The Academy recognizes a small group of fellows as Living Legends in honor of their extraordinary contributions to the nursing profession, sustained over the course of their careers.
The following nurses are honored as Living Legends in recognition of the multiple contributions these individuals have made to our profession and our society and in recognition of the continuing impact of these contributions on
the provision of health services in the United States and throughout the world.
Alumni Professor of Nursing and Biomedical Informatics
Columbia University
Rita K. Chow
EdD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, CAPT. (Ret) USPHS
Senior Volunteer Fellow National Council on Aging
Julie Fairman
PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor of Nursing Emerita University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Faye Gary
EdD, MS, RN, FAAN
Distinguished University Professor, Medical Mutual of Ohio Kent W. Clapp Chair and Professor of Nursing for Vulnerable and At-Risk Persons
Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Mathy Mezey
EdD, RN, FAAN
Professor Emerita, Senior Research Scientist, and Associate Director (and Founding Director) of the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing
Previous Living Legend Honorees
2023 Living Legends
Janice Brewington
Pamela F. Cipriano
Martha A. Q. Curley
Mary O'Neil Mundinger
Madeline A. Naegle
Adeline "Adey" Nyamathi
2022 Living Legends
Jane Barnsteiner
William L. Holzemer
Jeanette Ives Erickson
Norma Martinez Rogers
Joyce Newman Giger
Franklin A. Shaffer
2021 Living Legends
Betty Ferrell
Terry Fulmer
Susan Hassmiller
Marla Salmon
2020 Living Legends
Linda Harman Aiken
Bobbie Berkowitz
Kathleen "Kitty" Buckwalter
Beverly Malone
Marilyn Rantz
2019 Living Legends
Geraldine "Polly" Bednash
C. Alicia Georges
Pamela H. Mitchell
Linda Schwartz
Mary Wakefield
2018 Living Legends
Jacquelyn C. Campbell
Marilyn P. Chow
Joanne Disch
Ada K. Jacox
Beatrice J. Kalisch*
Sally L. Lusk
Ruth McCorkle*
2017 Living Legends
Linda R. Cronenwett
Elaine L. Larson
Carolyn A. Williams
Nancy Fugate Woods
Connie H. Yarbro
2016 Living Legends
Linda Burnes Bolton
Ann Wolbert Burgess
Collen Conway-Welch*
Joyce J. Fitzpatrick
Martha N. Hill
2015 Living Legends
Diane M. Billings
Marilyn J. Dodd
Fannie Jean Gatson-Johansson*
Marie E. Manthey
Afaf I. Meleis
2014 Living Legends
Kathleen Dracup
Barbara A. Durand
Bernardine Lacey*
Colleen Goode
2013 Living Legends
Clara Adams-Ender
Hattie Bessent*
Margaret Miles
Jean Watson
2012 Living Legends
Anne J. Davis
Mi Ja Kim
Nola J. Pender
Muriel A. Poulin*
2011 Living Legends
Patricia Benner
Suzanne Feetham
Ada Sue Hinshaw
Meridean L. Maas*
May L. Wykle
2010 Living Legends
Billye J. Brown
Donna K. Diers*
Norma M. Lang
Barbara L. Nichols
Betty Smith Williams
2009 Living Legends
Barbara M. Brodie*
Leah Curtin
Marjory Gordon*
Ruby Leila Wilson*
2008 Living Legends
Gene Cranston Anderson
Helen Grace
Margaret A. Newman*
Robert Piemonte*
Phyllis Stern*
2007 Living Legends
Marie J. Cowan*
Phyllis G. Ethridge*
Carrie B. Lenburg
Margaret L. McClure
Sister Callista Roy
Gloria R. Smith*
2006 Living Legends
Kathryn E. Barnard*
Sister Rosemary Donley
Marlene Kramer
Angela B. McBride
Ellen B. Rudy*
2005 Living Legends
Joyce C. Clifford*
Jean E. Johnson*
Imogene M. King*
Joan E. Lynaugh
2004 Living Legends
Florence S. Downs*
Juanita Fleming*
Edith Patton Lewis*
Sally Ann Sample
Shirley A. Smoyak*
2003 Living Legends
Signe S. Cooper*
Ira P. Gunn*
Ramona T. Mercer*
2002 Living Legends
Lillian Sholtis Brunner*
Rhetaugh Graves Dumas*
Virginia K. Saba*
Gladys E. Sorensen*
2001 Living Legends
Susan Gortner*
Mary Starke Harper*
Lucie Kelly*
Ruth Lubic
Florence Wald*
2000 Living Legends
Geraldene Felton
Jeanne Benoliel*
Shirley Chater
Thelma Schorr
1999 Living Legends
Grayce Sills*
Margretta Madden Styles*
Loretta Ford
Connie Holleran
1998 Living Legends
Vernice Ferguson*
Claire Fagin*
Madeline Leininger*
