Emerging Leaders

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2025 Winners

February

Meredith Fisher

Meredith Fisher, BS to DNP Student
University of Florida
Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2026
Current Position: Nurse at Community Hospice and Palliative Care

I chose to apply to the BSN-to-DNP program at the University of Florida to pursue a higher degree that would allow me to transition into a new role in healthcare where I could make a meaningful impact in a different way. After nearly 28 years as a nurse, I was ready for a change that would enable me to guide patient care and influence decision-making while drawing on my firsthand experience at the bedside. My deep understanding of what patients and families endure when facing serious illness has fueled my desire to shape care delivery from a broader perspective.

My journey in the BSN-to-DNP program has been incredibly exhilarating. In such a short time, I have gained invaluable knowledge and opportunities that I never anticipated. A year ago, I never imagined I would be publishing an article in a Florida nursing magazine about critical healthcare legislation that I have been actively involved in shaping while engaging key nursing organizations across the state. Additionally, I have been invited to present a one-hour CEU session on my policy advocacy work surrounding Patient-Directed Medical Orders at Policy Advocacy Days in Tallahassee later this month, sponsored by the Florida Nurses Association. With our bill now assigned a number, we are building a grassroots movement to mobilize others to contact their legislators to support this crucial healthcare policy. I would not be where I am today without the support and mentorship of my professors, the guidance of my graduate coursework, and the encouragement of the program's administration.

After graduation, I will remain open to the opportunities that come my way. I hope to continue working in healthcare policy in some capacity while staying actively involved in patient care. Additionally, I aspire to help educate and inspire the next generation of nursing students, empowering them to recognize the impact they can make in people's lives.

January

Wendy Post

Wendy Post, PhD Student
George Washington University
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 2026
Current Position: Assistant Professor at Bowie State University

I chose to enroll in George Washington University’s (GWU) PhD program in Nursing because I am driven to confront the stark inequities that persist in maternal child health—especially for women of color. Having witnessed firsthand how systemic barriers contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes, I wanted to equip myself with the highest level of research and leadership skills to advocate effectively for these vulnerable populations. GWU’s commitment to innovation and policy-oriented scholarship presented the ideal environment to deepen my expertise and sharpen my capacity to foster meaningful change. My goal is to leverage the university’s robust academic resources and diverse network of experts to champion initiatives that dismantle health disparities and amplify the voices of mothers who are too often overlooked.

My journey through the PhD program has been both transformational and empowering. The rigorous coursework—ranging from advanced research methodologies to health policy analysis—has elevated my critical thinking and honed my evidence-based practice. The faculty’s mentorship has been invaluable, as they have challenged me to explore innovative approaches to addressing maternal health disparities and supported my passion for community-engaged scholarship. Collaborations with peers—many of whom also share a commitment to social justice—have sparked insightful discussions and broadened my perspective on the systemic factors influencing maternal and child outcomes. This supportive ecosystem of scholars has not only enriched my research skills, but also galvanized my resolve to be an unwavering advocate for women of color.

After completing the PhD program, I plan to develop a groundbreaking maternal health tool that captures and integrates the lived experiences of maternal health witnesses—particularly women of color—as a powerful means of informing practice improvement. By systematically gathering their stories and perspectives, I intend to shape evidence-based interventions that address the root causes of inequities, driving healthcare systems to become more responsive, accountable, and patient-centered. My vision is to collaborate with policymakers, community organizations, and healthcare providers to implement this tool on a broad scale, ultimately creating safer birth experiences for all mothers. Through this work, I aspire to be a driving force in eliminating racial disparities in maternal health and paving the way for more equitable, compassionate care nationwide.

December 2024

Crystal Jackson, MSN Student
Florida A&M University
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024

I am in my final semester of the MSN-Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) program at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. I will graduate on December 13, 2024, and I cannot wait! I chose this program because I am a Florida native, and it is the only school in the state that offers the WHNP program. I am passionate about various issues in women’s health, so this was a no-brainer for me. I love the sense of school pride at FAMU; even as a distance-learning (online) graduate student, I feel part of a powerful legacy and a great community of nursing professors who are subject matter experts and are putting their all into the program.

I am currently a perinatal HIV RN case manager with the Florida Department of Health in Saint Lucie County, where I work with pregnant women living with HIV and their exposed infants. After graduation, I intend to become licensed and certified and continue working with the Florida Department of Health in their prenatal and family planning clinics, where I can provide compassionate healthcare to low-income women and girls.

