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Three Ouachita nursing faculty named to 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40

March 16, 2026 - James Taylor

Three faculty members from Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Nursing have been named among Arkansas’ 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40 for 2026, an honor presented by the Arkansas Center for Nursing. Ashley Knight, Kayla Harrington and Leah Cruthis are part of the 11th class of honorees announced in February.

The award recognizes Arkansas nurses who demonstrate exceptional commitment to service excellence, community outreach and leadership in the nursing profession. Winners are selected by a blind review panel from nominations submitted statewide.

Knight, an assistant professor of nursing, holds a Master of Science in Nursing and is a certified emergency nurse who has taught at Ouachita since 2021. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she leads annual global medical mission trips and serves as a sexual assault nurse examiner for a child advocacy and safety center.

"Their leadership extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the learning environment and modeling the values we hope to instill in our students."
Amy Morris, Director of Nursing

Harrington, also an assistant professor of nursing, is a board-certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner who holds a Master of Science in Nursing. Before joining Ouachita’s faculty in August 2025, she spent nearly eight years as a urology nurse practitioner in clinical practice. She also volunteers with Ouachita’s Student Nurses Association.

Cruthis, an assistant professor of nursing who also joined the department in August 2025, holds a Master of Science in Nursing and is a board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. She brings extensive clinical and leadership experience from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she served as clinical services manager, clinical educator and nurse practitioner.

These recognitions come as Ouachita’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program continues to grow, expanding from its inaugural cohort in 2022 to become one of the university’s largest majors. The program recently achieved a 100% first-time NCLEX pass rate — an achievement that reflects graduates’ readiness to enter clinical practice and meet national licensure standards.

“I am incredibly proud of these faculty members, as they represent the commitment to excellence in both nursing practice and education that defines our team,” said Dr. Amy Morris, director of nursing for Ouachita. “Their leadership extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the learning environment and modeling the values we hope to instill in our students. It’s a privilege to see them develop future leaders through the love and leadership of Christ.”

Knight, Harrington and Cruthis will be honored at the Leadership & Legacy Awards ceremony held on April 20, 2026, at the Benton Event Center.

Ouachita Baptist University prepares individuals for lives of meaningful work through its small classes and highly personal approach to Christian education. To learn more about the nursing program, visit obu.edu/bsn. To schedule a prospective student tour of the state-of-the-art Whisenhunt Nursing Education Center, contact the Office of Admissions Counseling at 870- 245-5110 or [email protected].

Lead photo by Lily Roddy