Deidra Thompson

Deidra Thompson received her Doctor of Nurse Practice degree from Walden University in February 2018. She has served as a Contributing Faculty in the College of Health Sciences since 2019. She graduated from Excelsior College with a degree in nursing in 2010. She received a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner specialty from Alcorn State University in 2014 before obtaining a post-graduate certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2015. Her nursing experience includes labor and delivery, medical-surgical, correctional medicine, mental health, and telemedicine. Dr. Thompson has also served as a preceptor for nurse practitioner students since 2017. Her professional memberships include the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, and Mississippi Nurses Associations. Dr. Thompson has contributed to numerous articles on healthcare topics and also delivered presentations at various events and conferences. She is founding board member of the Diverse Coat Society which is a professional association that consists of diverse educators (e.g., primary, middle, secondary, and higher education) and healthcare professionals (e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, medical laboratory technicians, social workers, and other allied healthcare professionals) coming together to provide conversations, activities, and support for interprofessional goals leading to educational equity, health equity, and general public safety. She is also a chair for the Scholarship Faction of the Diverse Coat Society which affords opportunities to award scholarships for nursing students to help reduce financial barriers to education and develop scholarly activities for the membership to support the mission of the organization. Her awards include 2025 State Award for Outstanding Contributions awarded by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. This award is given annually to one nurse practitioner per state who has exhibited excellence that supports the nurse practitioner role in the areas or practice, advocacy, education, research, and leadership. Dr. Thompson was also awarded Nurse of the Year by Best of Mississippi organization in 2023 and was inducted into Best of Mississippi Hall of Fame April 2025.

Education

DNP, Walden University

Post-master's Certificate, University of Southern Mississippi

MSN, Alcorn State University

BS, Millsaps College