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When Lee Ann Ernst was 15, she wanted to be Lorraine Keller.

At 15, Ernst worked every weekend at Madonna Manor Nursing Home, where she spent time with patients while learning from an experienced nurse who left a lasting impression—Lorraine. Lorraine may not have been a national celebrity, but to Ernst, Lorraine was exactly who she wanted to become. 

“Lorraine was awesome,” said Ernst. “She had such a love and a respect for the patients that we took care of. I loved working with Lorraine. I wanted to be just like her—I wanted to be a nurse.”

So when Ernst was 17, she marched into the admissions office at Northern Kentucky University in 1980 to apply to its “2+ 2 Program,” where she could earn an associate degree in nursing after two years.

When the admissions director told Ernst she first had to register in general education for a couple of years, Ernst didn’t want to take that for an answer.

“I remember saying, wait a minute. No, no. I guess I didn't say it right, because I don't want to [major in general education]. I want to go into nursing school. I want to be like Lorraine Keller. Who do I need to talk to?”

Ernst was told that if she could gather letters of recommendation and if her grades met the requirements, they would go from there. So she did exactly that. She called her family’s pediatrician, a primary care doctor she knew from the nursing home, the principal of her high school, and her guidance counselor to write recommendations on her behalf. 

With four letters in hand, the tenacious Ernst went back to NKU’s admissions office and asked, “Now can I go to nursing school?”

After some more persistence from Ernst, and some additional vetting from the University, they admitted her.

Two years later, when Ernst was 20 years old, she passed the state board to become an RN. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Ernst came to the Mount in 2004 to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the College of Mount St. Joseph, then later returned to NKU to earn her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Spanning more than 40 years, Ernst’s career has been one of activism, leadership, sacrifice, innovation, and bravery. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived—an unprecedented time with no blueprint for how to respond—Ernst served as the Coordinator for the Infectious Disease Response Team at Saint Elizabeth Healthcare. In that role, she presented critical response strategies to hospital administration and Senator Mitch McConnell.

As a long-standing instructor for the American Heart Association and the Emergency Nurses Association, she has also spent decades educating healthcare providers and the public in life-saving protocols.

When it comes to recognition, Ernst has received the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year award and the MSJ Nurse Leader of the Year award. (To name a few.) 

Now, as of May 2026, she can add “Graduate Distinguished Student” award to her repertoire.

When Ernst returned to the Mount to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, she says the decision for her was a no-brainer.

“I love the Mount. I have always loved the Mount. I have two brothers that graduated from the Mount. My cousin graduated from the Mount. My nephew is a current student at the Mount… Our heritage at the Mount is deep,” says Ernst. 

For her, receiving the Graduate Distinguished Student Award is more than another line on a résumé. It is a deeply personal recognition from a place that has shaped both her life and her family’s story.

“Lee Ann represents the pinnacle of professional nursing excellence, and her career perfectly mirrors the Mount’s mission of combining academic rigor with a compassionate heart for service,” said Kristin Clephane DNP, RN, CPN, in Ernst’s nomination letter.

“I don't know that I can even express in words the depth that that designation means to me,” says Ernst. “To have this recognition, it just means more to me than I think I can even put words to. It's humbling. It's awe-inspiring. When I look in the mirror, I can square up with myself, you know? I feel like the little things have all added up to a career where I've made a difference.”

Today, the Mount is home to a thriving community of both undergraduate and graduate nursing students. And for those students who may be on the fence about whether nursing is the right field for them, Ernst’s advice is simple: “Do it.”

“Nursing is so important to our world. Nurses are the heartbeat of a healthy society. And in order for this world to be a better place, we've got to make our people as ‘better’ as we can,” she says. “So if you want to live a life that is fulfilling and gratifying. If you're thinking of being a nurse, don't think about it again. Just go do it and don't let anybody tell you you can't.”

“And if somebody tells you you can't, and you need a cheerleader,” she adds, “call me, because I will cheer you on.”

Ernst is more than willing to be your Lorraine Keller.

Interested in Nursing at the Mount?

The Mount prepares graduates who are caring, ethical health care providers who support the dignity of others and promote holistic, evidence-based practice in a variety of settings. To learn more, check out our program pathways here!