American Academy of Nursing Announces the 2025 Class of New Fellows

Academy to Induct Largest Cohort of Exceptional Leaders in the Organization’s History 

June 18, 2025 (Washington, DC)—The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) announces today that it will induct a highly accomplished cohort of nurse leaders as its 2025 Fellows. The inductees will be recognized for their substantial contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 16 – October 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. This year’s conference theme is “Impact Through Integrity and Trust: Our Role as Navigators and Translators.”
 
The newest Fellows represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Their extensive expertise will enrich the thought leadership of the over 3,200 Academy Fellows who together advance the Academy's mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.
 
“I cannot emphasize enough at this pivotal time in history the vital importance of recognizing this extraordinary and sizeable group of nurse leaders. With rich and varied backgrounds from practice, policy, research, entrepreneurship, and academia, they have been instrumental in using nursing’s holistic approach to improve the health of patients and communities throughout the world,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “Induction into the Academy represents the highest honor in nursing. Earning the FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential is a prestigious recognition of one’s accomplishments and signifies the power of nursing to transform health and enact positive outcomes.”
 
The 2025 Class of Fellows, selected from a historically high number of applicants which resulted in a comparable overall acceptance rate as in previous years, represent the continued influence nurses have on ensuring innovative, evidence-informed solutions that champion health and well-being in their systems and communities. The Academy appreciates the dedicated work of the organization’s Fellow Selection Committee and International Subcommittee, who led the rigorous review of the record-breaking number of applications.
 
The Academy will host the Induction Ceremony and Soiree on the evening of Saturday, October 18, 2025. This event is a unique opportunity to showcase nursing leadership, science, and innovation where colleagues, friends, families, and sponsors gather together in Washington, DC to celebrate nursing’s transformational efforts to improve health. Learn more about the Academy and visit the policy conference website for more details.
 
2025 Academy Fellows*
 
Alabama
Curry Bordelon, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
Shameka Cody, University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing
Jennifer Coleman, Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
Linda Gibson-Young, Auburn University College of Nursing
David House, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
Heather Nelson-Brantley, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
D'Ann Somerall, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
 
Arizona
Teresa Connolly, HonorHealth
Wendy Dusenbury, Banner University Medical Center and University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
 
Arkansas
Laura Hays, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing
 
Australia
Marilyn Cruickshank, University of Technology Sydney
Daniel Terry, University of Southern Queensland
 
Barbados
Wendy Sealy, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus
 
California
Marian Altman, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Nakia Best, University of California, Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
Anna Dermenchyan, UCLA Health Department of Medicine
Jane Georges, University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing
Sarah Giron, Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
Elizabeth Halifax, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing
Matthew Howard, American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Brenda Jones, Kaiser Permanente
Lina Najib Kawar, Kaiser Permanente Southern California & Hawaii
Jung In Park, Ikaria Ventures
Patricia Zrelak, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
 
Canada
Shela Hirani, University of Regina
Kimberly LeBlanc, Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Canada
Shannon Scott, University of Alberta
 
China
Yamei Bai, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
Fuman Cai, Wenzhou Medical University School of Nursing
Aihua Chen, Wenzhou Medical University School of Nursing
Miaoxia Chen, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
Lili Deng, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
Xiuni Gan, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
Xiaolin Hu, West China School of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Li Li, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University
Hanjiao Liu, Shenzhen Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Minhui Liu, Ningxia Medical University School of Nursing
Lingli Peng, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Zi-Rong Tian, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University
Jianfei Xie, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Hong Xu, Hangzhou Normal University
Fen Yang, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine
Jinhua Zhang, Henan Medical University
Fang Zhou, Xuzhou Medical University, School of Nursing
Jihua Zhu, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
 
Colorado
Sean Reed, University of Colorado College of Nursing
Laura Rosenthal, University of Colorado College of Nursing
 
Connecticut
Judith Hahn, Yale New Haven Health System
Barbara Jacobs, Hartford Hospital
Tiffany Kelley, University of Connecticut School of Nursing
Wendy Lord Mackey, Yale University School of Nursing and Connecticut Pediatric Otolaryngology
Mallory Perry-Eaddy, University of Connecticut School of Nursing and Connecticut Children’s
Lisa Sundean, Fairfield University Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies
Gee Su Yang, University of Connecticut School of Nursing
 