November 2024

Kristin Payestewa Picazo, PhD Student
Arizona State University
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2026

I come from an adverse childhood that carries a lineage of oppression and trauma from history and addiction. Despite these hardships, my late Diné grandfather (Cheii) instilled in me the importance of higher education and giving back to our Indigenous communities. This in mind, I went back to school and dedicated my time to learn where I belong and who I am supposed to be. After not getting into nursing school right away and being put on a two-year waiting list, I decided to pursue a community health degree. This is where my passion began for health research. I then obtained a master’s degree and learned that, in those environments, less than 3% of Indigenous nurses in the U.S. are represented and even fewer hold a doctoral degree. Therefore, I chose this program because there is a need to increase Indigenous representation in research and health degrees. Being Diné, Hopi (Tewa), and Omaha, I’m one of the few Indigenous doctoral students at Arizona State University's Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. As a third year, I am developing an integrative review that will identity barriers and challenges that academically hinder Indigenous representation in health and medical degrees. Currently, I co-lead a study that embarks on amplifying and emboldening Indigenous nursing and medicine. Within this program, I also volunteer my time by serving on the Edson Alumni Board and the Edson Council of Inclusive Excellence. My advocacy speaks for Indigenous equity in health and academia with an aim in serving to support diversity in cultural backgrounds, nursing, and medical pathways for students.

After this program I hope to gain a post-doc that serves in supporting Indigenous research in health, both nationally and internationally. I want to increase my networks to work alongside scholars and health professionals that believe in health equity for all. A goal of mine is to create a mentorship program among institutions that are specific for Indigenous researchers, nurses and medical students. Overall, I hope to be a supporter of a larger picture of Indigenizing academia and healthcare for our future generations to come. I am very grateful to be a part of a change that will encourage Indigenous students to attain degrees in research, nursing, medicine, and health. Ahéhee'!

October 2024

Leslie Pitts, Dual DNP-PhD Student
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2026

Prior to pursuing the dual DNP-PhD degree, I worked as a pediatric nurse and acute-care pediatric nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, focusing on caring for children with complex endocrine disorders, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Witnessing these rare conditions' profound impact on children and their families inspired me to pursue this advanced degree. The dual DNP-PhD program equips me with the necessary skills to translate research into real-world solutions for children, adolescents, and young adults.

As the first dual DNP-PhD student at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), I've navigated both successes and challenges, particularly in balancing full-time coursework, research immersion, and professional service. During my time as a graduate student, I have had the privilege of serving as Chair and Co-Chair of the Pediatric Endocrine Society's Advanced Practice Provider Specialty Interest Group, President of the Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and member of the Education Committee for the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society. These experiences, combined with the mentorship and research opportunities I've received at UAB, have equipped me with skills beyond the traditional classroom setting. The dual program has enabled me to visualize how to bridge the gap between scientific research and clinical application, providing a strong foundation for future practice.

After completing the program, I hope to build a career combining clinical practice, research, and nursing education, using the knowledge and skills I have gained to enhance pediatric care and develop the next generation of nursing leaders who will shape the profession's future.

September 2024

Charity Brown, DNP Student
Old Dominion University
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Current Position: Internal Medicine NP and Patient Safety Manager

I decided to enroll in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Old Dominion University (ODU) to expand my knowledge as a clinician and impact clinical outcomes. My overall goal is to expand the field of nursing to allow for more autonomous practice as well as empowering and leadership opportunities. Lastly, I believe strongly in the impact of evidence-based practice and would like to become an expert in early recognition of clinical deterioration.

I’ve had an amazing experience applying my knowledge of the DNP Essentials in the program. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in advocating on Capitol Hill for policy change, community outreach activities, volunteering in a STEMinist event, and mentoring young women interested in healthcare careers to guide them along the way. It has been an absolute pleasure.

Upon completion of the program, I'd like to grow as a clinician and leader. I'd like the opportunity to participate in system-level process improvement to ensure optimal patient outcomes related to early recognition of clinical deterioration as well as quality and safety initiatives.

August 2024

Javona Alexander, MSN Student
Cedarville University
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Current Position: Civilian Pulmonary Registered Nurse Specialist 88th Medical Group

As a pulmonary Registered Nurse (RN), I decided to take the next step and help veterans further. I work on a military base as a civilian RN. I have worked in the gastrointestinal clinic, medical-surgical unit, and now in the pulmonary clinic while working on my master’s degree.

