Each of our locations is 100% dedicated to either Nursing or Allied Health education.
Nursing
Allied Health
Our onsite academic programs prepare students for in-demand careers.
Our local Admissions and Financial Aid team can answer your questions regarding enrollment, scholarships, and financing options.
From orientation to graduation, our team provides support at every step of your journey.
Our purpose is to provide people the opportunity to enhance their lives through education.
Up to $15,000 scholarships available at our Fort Lauderdale campus. Learn more!
Learn from knowledgeable instructors at our Fort Lauderdale campus who have years of experience putting their skills to use in the medical field.
Executive Director of Academic Operations
James Jones began working in post-secondary education as an instructor in 2006. Since then, he has been a program director, director of education and a campus executive director. He has over 14 years of experience working in higher education in Arizona and Florida. He has been with Arizona College since March of 2019 and is currently the executive director of academic operations at their Fort Lauderdale campus. His favorite thing about working in colleges is having the opportunity to help people be positively impacted by improving their lives through education.
In James’ free time, he enjoys going to the beach with his wife and children and watching the University of Alabama play football.
Dean of General Education
Dr. Laura Dougé came to Arizona College of Nursing – Ft. Lauderdale in November of 2019 after leaving her role as Assistant Director of Multicultural Admissions at Widener University in Chester, PA. Her background in higher education primarily focuses on areas such as fostering student success, improving student learning outcomes, and working closely with diverse student populations. After working in various sectors of higher education for the past 11 years, she has been provided with the fundamental knowledge and experience to continue to excel in areas such as leadership, academic affairs, and professional success post-graduation.
As Dean of General Education, Dr. Dougé oversees the General Education program while promoting a focus on student success and professional growth.
Dean of Nursing
Shawn Higgins came to Arizona College of Nursing – Ft. Lauderdale in 2021 with 14 years of experience in nursing education and 23 years of leadership experience. Shawn Higgins earned her Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and her PhD from Capella University where she was drawn to understanding the “why” and the “how” behind education. Her degree specialty is specific to Leadership in Higher Education.
Shawn Higgins’ nursing background prior to education includes long-term care, rehabilitation services (stroke and TBI), home health, hospice, and basic med-surg. Her nursing education experience spans the country, having worked in the private sector for schools in Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and Nevada. She and her husband have eight children between them and will be welcoming their fifth grandchild in the spring of 2022. She is looking forward to a long and happy relationship with her new Arizona College of Nursing family.
1 The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
2 All Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized national accrediting agency.