Delaware
Priscilla Murphy, Nylex Educational & Counseling Services, Inc.
Ju Young Shin, University of Delaware School of Nursing
 
District of Columbia
Intima Alrimawi, Georgetown University School of Nursing
Vicki Freedenberg, Children's National Hospital and George Washington University School of Medicine
Rick Garcia, Organization for Associate Degree Nursing
Debra Kosko, Georgetown University School of Nursing
Komkwuan Paruchabutr, Georgetown University School of Nursing
M. Christopher Saslo, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Teresa Shellenbarger, National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
Angela Stanley, George Washington University School of Nursing
Sheila Cox Sullivan, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Nursing Services
Wanda Thruston, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Colleen Walsh-Irwin, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Nursing Services
Melody Wilkinson, Georgetown University School of Nursing
 
Florida
Mildred Fennal, International Nursing Education Consortium
Ryannon Frederick, Mayo Clinic
Juan M. Gonzalez, University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
Rebecca Koszalinski, University of Central Florida College of Nursing
Rayna Letourneau, University of South Florida College of Nursing and Florida Center for Nursing
Joy Parchment, University of Central Florida College of Nursing
Caroline Piselli, Piselli Global Consultants, LLC
Lisiane Pruinelli, University of Florida College of Nursing
Shannon Smith, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tony Umadhay, Barry University School of Nursing
Kathleen Wilson, Florida State University College of Nursing
 
Georgia
Jennifer Adamski, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Brittany Butts, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Nancye Feistritzer, Emory Healthcare
Angela Haynes Ferere, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Kay Kennedy, uLeadership, LLC
Patricia Lawrence, Georgia State University
Heather Meissen, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Anita Rich, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Bethany Robertson, Wolters Kluwer, Health, Learning, Research and Practice Division
Trisha Sheridan, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Athena Sherman, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Elizabeth Spiva, Wellstar Health System
Paula Tucker, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
 
Hawaii
Marife Aczon-Armstrong, Chaminade University of Honolulu School of Nursing & Health Professions
Sondra Leiggi Brandon, Queens Medical Center
Donna-Marie Palakiko, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
 
Hong Kong
Ho Yu Cheng, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
 
Idaho
Jenny Alderden, Boise State University, School of Nursing
 
Illinois
Sarah Abboud, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Julie Carbray, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing and College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry
Carolyn Dickens, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Anne Deutsch, Shirley Ryan Abilitylab, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and RTI International
Andrew Hamilton, AllianceChicago
Brenda Knoll, Illinois Wesleyan University School of Nursing and Health Sciences and Piomi, LLC
Mary Dawn Koenig, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Carol Kostovich, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
Mark Lockwood, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Lynn Mohr, Rush University College of Nursing
Rebecca Singer, University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Young “John” Yauger, American Association of Nurse Anesthesia Foundation
 
Indiana
Kim Decker, Indiana University School of Nursing
Miyeon Jung, Indiana University School of Nursing
Julia Rogers, Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing
 
Iowa
Daniel Wesemann, University of Iowa College of Nursing
 
Ireland
Amanda Drury, Dublin City University
 
Italy
Annamaria Bagnasco, University of Genoa Department of Health Sciences
 
Japan
Michiko Moriyama, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences
 
Kansas
Amy Hite, Pittsburg State University School of Nursing
Jill Peltzer, University of Kansas School of Nursing
 
Kentucky
Jean Edward, University of Kentucky College of Nursing
Amanda Fallin-Bennett, University of Kentucky College of Nursing and Voices of Hope Lexington
Delanor Manson, Kentucky Nurses Association
 
Louisiana
Benita Chatmon, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans School of Nursing
Alison Davis, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans School of Nursing
Jennifer Manning, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans School of Nursing
 
Maine
Devin Carr, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center
Valerie Fuller, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center and American Association of Nurse Practitioners
 
Maryland
Veronica Amos, University of Maryland School of Nursing
Balkys Bivins, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Katie Boston-Leary, American Nurses Enterprise
Joan Carpenter, University of Maryland School of Nursing
Kami Cooper, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Cubby Gardner, U.S. Department of Defense, TriService Nursing Research Program
Laura Lucas, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Molly McCarthy, MMC Advisors
Michelle Mollica, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute
Jennifer Moon, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Shawna Mudd, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Ivy Latoja Pacis, Veterans Affairs Capitol Health Care Network
Jamla Rizek, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Helga Scharf-Bell, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jennifer Shepherd, American Nurses Enterprise
Shaquita Starks, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Jacqueline Vo, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute
 