I enrolled in Cedarville University to pursue my passion for becoming a Nurse Practitioner. My area of interest is vascular neurology. I am in a Neurology Clinic at Wright Patterson Airforce Base assisting with neurological conditions. Helping neurological conditions interests me because there is a great need to research what causes or enables sporadic neurological diseases. Staying up to date on early diagnosis and treatment can save lives. My goal is to help with the demand provider shortage.

Cedarville University has helped me build the skills I need by allowing me to choose my specialty during my practicums. Studying at a graduate level in a specialized field prepares me for an easy transition. My leadership role will continue to grow from this opportunity. I pray to represent the nurses who read this post and are passionate about advanced nursing care, including APRNs working on the frontlines of patient care.

July 2024

Heather Lashley, PhD Student
University of Maryland
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024
Current Position: RN at Sheppard Pratt Hospital System

I decided to enroll in the University of Maryland’s BS to PhD program in 2019 after having spent one year working in orthopedic nursing. However, it was back in January 2018 that chronic pain evolved from being just a medical term I heard at work into a series of personal experiences and one of my central research interests. The physician's diagnosis of fibromyalgia began a journey that acquainted me with the unrelenting challenges of chronic pain and its impact on my psychological and physical well-being. I have also become aware of what it means to live with a highly contested and misunderstood illness, while personally witnessing healthcare workers complain about “troublesome pain patients”, who often only differed from the general population by having a diagnosis of fibromyalgia in their records.

My desire to bridge the chasm between fibromyalgia sufferers and care providers drove me to investigate the complex dynamics surrounding psychological resilience and adaptation to pain, focusing on what factors influence the relationship between resilience and fibromyalgia symptom burden. Throughout the last five years, I have further refined my research interests, solidifying my intent to investigate the impact of sociodemographic and psychological factors on psychological resilience in adults with fibromyalgia.

My dream is to become a nurse educator while continuing my research on resilience in persons suffering from fibromyalgia and other highly contested conditions. I want to advocate for people who are frequently overlooked and misunderstood by the medical community (whether it be individuals with fibromyalgia, chronic widespread pain, autoimmune disorders, or neuro-divergent conditions) but have just as much right to be respected by healthcare providers.

June 2024

Matthew Farmer, PhD Student
University of Missouri
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Current Position: Director of Clinical Operations, Population Health, CoxHealth, Springfield, Missouri

During the pandemic, the first COVID-19 vaccines were given to healthcare systems to distribute. Our system first created signups for these vaccines online. Due to lack of Internet access or digital illiteracy, many individuals in my area were unable to sign up. This observation led me to see what research has been done to study or address digital inequities. I could find very little. This prompted me to apply for the PhD program at the University of Missouri to gain the skills and mentoring needed to answer this question.

While gaining the skills needed to work on this problem, I found I had a passion for quantitative analysis, biostatistics, and data science. I enrolled in collateral coursework within the data science program to develop these skills further, which were beneficial in my dissertation research. As I reach the final steps of this journey, I look forward to doing four things: (1) add to the rigor of research and analysis methods me and my team does in population health; (2) contribute to other research projects at University of Missouri and elsewhere; (3) improve awareness and promote interventions for health and digital equity; and (4) apply data science methodology to nursing science.

May 2024

Roula Shehadeh Joudi, PhD Student
American University of Beirut
Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2024-2025
Current Position: Graduate Teaching Assistant at Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut

I worked as a Registered Nurse in the medical-surgical unit and later as a clinical nurse educator at Clemenceau Medical Center Affiliated with Johns Hopkins International- Beirut- Lebanon. During this time, I co-led several evidence-based practice programs including the palliative care program and the wound management program. I was directly involved in developing and revising clinical policies and procedures as well as training nurses. In 2020, and after attaining my MSN degree, I enrolled in the PhD program at the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing with a clear purpose; to enhance my skills in academic research, teaching, and healthcare administration. My background in nursing administration and staff development has further fueled my commitment to effecting positive change. Through this program, my experience has been transformative, equipping me to contribute significantly to the field of nursing. Post-graduation, my plans involve embarking on an academic journey. I aspire to contribute to nursing education, mentor future nurse practitioners, and engage in scholarly work. My dedication to investigating brownout among nurses represents a pioneering effort in the field. This research serves as the first step in a series of studies, currently in the phase of theory development. This foundational work is laying the groundwork for subsequent phases, which will involve mixed-method research and workforce management strategies. By delving into the complexities of brownout, I am poised to make a substantial impact on nursing practice, ultimately contributing to the development of evidence-based interventions and policies.

