North Carolina Nursing History

Donna A. Harris was the first African-American to graduate from the Duke School of Nursing.  She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Duke in 1971 and continued to expand her credentials through advanced coursework at East Carolina University, Stanford University, and the American Nurses Certification Corporation.  Mrs. Harris has served at North Carolina Central University, the Department of Social Services, the Durham County Health Department, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke University School of Nursing in such varied positions as clinical instructor, public health nurse, school nurse, and social research assistant.