For two decades, Natasha Randolph found her stride as a postpartum care nurse, coaching new mothers through their first sleepless nights and helping families feel confident as they began a new chapter. “I loved everything about caring for moms and babies,” says Natasha, who started her career as a Certified Nurse Aide in New Orleans, her hometown. She worked her way through college and became an inpatient rehabilitation nurse at the same hospital after graduating with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
In 2000, Natasha moved to Austin, Texas, for a change of scenery, and found so much more. She joined St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas, an HCA-affiliated hospital, and found her passion for women’s health. Her leadership potential soon took root, and in 2003, Natasha stepped into a nursing house supervisor role, balancing administrative duties with bedside care. She continued working postpartum on weekends to stay connected to the patients she enjoyed.
A Discovery of Purpose
Natasha’s supervisory responsibilities at the hospital uncovered a new calling. She appreciated mentoring nursing students who came through for their clinical rotations and watching their confidence grow. “I really bonded with the students from Austin Community College, and the faculty member I worked with to pair students with our nurses sought me out about teaching for them,” she says. “I thought about it and realized it was a perfect fit.” Before long, Natasha enrolled in a Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education program.
As luck would have it, a full-time teaching position in Natasha’s specialty of obstetrics opened at Austin Community College just as she was graduating. She applied and was hired in fall 2014—and she’s been there ever since. “Women’s health is what I knew and loved, and it was the best opportunity to teach it,” she says. “I was brand-new to teaching, but I had wonderful mentors who set me up for success.”
Growing as a Nurse Educator and Leader
Through the years, Natasha continued to grow as an educator and leader, earning promotions and accepting a role as assistant department chair of the professional nursing department in 2023, in addition to her position as professor. That is what led Natasha to consider furthering her education.
“My college has been growing its enrollment, and my job comes with a lot of leadership tasks,” says Natasha. “As I settled into the job, I realized that I wanted to become a better leader.” She began exploring online doctorate programs she could pursue while continuing to work. “Two colleagues were graduates of Post University and spoke highly of their experience in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Educational Leadership Specialization. That track fits perfectly with the skills I am looking to develop.”
In April 2024, Natasha took the next step in her journey, starting Post’s DNP Educational Leadership Specialization program.
Making a Difference Through the Empowerment of Others
For Natasha, advancing her education is about more than the credentials. “My academic goals are centered around furthering my impact as an educator and leader,” she says. Earning a DNP
allows her to contribute meaningfully to initiatives like workplace civility and fostering environments grounded in diversity, equality, and inclusion, all aimed at fostering a healthy academic environment. “The focus of my capstone is civility in nursing education. As faculty, we can better serve students when we support one another. I want to help develop our faculty just as I want to show students what kind of nurses they can become.”
Purpose, Growth, and Vision
Natasha’s Post experience so far has been challenging and inspiring. She expects to graduate with the DNP Educational Leadership Specialization in fall 2026. “The faculty at Post have been amazing, encouraging and pushing me, and giving me constructive feedback that has made me better,” she says.
Beyond that supportive guidance, Natasha’s doctoral studies have helped her stay connected to her “why.” “Remembering my purpose has helped me stay focused on what I want to do,” she says. “With every step, I am transforming into the leader I aspire to be. As educators, we are not just teaching—we are building futures. And as a student now myself, I am gaining the tools to shape my own future so I can help students discover theirs.”