Massachusetts
Debra Burke, Massachusetts General Hospital
LaDonna Christian, Simmons University School of Nursing
Lisa Duffy, University of Massachusetts Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and the Institute for Applied Life Sciences
Alex Hoyt, MGH Institute of Health Professions
Heather O'Sullivan, Mass General Brigham
Eleonor Pusey-Reid, MGH Institute of Health Professions
Valeria Ramdin, Northeastern University School of Nursing - Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Kristen Sethares, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Cathy St. Pierre, VA Bedford Healthcare System
Yiyuan Sun, Northeastern University School of Nursing - Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Jill Terrien, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing
John Welch, Partners in Health, Boston Children's Hospital, and Ohio State University College of Nursing
Yuan Zhang, University of Massachusetts Lowell Solomont School of Nursing
 
Michigan
Esther Afolabi, Calvin University
Ramona Benkert, Wayne State University College of Nursing
Chin Hwa “Gina” Dahlem, University of Michigan School of Nursing
Tammy Eaton, University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Kechinyere Iheduru-Anderson, Central Michigan University
Lenette Jones, University of Michigan School of Nursing
Julie Kruse, Oakland University School of Nursing
Dana Tschannen, University of Michigan School of Nursing
 
Minnesota
Brian Goodroad, University of Minnesota School of Nursing and Hennepin Healthcare
Melissa Horning, University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Patrick Simon Soria, Abbott Northwestern Hospital
 
Nebraska
Windy Alonso, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
Elizabeth Beam, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
Carli Culjat, Nebraska Methodist Hospital
Julie Manz, Creighton University College of Nursing
Therese Mathews, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
Blake Smith, Nebraska Medicine
 
Nevada
Rebecca Benfield, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing
 
New Hampshire
Marcy Ainslie, University of New Hampshire
 
New Jersey
Kevin Emmons, Rutgers University School of Nursing-Camden
Jamille Nagtalon-Ramos, Rutgers University School of Nursing-Camden
Tracy Vitale, Rutgers University School of Nursing
 
New York
Kafuli Agbemenu, University at Buffalo School of Nursing, SUNY
Tammy Austin-Ketch, Upstate Medical University College of Nursing, SUNY
Leon Chen, Columbia University School of Nursing
Maya Clark-Cutaia, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, CUNY
Bevin Cohen, Mount Sinai Health System
Kelly Foltz-Ramos, University at Buffalo School of Nursing, SUNY
Velda Gonzalez, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
Kevin Hook, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
Elsie Jolade, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, CUNY
Sandra Lindsay, Northwell Health
Eileen Magri, NYU Langone Health-Long Island
Jayna Moceri-Brooks, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
Zainab Osakwe, Adelphi University
Eunhee Park, University at Buffalo School of Nursing, SUNY
Dilice Robertson, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
Cassandra Vonnes, Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE)
 
North Carolina
Janet Campbell, Duke University School of Nursing
Lorinda Coombs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
Hayley Estrem, University of North Carolina at Wilmington School of Nursing
Cheryl Kovar, East Carolina University College of Nursing
Giancarlo Lyle-Edrosolo, Advocate Health
Audra Rankin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
Karen Sheffield-Abdullah, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
Yolanda VanRiel, North Carolina Central University
 
Norway
Espen Gade Rolland, Lovisenberg Diaconal University College
 
Ohio
Rosario Allen, University of Toledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute
The Honorable Rachel Baker, Ohio House of Representatives
Esther Chipps, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center & The Ohio State University College of Nursing
Earl Dalton, Health Carousel
Christine Horvat Davey, Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Randee Masciola, The Ohio State University College of Nursing
Heather Rice, Cleveland State University School of Nursing
 
Oklahoma
Cassy Abbott Eng, University of Tulsa
Diana Sturdevant, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing
 
