La Tonya L. Rafe, MSN, RN, CNEcl

La Tonya L. Rafe is a seasoned nurse educator hailing from Chicago, Illinois, with an impressive 20-year background in critical care nursing. Her journey in healthcare began with practicing critical care nursing in the heart of Chicago, providing her with invaluable experience and insights.

Currently serving as a full-time Lecturer in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, La Tonya’s hands-on experience brings a practical perspective to her role. Through her teachings, she is passionate about shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals and instilling them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their careers.

Driven by her passion for advancing healthcare and addressing health disparities, La Tonya Rafe is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research focus centers around the effects of plant-based nutrition on health disparities, seeking evidence-based solutions to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce inequities in healthcare.

She is a National League for Nursing (NLN) Board Certified Clinical Nurse Educator (July 2024) and a Daphine Doster Mastroianni Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (2024-2025). Additionally, she was selected as a Michigan Center of Urban African American Aging Research Scholar (MACUAAR) for Summer 2024.

Areas of Research

Effects of plant-based nutrition on health disparities

External Affiliations

Sigma The Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma), Governance Committee