Meet Ro Jett | Nurse | Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ro Jett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ro, what inspires you?
That’s a question that takes me back through different stages of my life, because what inspires me has grown and changed as I’ve grown and changed.

In the beginning, my inspiration came from home. My mother and father were always in my corner, reminding me to stay focused, to choose the right path, and to live in a way that honored myself and others. They didn’t just tell me to go to school and get an education—they showed me by their actions that hard work, integrity, and faith can carry you further than talent alone ever could. They planted the seeds of discipline and perseverance that I still carry with me today.

As I got older and stepped into new environments, my sources of inspiration expanded. I’ll never forget the moment in college when I looked up and saw my first Black Nursing professor standing at the front of the classroom. Surrounded by mostly white men and women, both students and professors, she stood there as living proof that barriers could be broken and ceilings could be shattered. That image stuck with me—it reminded me that representation matters, that our presence in certain spaces is not only powerful but necessary. In that moment, I realized that despite the odds, despite our history, and despite every challenge, we as Black professionals can do and be anything in this lifetime.

Over time, my inspiration has also become deeply rooted in my faith. I’ve seen how God can take you from one season to another, how He opens doors no one else can, and how He strengthens you when discipline, consistency, and persistence feel impossible. For me, inspiration doesn’t come from a single person or moment anymore—it comes from the truth that with faith and determination, we are limitless.

So when I think about what inspires me today, it’s a combination of all those pieces: the foundation my parents built, the representation I saw in higher education, and the grace of God that reminds me daily that I am capable of anything I commit myself to. Inspiration, for me, is not just about who I look up to—it’s about who I’m becoming, and the legacy I hope to leave behind.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My nursing career began in 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Fresh out of school with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), I transitioned from working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) into my first Registered Nurse (RN) role at Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta. Grady was home—I knew everyone, they treated me like family, and the transition into nursing felt natural. I immediately fell in love with the profession, and while I was still learning, I quickly grasped what it meant to care for patients at one of the busiest and most challenging hospitals in the city.

In 2019, I applied to graduate school at Georgia State University (GSU) while continuing to grow in my practice. After two years at Grady, I decided to explore the flexibility and opportunity of travel nursing. I did local assignments across almost every hospital in Atlanta and the surrounding area, and I also worked as far away as the Bay Area in California.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many others, life became about survival. I was focused on making money and not school. That decision cost me—I failed two courses and had to withdraw from my program. Having to reapply later was devastating. But I also recognize now that my priorities weren’t aligned. When the pandemic settled and reality set back in, I knew I needed to reset and finish what I had started.

During that time, something unexpected happened: I began creating content and connecting with nurses across Atlanta. Out of those relationships came an idea—I wanted to create a space where nurses could network, collaborate, and celebrate one another. That vision became the Atlanta Nurse Expo, which I launched in 2022 with about 40 people. Today, it has grown to over 200 attendees.

But I wanted to do more than just host events. I wanted to make a tangible impact in the community and in the nursing profession—whether through legislative change, student support, or community outreach. That’s when I founded the Atlanta Nurses Foundation (ANF), a nonprofit designed to give nurses and nursing students a platform not only to network but also to serve, give back, and truly lead change.

While all of this was happening, another passion was growing in me: education. In 2025, I became a nursing professor, and I instantly fell in love with teaching. There is something powerful about equipping the next generation of nurses, sharing the wisdom I’ve gained, and preparing them for the realities of this field.

Despite my setbacks along the way, I refused to give up. In December 2025, I will graduate with my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I am now the curator of the Atlanta Nurse Expo, the President of the Atlanta Nurses Foundation, and a proud nursing professor.

If there is one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that you can do or be anything you want in this life. My story is proof that setbacks don’t define you—they shape you. Consistency, discipline, persistence, and faith can carry you through any storm. What sets me apart is not that I’ve never fallen, but that every time I did, I got back up stronger. And that’s the legacy I want my students, my colleagues, and my community to remember: no matter where you come from, or how many times you stumble, you are capable of becoming exactly who you were meant to be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, the itinerary would go a little something like this:

For breakfast or brunch, we’re heading straight to either Toast on Lenox or Southern Queenz. During the day, we’re riding around the city and, knowing me, stopping at random places just to see what we find. At some point we’re grabbing something sweet from SnoGood—that’s a must.

We’re definitely hitting either Midtown Bowl or Lucky Strike for a few games, because I’m probably the best bowler out of all my friends and I love proving it. If I’m not being a grandma, we’ll add in something fun and interactive like Intoxicated Chemist or a “Sip and Something”. If not, we’re winding down and heading home to relax and watch a movie.

Honestly, I’m so busy during the week that sometimes the best way to spend time is just kicking back and enjoying the simple things.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To **Dr. Michelle Nelson** – you were the first person to show me what *Black excellence* looks like in this profession. I will never forget sitting in your class, looking up, and realizing that representation matters—that we belong in these spaces, not as tokens, but as leaders. You paved a road where there wasn’t one, and you carried yourself with strength, grace, and brilliance. Because of you, I believed it was possible for me too. Today, as a nursing professor myself, I walk in those same footsteps, praying that I can inspire the next generation in the same way you inspired me. Thank you for being the example, the blueprint, and the light.

To **Tierney** – my sister, my day-one, my constant supporter. Thank you for being there through it all—whether it was personal, the ATL Nurse Expo, or building the Atlanta Nurses Foundation. You never once hesitated to show up, even though nursing isn’t your world. You didn’t just support my dreams—you invested in them, believed in them, and stood next to me when others didn’t. When it felt like me against the world, you reminded me I was never standing alone. That’s deeper than friendship. That’s family. And I will never stop thanking God for you.

To **Brenda, Ernest, and Ernesha** – my family, my blood, my heart. You are the only family I have, and yet you have been more than enough. Words will never do justice to the gratitude I feel for you. You’ve given me roots, love, and unwavering support. Everything I am and everything I accomplish carries your name with it. Thank you for being my strength when I felt weak, my reason when I felt lost, and my home when the world felt cold.

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Image Credits
ShotByMK