Title: Assistant Professor of Nursing
Company: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Location: Searcy, Arkansas, United States
Carolyn E. Hunter Layne, DNP, Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Healthcare Professionals for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Nursing Education.
Dr. Hunter Layne has established a notable career in nursing education, patient advocacy and leadership development, marked by more than four decades of professional experience. Since 2017, she has served as an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she teaches in the online registered nurse program for Bachelor of Science in nursing students, develops curriculum and conducts scholarship and research. Additionally, Dr. Hunter Layne serves on multiple committees, including curriculum, policy, research and student activity groups.
As a course coordinator for ethics, legalities and advocacy, Dr. Hunter Layne supports colleagues in two-year nursing programs and plays a pivotal role in shaping the ethical and professional standards of future nurses. Her expertise in nursing education is widely recognized, and her commitment to fostering environments where others receive credit for their accomplishments underscores her dedication to collaborative growth.
Before her current academic appointment, Dr. Hunter Layne worked as a nurse manager at Friends for Life Pregnancy Center from 2015 to 2017. In this capacity, she managed clinical operations, including ultrasounds and sexually transmitted infection testing, ensuring high standards of patient care and advocacy for vulnerable populations.
Between 2007 and 2015, Dr. Hunter Layne held several concurrent roles that expanded her leadership reach across clinical settings. As a clinical coordinator at Clinical Wound Care Hyperbaric Clinic, she established wound care centers in the community and contributed to advancing specialized patient care. Simultaneously, Dr. Hunter Layne served as the regional director of clinical operations for Bursa Pride Therapy/Zoologics, overseeing clinical practices across six states and leading teams through complex operational challenges. Additionally, as an electronic health record implementation specialist with Zoologics during this period, she played a key role in integrating new technologies into health care systems, demonstrating adaptability and a forward-thinking approach to health care delivery.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Hunter Layne excelled as the director of manpower development at Tennant, where she focused on workforce planning and staff development initiatives that laid the groundwork for her later achievements in leadership and education. Her professional journey began in family medicine from 1980 to 1988, working alongside two family practice physicians. This formative experience deepened Dr. Hunter Layne’s commitment to patient-centered care.
Dr. Hunter Layne’s academic credentials reflect a lifelong pursuit of excellence and adaptability. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1972, having been among the first cohorts to graduate with the degree, followed by a Master of Science in nursing. Additionally, she completed coursework toward a Master of Business Administration, further broadening her understanding of organizational leadership. In 2025, Dr. Hunter Layne obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice in the leadership track from Arkansas State University while balancing full-time work.
Among Dr. Hunter Layne’s professional affiliations, she is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, and the Arkansas Nurse Association. Within these organizations, she has presented on ethical principles and professional integrity in nursing practice, reinforcing her reputation as an authority on ethics-driven leadership. Beyond academia and clinical practice, Dr. Hunter Layne is deeply engaged with her community. She serves as a Sunday school teacher for older adults at her church, participates in memorial and bereavement committees, supports food pantry initiatives and contributes to Christmas child programs.
Dr. Hunter Layne’s contributions have been recognized through prestigious honors, such as the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators from the DAISY Foundation in May 2025 and designation as an Arkansas Times Nursing Hero by the Arkansas Times. These accolades underscore her impact on nursing education and highlight her role as a positive influence across generations.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hunter Layne has attributed her success to an unwavering commitment to learning, adaptability in the face of change, and the support of personal and professional relationships. She credits her family’s legacy of service, particularly the resilience demonstrated by her parents and grandmother, as foundational influences on her values and achievements.
Dr. Hunter Layne hopes to be remembered for advocacy on behalf of others, humility, trustworthiness and an unwavering sense of responsibility, qualities that have defined both her personal journey and professional legacy. Her enduring message is one of service, placing others’ needs first while striving always to make a positive difference through care, respect and ethical leadership.
Looking ahead, Dr. Hunter Layne remains dedicated to advancing as an assistant professor of nursing while inspiring students and colleagues to pursue their dreams, regardless of circumstances or life stage. She continues to champion leadership styles rooted in ethics, growth and respect for diversity while helping others develop essential soft skills such as listening, empathy and compassion, ensuring that future generations are equipped to make meaningful contributions in nursing and health care.
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