Dr. Marguerite Rogers Kinney is a woman who leads by example. Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, she attended The University of Alabama where she earned her BSN in 1961 and her MSN in 1967. After working as nursing supervisor of the cardiac care unit at Mobile General Hospital for a number of years, Dr. Kinney moved to Washington, D.C. to attend the Catholic University where she received her DSN in 1974. Three years later, she moved to Birmingham and joined the faculty at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She coordinated the cardiovascular nursing major in the master’s program and was well known for her expertise in cardiovascular surgical nursing. Her goal in teaching was to “challenge students to stretch their minds and at least entertain new ideas as plausible until shown to be otherwise”. Dr. Kinney was instrumental in developing the DSN program in the School of Nursing at UAB, which was the first doctoral program in nursing in the Southeast. In her life as a nurse and nurse educator, Dr. Kinney never wanted to ask more of people than she herself was willing to do. Even as a unit supervisor, she covered shifts for other nurses in the cardiac care unit and as a professor, she challenged students to approach nursing as a science the way she did. She gave her time to students freely, a trait they remember her for as they continue in their pursuit of knowledge today. Dr. Kinney always encouraged students to take advantage of opportunities that would promote the profession, bring rewards to the School of Nursing and the program, and help advance one’s career. She provided encouragement, support and positive reinforcement to carry out their goals. Dr. Kinney received UAB’s President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Kinney was not only willing to give in her professional life, but in her civic life as well. She was active in the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). She served in a number of roles in these organizations including local, state and national board memberships and offices. Dr. Kinney was also president of AACN when it was first formed because she was so highly respected for her insight and expertise in examining problems and determining solutions. Her influence on critical care nursing in these early days of the organization was significant. Dr. Kinney was also Editor of AACN’s publication, “Focus on Critical Care”. AACN has depended on Dr. Kinney’s wisdom and leadership for more than 30 years in order to navigate the priorities of this organization. Dr. Kinney has been instrumental in initiatives that showcase better patient outcomes when nursing and medicine work as colleagues. She has the respect of both the academic and clinical worlds of nursing. Her life time contributions reach from the academic world to the bedside. Many of nursing’s national, regional and local leaders who have challenged the status quo bear the imprint of Dr. Kinney’s influence.