When you walk through the halls of the Arizona College of Nursing St. Louis campus, you will often see the Assistant Campus President (ACP), Lanette Stuckey, PhD, MBA-HM, MSN, RN, CNE, CMSRN, CNEcl, NEA-BC, CHSE, greeting students, checking in on a skills lab, or simply stopping to chat. Her presence around campus is intentional and constant.
“I try to always make my presence known,” ACP Stuckey said. “I would say I’m very involved with the students and get to see them a lot, which is always wonderful.”
It’s that hands-on connection with the students around campus that has defined her journey at AZCN.
A New Start in St. Louis
Dr. Stuckey joined Arizona College of Nursing in April 2022, taking on the unique challenge of launching a new campus right in St. Louis, Missouri.
“Opening up a brand-new campus as the Dean of Nursing [at that time] was very exciting and something completely different,” she recalled. “It has been incredible watching the campus grow from the first time that we admitted students.”
From the early days to now, she explained that the campus’s growth has been remarkable. “We are adding more faculty, more students, and we continue to progress and grow and expand [every semester].”
The expansion isn’t just about numbers for ACP Stuckey; it’s about watching the college’s transformation in real time.
“It’s amazing to watch [our students] grow from where they started to where they are now,” she said. “Their critical thinking and clinical judgment is great to watch [grow], and they are terrific.”
Seeing her students ‘progress from their first general education courses all the way to their final semesters is what keeps ACP Stuckey motivated. She even noted that it is “like you can see the lightbulb turn on” for the students.
An Initial Calling to Teaching
ACP Stuckey’s passion for education began before she ever imagined leading a nursing program. In high school, a class called Health Occupations gave her a taste of what it meant to care for patients.
“As a senior, I had the opportunity to take a Health Occupations course that functioned like a CNA program. We learned the same foundational skills our nursing students develop in Fundamentals, received hands-on instruction from healthcare professionals, and completed clinical experiences in the hospital. By the end of the program, we were eligible to sit for the CNA certification exam, so I graduated from high school already certified,” she explained. “That experience not only sparked my passion for nursing but also showed me the impact that quality education and early clinical exposure can have on a student’s future.”
Getting to explore the hospital setting at such an early age, seeing what a role in the healthcare world could entail, and learning to interact with patients, she explains, led her to nursing.
ACP Stuckey worked as a CNA throughout nursing school. After earning her BSN, she began her career in medical-surgical and cardiac telemetry units.
“I moved into a charge nurse [role]… and started mentoring students when they first started and when they graduated,” she said. “It was great to find that as my focus and educate them in the clinical arena and watch them grow.”
That passion for teaching eventually shifted her path entirely.
Discovering Her True Calling as a Nurse Educator
ACP Stuckey eventually started working with clinical groups of nursing students and fell in love. She remembers how exciting it was to watch students go from being afraid to enter a patient’s room to being completely confident by the end of the semester.
She taught every level of nursing, from students who had never interacted with a patient before to those in their final semester. “Seeing how much they’ve progressed was lovely,” she recalled.
Eventually, she moved full-time into education, moving from PRN at the hospital to a full-time didactic instructor who taught in classrooms, labs, and clinicals.
“I really loved it and eventually worked my way into leadership where I chaired the curriculum committee and [professional development] committee, [before] transitioning into the Dean of Nursing role,” she shared.
That first Dean role for Stuckey was in Illinois, where she found that mix of leadership and education to be the perfect fit for what she longed for in a career.
“When I first graduated with my BSN, I wasn’t thinking I would go into education,” she admitted. “But education found me. It was a true calling.”
Building a Supportive Culture at AZCN
When ACP Stuckey came to Arizona College of Nursing, she found a culture that aligned with her values.
“The staff and the people I work with are just wonderful. The students are too. It’s very rewarding and I feel like I do have a servant leadership style,” she said. “I can give back and help the students.”
This type of passion for service that ACP Stuckey demonstrates shapes Arizona College of Nursing’s St. Louis campus and its culture. “[Our] students support other students. We’re all going towards the same goal for every student to be successful, for them to graduate at the end, and to go out and be great nurses and give back to the community,” she explained.
In addition, ACP Stuckey loves how great the college’s connection to the local community is, sharing that so many facilities are excited and happy to welcome AZCN students for clinicals and post-grad positions. This gives our students many exciting opportunities during their time at the college and after.
“Our clinical partners are very supportive of Arizona, and they just can’t wait for our graduates. They want to come to the campus, and they are very excited that our students are local. They know our students are going to be here in the community once they graduate.”
Watching BSN Students Grow at AZCN
For ACP Stuckey, the highlight of every term comes when she gets to reflect on how far her students have come.
“The end of the semester is my favorite time,” she said. “When students are in the middle of it, they are stressed about assignments and exams. But at the end, they always come back and say, ‘I learned so much.’ That is what makes it all worth it.”
ACP Stuckey is looking ahead to a very exciting milestone: watching the campus’s first graduating class in August 2026.
“It is going to be such a proud moment,” she explained. “To see them walk across that stage after watching them grow from their very first courses are going to be incredible.”
When asked what advice she gives to aspiring nursing students, ACP Stuckey did not hesitate to say, “be patient with yourself.”
“You are learning something that takes time, practice, and heart. There will be moments of doubt, but those moments are part of the process. Don’t forget why you started.”
ACP Stuckey also encourages Arizona College of Nursing students to lean on each other and the faculty. Nursing school is not something to do alone, and ACP Stuckey reminds everyone that it is a team effort.
“Ask questions, seek help, and remember every challenge is shaping you into the nurse you are meant to become.”
Looking Forward
As Arizona College of Nursing’s St. Louis campus continues to expand, ACP Stuckey remains energized by the journey.
“It has been wonderful watching us grow from a brand-new campus to one that’s thriving,” she said. “We’re adding more students, more faculty, and more opportunities every semester. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Whether she is leading from the front of the classroom or cheering students on at an advancement ceremony, or preparing for the first graduation, one thing is certain: her heart for education and her love for nursing will continue to guide her students forward.
“Education found me,” she reflected. “And now I get to help others find their purpose in nursing. There’s nothing better than that.”
Start Your Future in Nursing Today
If you’re considering a career as a registered nurse (RN), Arizona College of Nursing is here to help you pursue your dream. Our BSN program enables you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 3 years or less with qualifying transfer credits. We’ve helped hundreds of students to earn a BSN degree and enter the nursing profession – and we’re ready to support you on your path to becoming an RN.
Why Choose Arizona College of Nursing?
- Earn a BSN degree in 3 years or less with eligible transfer credits
- Campus locations throughout the US
- Night classes for general education courses
- Hybrid Online/In-Person format for general education classes
- Nursing education is all we do
- CCNE-Accredited Program*
- NCLEX-RN success coaches and exam preparation class
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
Discover Your Path to a Career in Nursing
Information in this post is accurate as of August 24, 2026.
*The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/). All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (https://www.abhes.org/), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.