is a place where I can contribute and be sharpened by other nursing leaders who share a vision for excellence in nursing practice, research, and education.”

As an encouragement to other students who want to boldly pursue leadership opportunities like this, Kayce shared: 

ORU continues to prepare Spirit-empowered nurses to transform healthcare worldwide. For more information, please visit the ORU’s Anna Vaughn School of Nursing webpage.

Photo collage of Kayce Cordray speaking at the AACN GNSA conference and her time on ORU’s campus with other DNP students.

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 174 nations in the last 6 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.