Vanessa Loyd is a long-time member of the UMSL teaching faculty; she joined the College of Nursing in 2008. Vanessa brought with her myriad experiences in the areas of leadership, education, medical surgery, mental health, correctional medicine, perioperative nursing, and long-term care. 

She completed her PhD in educational leadership and policy studies. Her area of research interest centered at African American women nursing faculty in higher education. Vanessa has a strong interest in policies, disparities, social justice, and diversity. Vanessa teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. She is very active in nursing and in community engagement. She serves as the Advisor to the Minority Student Nurses Association (MSNA), as well as a leader with several community organizations. 

Vanessa is the past president for the Alpha Chi Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority and Co-Chair of the Washington University Patient Research Advisory Board (PRAB). She also serves on the board of Office of Minority Health- Eastern Alliance, American Heart Association Minority Council, and the East Central Missouri Area Health Education Center as a member.