Sonya Cooks, DNP, RN, CNE

Dr. Sonya Cooks is the Program Director and a founding faculty member of the Master’s Entry into Nursing Practice (MSN-ENP) program at Rosalind Franklin University. She is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) recognized for innovative teaching strategies, curriculum leadership, and commitment to student success.

A nurse since 1997, Dr. Cooks began her career with an Associate’s degree and went on to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Lourdes University. Her clinical background includes medical-surgical, respiratory, oncology, and emergency medicine nursing, as well as experience as a travel nurse.

She has led key initiatives in program development, including Clinical Judgment Model integration, Next Generation NCLEX preparation, and accreditation readiness. Her scholarship includes publications and national presentations on nursing education, social determinants of health, and innovative teaching methods.

Dr. Cooks is an member of the National League for Nursing (NLN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), and serves as Vice President of Chi Eta Phi Professional Nursing Sorority. She has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Sister Network Community Partnership Award (2024) and the NISOD Faculty Excellence Award (2016).

She also remains deeply engaged in the community, leading breast cancer awareness initiatives, healthcare outreach, and youth mentorship programs.

Dr. Cooks also completed the Nexus Faculty Academy (NFA), a year-long, in-person fellowship program designed to support early-career faculty through professional development, mentorship, and innovative teaching practices.

Schools:

• College of Nursing, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
• Lourdes University (DNP)
• Concordia University (MSN – Nursing Education)
• Marian University (BSN)
• Gateway Technical College (ADN)

Research: Social Determinants of Health screening in emergency departments; MSN-ENP curriculum framework and CJM integration

Publications: Featured article – Mammogram Support for People with Disabilities (2024); contributor to Contemporary Management of Diabetic Kidney Disease for Nurse Practitioners (2024)

Presentations: “How to INSPIRE the Next Generation of Nurses” – ACE Symposium (2025)

Awards: Faculty Excellence Award – NISOD (2016); Sister Network Community Partnership Award (2024); RFUMS Core Value of Excellence Award Nominee (2024)