Nicole Smith 

Perfusion

Director of Operations, Cardiovascular Perfusion

Biography

Nicole Smith's career is rooted in a deep commitment to educational excellence and community leadership. She began her academic journey at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English (Summa Cum Laude) before completing a Master of Education in Curriculum Design and Instruction.

For a decade, Nicole dedicated herself to secondary education as a Language Arts teacher, serving as a mentor to aspiring educators and receiving multiple academic leadership awards. She later pivoted her educational expertise into the perfusion profession through her work with the Tennessee Perfusion Association, where she managed logistics and continuing education credits for professional meetings. This experience, combined with a successful tenure as a small business owner, provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection of specialized healthcare education and operational management.

Today, Nicole utilizes her background in education and business strategy to oversee the fiscal management and smooth operation of Lipscomb's Cardiovascular Perfusion Program. While she enjoys the complexities of program operations, the most rewarding aspect of her work is the opportunity to support students as they navigate their professional journey.