Published on October 6, 2025 by Megan Winkler  
Nina Sanders 2

Nena F. Sanders, PhD, was celebrated for her transformative leadership and contributions to nursing education during the unveiling of her portrait, which will hang alongside that of Ida V. Moffett in the halls of Samford University’s Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, which also bears her name. 

Sanders, who became dean in 2001, guided the school through significant growth in programs, scholarship and enrollment. Following her retirement in 2020, the school was renamed the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing in recognition of her lasting impact. 

During the ceremony, Sanders reflected on her time at Samford, first beginning as a volunteer to help launch the master’s program. What began as a volunteer role soon became a career. 

“They wanted me to help start a master’s program,” Sanders said. “I came, and for two years I volunteered until we launched the program.” 

In 1999, Sanders formally joined the faculty and was named dean of the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing two years later. Nena Sanders Portrait Unveiling

"Someone said to me, ‘Nena, you may be the last person who actually knew Ms. Moffett spent time with her, who will be the dean of the school,” Sanders said. “So, long story short, I became dean. Right then, I committed: this will always be the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing.” 

That commitment was anchored in the four pillars Ms. Moffett established for the school—academic excellence, care, compassion and service—represented by the angel statue in the school’s atrium. 

“We took those four pillars and used them as the foundation for the School of Nursing to maintain the spirit of Ms. Moffett,” Sanders said. 

In 2013, Sanders was appointed the founding vice provost of Samford’s College of Health Sciences. In that role, she oversaw the creation of the School of Health Professions and the School of Public Health, laying the foundation for interprofessional education, research and clinical practice. 

“To know that my name would forever be associated with Ida Moffett was overwhelming to me,” Sanders said. “It was a pinnacle point in my career. Ms. Moffett was wonderful in acknowledging the significance of the name change to the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing. As I think about Ms. Moffett, I am honored to have my name associated with the school.” 

Her influence extended beyond programs and enrollment. Under her leadership, the school earned national recognition, expanded degree offerings, pioneered online education at Samford and broke enrollment records. She is also a member of the American Academy of Nursing, the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame and a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. 

Her legacy reflects the heart of the school—a commitment to caring. Through her leadership, countless health care providers have entered the workforce prepared to serve others with excellence. 

The portrait, painted by Birmingham artist Carter Laney, will stand as a lasting tribute to Sanders’ vision and leadership. 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.