With more than 48 years of experience in nursing, healthcare management, and executive leadership, Coletta Barrett has dedicated her career to advancing health and education. A cardiovascular nurse specialist, she currently serves as graduate faculty in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she earned her DNP in 2024. She also holds a Master of Health Administration from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Coletta’s leadership has been recognized at state and national levels. She served as National Chairman of the Board of the American Heart Association, was named Southeastern Louisiana University Alumnus of the Year, and was inducted into the Louisiana State Nurses Association Hall of Fame. She is a Fellow of both the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Currently, she serves as President of the Louisiana Nurses Foundation and Chair of the Louisiana State Nurses Association Workforce Effectiveness Initiative.