NKU Professor Appointed As Sigma Liaison To United Nations

January 17, 2024 - NKU Associate Professor Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee received a prestigious appointment by Sigma Global Initiatives to the post of Sigma liaison to the United Nations. 

“I have great respect for the work being done at the United Nations to protect human rights, promote peace among nations, and ensure sustainable development of resources,” Dr. Benton-Lee said. “My lifework in ensuring civil liberties and fundamental access to health and healthcare aligns perfectly with this esteemed organization. Therefore, I am extremely honored to be appointed Sigma Liaison to the United Nations. I look forward to having this international advocacy and policy development platform to address population health as an American nurse.” 

Sigma, formally known as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, has more than 100,000 active members and 600 chapters at higher education institutions and healthcare partners across the United States and several other countries. Sigma works to empower nursing leaders and improve healthcare across the globe. Dr. Benton-Lee’s appointment will aid in that mission. 

Dr. Benton-Lee will also be the closing plenary speaker at Sigma’s Creating Healthy Work Environments event in Washington D.C. on March 10. The lecture is titled, “Empowering Global Health: Nursing Advocacy at the United Nations.” 

A two-time graduate of Northern Kentucky University, Dr. Benton-Lee has been an associate professor at NKU in the School of Nursing since 2019. Dr. Benton-Lee has taught nearly a dozen different courses at NKU, including Health Care Policy, Quality Improvement Strategies, and Epidemiology and Population Health. 

To learn more about the courses and programs offered within the NKU School of Nursing, click here.