Dr. Shakira Henderson, BSN ’08, MPH ’08, MS '08, is a visionary leader whose career at the intersection of clinical research and nursing has made her an influential voice in global healthcare. A proud Barry University alumna, she now serves as Dean of the University of Florida College of Nursing, where she champions evidence-based practice and stronger connections between academia and healthcare systems. Henderson’s journey began at Barry, where she pursued a Master of Anatomy while conducting cancer research on campus. A single moment shifted her path: walking the halls one day, she saw a poster of a nurse scientist working with cells. “It was at Barry that I truly found my calling in nursing,” she recalls. Inspired, she enrolled in Barry’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
“BARRY WAS THE
PIVOTAL MOMENT
OF MY EDUCATIONAL
CAREER,” she reflects.
“IT SHAPED MY HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO NURSING
AND LEADERSHIP.”
Her time at Barry was trailblazing. Henderson became the first student in the university’s history to be enrolled simultaneously in graduate and undergraduate programs, combining her Master of Anatomy, Master of Public Health, and B.S.N. degrees. “Barry was the pivotal moment of my educational career,” she reflects. “It shaped my holistic approach to nursing and leadership.” Over the past two decades, Henderson has built a career dedicated to bridging the gap between research and practice. She has led initiatives that help nurses apply the latest clinical evidence to patient care, improving outcomes and strengthening healthcare systems. Now at UF, she continues that mission. “Due to the strong academic foundation I received from Barry, I have been able to hold inaugural dual leadership roles, including the one I currently serve in - Dean and System Chief Nurse Executive. These roles, at the intersection of academia and health systems, have allowed me to advance my career-long focus on academic-practice partnerships, which are vital to developing practice-ready nurses and transforming healthcare.” Henderson’s perspective is also global. Informed by her Caribbean roots and diverse educational background, she envisions nursing as a central component of healthcare innovation worldwide. “Nurses are the largest group of healthcare professionals,” she says. “We’re at a moment where nursing is being recognized as a driver of innovative care models.” From her early days at Barry to her role as a national and global leader, Henderson’s career is a testament to the transformative power of nursing education. Her commitment to integrating research with practice continues to inspire future generations of nurses to lead, innovate, and improve care on a global scale.
“NURSES ARE THE LARGEST GROUP OF HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS,” she says. “WE’RE AT A MOMENT
WHERE NURSING IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS A DRIVER
OF INNOVATIVE CARE MODELS.”