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Columbia Southern University College of Nursing and Health Science Founding Dean Dr. Bonny Kehm, PhD, RN, CNE in a hallway of a health practice — Columbia Southern University College of Nursing and Health Sciences Founding Dean Dr. Bonny Kehm, Ph.D., RN, CNE (CSU)

Alabama faces a sustained nursing shortage, driven by retirement, among other factors. Two years ago, the Alabama Board of Nursing reported that 39,000 nurses in the state would retire over the next five years.

That was a key motivator for Alabama-based Columbia Southern University (CSU), which designed its College of Nursing and Health Sciences programming to respond thoughtfully and to scale, first gathering input from health care leaders and working professionals across the state to build programs that meet them where they are.

Given Birmingham’s robust health care ecosystem, these new options are especially relevant and potentially impactful to us. To explore how so, we recently spoke with Dr. Bonny Kehm, PhD, RN, CNE, who leads the college as its founding dean.

Read on to see how CSU’s approach supports Birmingham employers and clinicians now and into the future.

Programs for a new era

Male nurse working on a computer in the hospital — CSU sought new approaches to nursing education to align with industry transformations. (Columbia Southern University)

Kehm brings statewide regulatory accreditation and crisis leadership experience to CSU. As a former president of the Missouri State Board of Nursing during COVID-19, she led through rapid shifts in education delivery, clinical access and workforce expectations.

“It changed how everything was done, how health care was delivered and how clinical sites and hospitals function. Coming out of that, the board of nursing—and nurses in particular—were looked upon to have the answers to this pandemic. It brought me to [the conclusion] that we can do things differently: It’s a new age and a new era, and this opportunity exists.”
_{Dr. Bonny Kehm, Founding Dean of the CSU College of Nursing and Health Sciences}

Designed by nurses for nurses

People, meeting and healthcare with laptop or medical team for planning, strategy or collaboration at office. Group of employees in boardroom discussion for healthcare or brainstorming at the clinic — CSU met with clinicians and employers statewide to align programs with needs. (Columbia Southern University)

That mindset led Kehm to CSU, where she helped launch the College of Nursing and Health Sciences in December 2024. Designed for working nurses, other health care professionals and employers, the programs allow students the flexibility to gain new knowledge and skills while continuing to work.

Kehm says the path to launch included extensive conversations with health care employers and clinicians statewide, many of whom continue to serve on CSU’s advisory boards.

“We wanted to do it differently, meeting with employers and health care workers and starting a conversation with all of them, that began with ‘What do you want in your education?’ and ‘What would be most helpful to upskill your team?’
_{Dr. Bonny Kehm, Founding Dean of the CSU College of Nursing and Health Sciences}

Affordability, applicability + accessibility

A person views the Columbia Southern University student portal on a laptop — Students have nine weeks to complete coursework, with no required login times. (CSU)

Kehm says three themes emerged from those discussions:

✅ Affordability: Tuition rates aligned with national standards + embedded resources (no textbooks to buy!)

✅ Applicability: Digital clinical simulations are built into the curriculum from day one

✅ Accessibility: 100% online coursework over set timeframes with weekly deliverables + no required login times

Seven new post-licensure nursing programs

Exterior of Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama — With programs 100% online, Columbia Southern University is based in Orange Beach, Alabama. (CSU)

As of today, the college offers a full slate of associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate program offerings, plus several certificates.

New in 2026 are a Doctor of Health Care Administration + seven post-licensure nursing programs, including:

RN to BSN
3 MS programs – Nursing Informatics, Nursing Education + Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems
3 RN to MSN dual programs in the same disciplines above

CSU earned National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) pre-accreditation for all seven programs within months of the launch, signaling alignment with national quality standards and ensuring graduates can progress into advanced accredited programs.

“CSU is excited to continue supporting the region’s health care workforce, and for the Birmingham employers, our pre-accreditation signals that our graduates are educated within a framework that prioritizes programs of excellence, accountability and readiness for practice.”
_{Dr. Bonny Kehm, Founding Dean of the CSU College of Nursing and Health Sciences}

Learn more about CSU’s College of Nursing and Health Science programs and register today.

Columbia Southern University’s nursing programs are post-licensure and do not lead to professional licensure or certification. Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.

Columbia Southern University’s nursing programs are currently seeking authorization from the Boards of Nursing in the District of Columbia, Utah, and Washington. Currently, CSU is unable to admit students residing in these states/territories until formal approval is granted but is actively working to secure the necessary authorization.

Applicants must reside and be licensed in the states/territories where Columbia Southern University has the necessary authorization throughout the duration of the program. Students are required to complete all experiential learning experiences only in the states/territories where they hold a valid nursing license, and only in the states where CSU has the necessary authorization.This degree program holds pre-accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC, 20037; phone (202) 909-2487. Holding pre-accreditation status does not guarantee that initial accreditation by NLN CNEA will be received.

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