April

Rose Mary Rodrigues, MSN Student
California State University, Long Beach
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Current Position: Critical Care Nurse at Riverside Community Hospital

I have worked at Riverside Community Hospital for the past 19 years, and as a Critical Care Nurse Certified (CCRN) and Stroke Certified (SCRN) my desire is to learn and empower those around me with the knowledge I have. I love to share my knowledge as I give and receive reports, as part of the Professional Practice Committee or just sending information on learning events to my colleagues. The desire to learn and share knowledge has motivated me to participate and become a member of different associations and chapters, such as AACN, AANN, GNSA, and CANP. It has been an incredible experience creating a supportive network. During COVID, there was an event that changed the course of my life. My family and I were cycling, I fell, broke two ribs, and developed a large hemothorax. Surviving that accident made me appreciate life even more and made me realize that life is short, and we need to make the most of the time and opportunities we have. With a strong faith and a supportive and loving family, I have been able to excel academically. I have also been able to share my knowledge by participating in a Mission Trip to Dominican Republic last Summer. My experience in the master's program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) has been the best academic experience of my life. CSULB has a culture of doing whatever is possible to make a student successful. They provide mentorship programs. Professors prepare students not only for academics, but to become professionals and engage in policy making. The in-person program provides opportunities to make friends and to interact with classmates and teachers. As I contemplate the finish line, I am excited for the future. I cannot wait to apply all the knowledge I have acquired during this program. I intend to deepen my knowledge in Neuroscience and to integrate the role of the NP with the MBA degree I had previously. I am ready to take on leadership positions, to be a change to my community and around the world.

March 2024

Juwan Lamar, Entry-Level MSN Student
Emory University
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024
Current Position: Full-time student

My decision to enroll into this nursing program was not made lightly. One of the main reasons that I chose to enroll is because I find it gratifying to help someone without the expectation of anything in return. The experience of seeing someone at their lowest point and helping them get back to their "normal" is an experience that I am looking forward to. Overall, my experience in this program has been nothing short of amazing. It is a fast-paced program and can get overwhelming at times, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Upon graduation in December, I plan to start my career in the Emergency Department with the long-term goal of working within an administrative role in the hospital such as a Nursing Manager, Chief Nursing Officer, or maybe even a hospital executive. The possibilities are endless, and I am looking forward to the journey.

Prior to Emory, Juwan attended Emmanuel University obtaining a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice, while also being engaged in athletics through Cross Country and Track. After graduating with his bachelor’s, Juwan became a Police officer with the city of Atlanta. He served in this role for four years before deciding to enroll in nursing school.

February 2024

Kadeeja S. Murrell, MS
PhD Student
Arizona State University
Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2026
Current Position: Full-time student

I decided to enroll in the PhD program with the aim of advancing my education and honing the research skills that I acquired during my master’s program at Central Michigan University. Throughout my duration in this program, I have cultivated a diverse skill set, surpassing my initial expectations! I have also had the privilege of establishing valuable connections with esteemed professionals and, hopefully, future colleagues in the field. Upon completion of the program, my aspiration is to contribute to the filed as tenure-track faculty at a Research 1 university, furthering my research endeavors in the realm of Black maternal health care. My overarching life goal is to create significant changes in the approach to maternity care for Black women in the United States.

Kadeeja received a seed grant from Edson College of Nursing for a study that seeks to understand how Black women perceive safety in maternal healthcare settings. She was elected to be the Engagement Coordinator for the Black Graduate Student Association. She also serves on the conference planning committee for the Maternal and Child Health Translational Research Team and serves as a grant reviewer for the Graduate Professional Student Association at Arizona State University.

January 2024

Connie Jo Hemeyer, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNN-NP
DNP
Jacksonville University
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024
Current Position: Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and Instructor of Medicine for the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL
Program Director, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Nephrology Fellowship

Upon entering the MSN program, only a few were pursuing a terminal degree, and my primary focus was to swiftly embark on the journey to become a nurse practitioner. However, after fourteen years of experience in an academic medical institution and with a commitment to lifelong learning, I recognized the importance of education. For me, the true value lies in the process of attaining a DNP. I have enjoyed gaining a deeper understanding of quality improvement, the business of healthcare, and even statistics! Each phase of my doctoral studies has allowed me to integrate newfound skills into my professional responsibilities. As an example, applying statistical software knowledge gained in a recent course enabled me to dive deeper into a quality improvement project, resulting in an abstract acceptance for a national conference.