Oregon
Rachel Prusak, Oregon State Board of Nursing
 
Pennsylvania
Bimpe Adenusi, Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Nursing
Sheila Alexander, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Amanda Bettencourt, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Brenda Elliott, Messiah University
Ying-Ling Jao, Pennsylvania State University Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Brayden Kameg, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Jessica Lazzeri, Penn Medicine Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Young Ji Lee, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Nancy Mannion, NMB Global Leadership, LLC
Maribeth McLaughlin, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Peter Preziosi, TruMerit
Halley Ruppel, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Amy Sawyer, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Teresa Thomas, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Jane Tobias, Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Nursing
Judith Zedreck, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
 
Rhode Island
Amy D'Agata, University of Rhode Island College of Nursing
Justin DiLibero, Rhode Island College
Erica Liebermann, University of Rhode Island College of Nursing
 
Saudi Arabia
Monir Almotairy, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib College for Knowledge and King Saud University
Abdulaziz Alsufyani, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
 
South Carolina
Demetrius Abshire, University of South Carolina College of Nursing
Katherine Chike-Harris, Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing
Evangeline Dennis, Perioperative Consultants, LLC
Carolyn Harmon, University of South Carolina College of Nursing
Sheryl Mitchell, University of South Carolina College of Nursing
Malissa Mulkey, University of South Carolina College of Nursing
 
South Korea
Sanghee Kim, Keimyung University
Youn-Jung Son, Chung-Ang University Red Cross College of Nursing
Rhayun Song, Chungnam National University
Yeojin Yi, Hanyang University
 
Taiwan
HsiuLing Chou, Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology
Chiu-Yueh Hsiao, Chang Gung University
Mei Nan Liao, Chang Gung Medical Foundation
Mei-Feng Lin, National Cheng Kung University
Hsueh-Hsing Pan, National Defense Medical Center
 
Tennessee
Cynthia Borum, HCA Healthcare
Stephanie DeVane-Johnson, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Charleen McNeill, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing
Kimberly Powell, University of Missouri, Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing
Jessica Van Meter, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
 
Texas
Gloria Lamela Beriones, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Steven Brockman-Weber, Ascension
Paul Thomas Clements, Texas A&M University College of Nursing
Allison Ihle, UTHealth San Antonio School of Nursing
Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez, UT Health Houston Cizik School of Nursing
Bertha Flores, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing and South Texas Veterans Health Care System
Shawntay Harris, Eminent Healthcare Resources Consultants, Inc.
Tracy Hicks, C-Trilogy Comprehensive Clinical Care/C-Trilogy Outreach and the University of Texas at Tyler
Linda Kim, University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing
Nicole Kroll, Texas A&M University College of Nursing
Kelly McGlothen-Bell, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing
Jacqueline Michael, University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing
Tonychris Nnaka, University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Nursing
Roselyn Ogunkunle, Lone Star Oncology and Chamberlain College of Nursing
Bryan Sisk, Memorial Hermann Health System
Meagan Whisenant, UT Health Houston Cizik School of Nursing
 
Utah
Jia-Wen Guo, University of Utah College of Nursing
Stacie Hunsaker, Brigham Young University College of Nursing
Craig Nuttall, Brigham Young University College of Nursing
 
Vermont
Ellen Flaherty, Dartmouth Health
Betsy Hassan, University of Vermont Medical Center
 
Virginia
Jeannie Corey, James Madison University School of Nursing
Kimberly Elgin, University of Virginia Health
Ellen Harvey, Carilion Clinic
Andrea Knopp, James Madison University School of Nursing
Emma Mitchell, University of Virginia School of Nursing
Kyeung Mi Oh, George Mason University School of Nursing
Lana Sargent, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing
Linda Shepherd, Joint Commission Resources
Kathie Zimbro, Old Dominion University Ellmer School of Nursing
 
Washington
Alison Bradywood, Washington State Board of Nursing
Eeeseung Byun, University of Washington School of Nursing
Katie A. Haerling, University of Washington Tacoma School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
M. Rebecca O'Connor, University of Washington School of Nursing
Megan Streur, University of Washington School of Nursing
Gordon West, Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing
Teri Moser Woo, Saint Martin's University
 
West Virginia
Lya Cartwright-Stroupe, Vandalia Health
 
Wisconsin
Peninnah Kako, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing
Maichou Lor, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing
Teri Pipe, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing
Linda Wesp, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing
 
*This list notes the information provided by the incoming Fellows as of June 24, 2025. Please note, these individuals will officially become an Academy Fellow and may use the FAAN credential only after they participate in the Induction Ceremony on October 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.