Black Scholar, Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman, Delivered Walden University’s 66th Keynote Commencement Address

Nationwide — Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman, an author, educator, caregiver advocate, and recent speaker on the Leadership Experience Tour with Shawn Fair, delivered Walden University’s 66th Commencement address earlier this year. The celebration was an online event honoring Walden’s graduates and their milestone achievements.

Dr. Hickman is a two-time graduate of Walden University and has been an active alum and ambassador since graduating. As a social change agent, life-long learner, and daughter of a middle-school educator, giving back and sharing the importance of using her education for good was the highlight of her speech. She encouraged the graduates to “get into good trouble,” a quote by the late Representative John Lewis. Pushing past the status quo requires one to “behold the turtle,” a concept of slow and steady as change eventually happens. Hickman stressed that sticking your head out is uncomfortable but necessary for change. The significance of “a societal passion should fuel efforts to impact the community. Hickman shared her mother’s anthem, helpful and powerful words to live by: “She told my three sisters and me to help out when you can, in all the places you can, and in all the times you can, demonstrating the art of using ones’ education for good.”

In 2021, Hickman used her education for good by starting the 1st Socks 4 Seniors Project in her community, now an annual event to make seniors smile. She draws on her experience of being a caregiver in her books, blog, and podcast, Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate: Dr. Cynthia Speaks.

Dr. Hickman is a nurse educator by profession and CEO of “Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate,” founded after caring for her mother for 20 years. Hickman understood that planning matters in the caregiving space, and that mindset became the genesis of her two books: From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor and her second book, The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers, released in 2021. The overarching platform is to educate families and communities on proactive caregiving strategies to prevent reactive behaviors. A proactive mindset will abort problems.

Dr. Hickman serves as vice president of the Walden University Multicultural and International Student Club, member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, currently serves as vice president of Prairie View A & M University College of Nursing Alumni, member of the Center for Social Change, and was recently given the designation of Walden University lifetime member of the Alumni Ambassador program. Her professional organizations include Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association, National Black Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Association, Zeta-Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., and Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society (Honorary).

Dr. Hickman obtained her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Prairie View A&M University. She also completed a master’s degree in Nursing, specializing in Education, and a Ph.D. in Health Services with a leadership specialization from Walden University. Dr. Hickman is a Flex-Path faculty at Capella University College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

To learn more about Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman, visit her official web site at https://cynthiajhickman.info

For press inquiries, contact (713) 569-5294 or drcynthiaj@cynthiajhickman.info