1997 Living Legends
Mabel Wandelt*
Mary Kelly Mullane*
Jo Eleanor Elliott*
Doris Schwartz*
Mary Woody*
Anne Zimmerman*
1996 Living Legends
Clifford Jordan*
Mary V. Neal*
Dorothy M. Smith*
1995 Living Legends
Luther Christman*
Rheba de Tornyay*
Virginia Ohlson*
Rozella Scholtfeldt*
1994 Living Legends
Faye Abdellah*
Myrtle Aydelotte*
Mary Elizabeth Carnegie*
Ildaura Murrillo-Rohde*
Hildegard Peplau*
Jessie Scott*
Harriet Werley*
*Deceased
Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate. If there is an error we apologize. We ask that you contact the Academy with any updates or revisions.
Living Legends Selection Process
Each year, the Academy has a call for Living Legend nominations. The 2024 nomination cycle has closed.
A Living Legend must be a Fellow in good standing and a member of the Academy for at least 15 years.
They must be sponsored by three (3) Regular or Emeritus Fellows in good standing.
A sponsor may only nominate ONE applicant as a Living Legend per year.
Academy Board Members, Living Legend Task Force members, and Honorary Fellows are not eligible to serve as sponsors.
The nominee must consent to be nominated.
Nominations should address the following:
Describe the extraordinary and sustained contribution of the nominee as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history;
Share examples of how the nominee or nominee's work will have a positive, enduring impact on improving health policy, promoting social justice, and/or advancing health equity through their body of work to champion
nursing and health care.
Three (3) support letters, one from each sponsor (co-signatory is not permitted), addressing the criteria for the Living Legend nominee, must be included from each of the three sponsors in good standing.
A condensed biosketch or CV (may not to exceed five pages) of the nominee should be uploaded via the online submission form.
A $475 nomination fee is required. (The Academy can only process the Living Legends Nomination fee payment from one sponsor. An invoice will be emailed to the sponsor indicated in the "Bill to" field on the submission form.
Payments by check must be postmarked by the nomination due date.)
Please note, addendums, attachments, or additional materials are not permitted and will not be accepted or reviewed if submitted. Only the nomination form, three (3) support letters (not to exceed 3 pages per support letter), and a condensed biosketch or CV (not to exceed five pages).
Each nominee will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Demonstrated sustained contribution of the nominee as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history;
The positive, enduring impact of their previously described body of work on improving health policy, promoting social justice, and/or advancing health equity to champion nursing and health care.
Please note, Living Legend nominees who were not selected in prior years may be nominated again for consideration.
Selected honorees agree to provide a biographical statement (500 words) and high-resolution electronic photo for inclusion in the Living Legends ceremony and program.
Honorees will receive complimentary registration for the annual policy conference at which they are being recognized.
Honorees will be introduced at the Living Legends ceremony, tentatively scheduled for November 1, 2024.*
Honorees will be presented with a recognition gift from the Academy.
Honorees will no longer be required to pay annual dues and receive lifetime benefits of Fellowship.
They will be designated as "Living Legend" status.
Sponsors of selected honorees agree to participate in the Academy's policy conference and recognition events for the Living Legends, which may include an interview to highlight the honoree’s accomplishments.
*Policy Conference Format The Academy will host an in-person conference in Washington, DC on October 31 - November 2, 2024 at the Marriott Marquis hotel.