Libby Nix is Miss A-State through and through. A legacy graduate whose own children currently attend, Libby’s family might be the most Red Wolf of all. For the nursing professor, music has always been an important part of her life.

Elizabeth Seaton Nix

Why did you choose A-State?

It is in my blood! Both my parents graduated from Arkansas State. My high school and college sweetheart of almost 30 years, Robin Nix, is an A-State grad. Our two beautiful kids attend A-State, and I hold three degrees from Arkansas State University (an associate, baccalaureate and master’s degree all from the College of Nursing and Health Professions).

What is the one thing you wish you could teach everyone about your field?

Nursing is a selfless profession. We hold our patients hands when they are born and often are holding their hands at death. That is really profound if you think about it.

What makes a good professor?

I think being fair, flexible and approachable to our students. I work with incoming freshman and will have most of them again when they are seniors so developing a good working relationship is key.

What makes for a good student?

I think there are not good or bad students. I think we have to remember that we are educating future nurses so it is important that they take this journey serious and be willing to be on time, be present and strive to be the best future nurses they can be. I think it is our responsibility to teach them to be professionals.

What’s the value of a university education?

There is no price tag to measure how indispensable a university education can have on a person’s life. We have so many success stories in our College that otherwise would be still living in poverty. We have students who come back year after year and thank us for helping them attain their goal of being a nurse.

Your philosophy on education in seven words:

Be fair, be present and be humble.

If you could teach another field, which one and why?

I think I would love to teach music.

In college, I was known for...

singing all the time, I was the song leader for my sorority.

What is the one thing I’ve learned I’d tell my college self?

Have a little more fun and don’t worry so much.

What are you working on right now?

I am writing a manuscript soon to be submitted for publication.

Before you retire I want to...

who says I will ever retire?

What music is playing in your car?

Elvis

My favorite motion picture is...

Braveheart.

The television series I must TiVo...

Downton Abbey.

The last book I read for fun was...

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.

My favorite trip was...

Going to Molokai to the Leper Colony. We had to ride on a mule to get to the bottom of a very isolated part of Hawai’i, but it was a trip of a life time for this Public Health Nurse.

If I could travel anywhere it would be...

New Zealand.

Four people I’d take to coffee...

Elvis, Lillian Wald (first public health nurse), my dad and Thomas Jefferson.

The best advice I ever received was...

An education will always open doors for you.

My passion is...

my family.

My pet peeve is...

People who tell you they are busy than you are! We are all busy!

My favorite meal is...

My Aunt Pat’s Italian stuffed shells. You have never eaten real Italian until you have some of her food.

A perfect day is...

going to the beach, any beach.

What I like about Jonesboro is...

it is home to Arkansas State University. All the great restaurants here and the friendly people.

When want to crush karaoke, my song is...

“I Say a Little Prayer,” Aretha Franklin style.

Cats or dogs?

I have a Golden Retriever named Boo and a Maine Coon Cat named Stevie Nix.

Beach or mountains?

Beach always, I don’t like to be cold. I use to snow ski but I just don’t like to cold.

Dinner or supper?

Dinner... although my Mother calls is supper so those old habits still come up.

I wish I could...

speak another language fluently.