I am trying to stay present and enjoy the learning experience each class offers. My two passions are guiding individuals in their professional development and collaborating within effective teams to continuously enhance our healthcare delivery system, ensuring it aligns with the evolving needs of patients. Looking forward, I aim to leverage the knowledge acquired during this journey and continue its practical application in my professional endeavors.

December 2023

Amanda Keddington, MSN, RN
DNP
University of Utah
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Current Position: Faculty, University of Utah College of Nursing

The Doctor of Nursing Practice in Organizational Leadership degree is vital in addressing critical healthcare gaps. This specialized doctorate degree fills a crucial need, teaching participants to steer nursing advancement, advocate for the profession, and implement evidence-based practice. This program empowers nurses to lead complex healthcare systems, drive innovation, and elevate patient care quality. The DNP-OL degree serves as a catalyst for change through leadership, mentorship, and knowledge implementation, thus fostering leaders who can navigate healthcare leadership while championing the advancement of nursing.

This program has guided me in identifying my leadership style and strategic thinking processes. I also have a thorough understanding of project leadership and management and have been able to apply this knowledge in practice through my practicum experience. I intend to translate this knowledge into academic nursing education. It is vital to have nursing, education, business, and leadership experience to guide a nursing program, particularly through this era of significant change.

November 2023

Karen Towne, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC
PhD in Nursing
University of Kansas
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2024
Current Position: Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty Fellow, Center for Faculty Development - University of Mount Union
Jonas Scholar 2021-2023

As a nurse educator, public health nurse, and beginning nurse scientist, I am a passionate public health advocate. I enrolled in the University of Kansas Nursing PhD program because I see research as a root form of advocacy where evidence is discovered, documented, and disseminated to drive improvement initiatives which benefit the individuals, communities, and populations we serve as nurses. With an emphasis track in symptom science and faculty expertise in public and environmental health, my program has enabled me to connect individual- and systems-level knowledge to examine pressing public health issues. Beyond the excellent distance and intensive educational experience, faculty mentors have encouraged me to strive for professional, scholarly, and intellectual opportunities such as presentations, publications, scholarships and grants, and scholarly recognitions.

My dissertation explores the relationships between allostatic load, disaster-related prenatal stress, and pregnancy outcomes. My long-term goal is to examine the underlying relationships between disasters and prenatal stress and their impacts on fetal, childhood, and transgenerational health. Public health nurses, who possess expertise in advocacy, prevention science, population health, and emergency management, are well-positioned to explore stress mitigation interventions as part of disaster preparedness and response efforts. In the future, my goal is to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to mitigate fetal exposure to disaster-related prenatal stress and to provide public health policymakers with the credible data for evidence-based decision-making.

October 2023

Andrew Lim, MBA, BSN, BA, RN
PhD in Nursing
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Anticipated Graduation Date: Summer 2024
Current Position: Graduate Research Assistant

Curiosity has always been my trait growing up. I knew that I was going to end up in academia and I just had a more roundabout route. After receiving my second baccalaureate (this time in nursing), I decided to look at doctoral programs. I enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing after talking to faculty members and receiving guidance on potential topics of research.

The areas that piqued my interest included cancer control, cancer care, and underserved population. I was fortunate to be introduced to my current committee chair, Dr. Robin Lally, who has been instrumental in encouraging me to explore areas of social psychological factors of cancer prevention in the sexual and gender diverse (SGD) community. The fact that we have an NCI cancer center right here in Omaha also played a role in my enrollment.

My experiences here at UNMC have exceeded my expectations. The tremendous amount of support from faculty and peers as well as the institution itself allows me to navigate the nooks and crannies of scientific inquiries and develop my research trajectory. Once I complete the program, I hope to receive more training, especially in the SGD field. My goal is to bring an SGD health research program to the area and help incorporate more SGD content in health professional education curricula.

September 2023

Lakshmi Nair, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
PhD in Nursing and Health Innovations
Arizona State University
Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2025

I decided to pursue a PhD in Nursing as I wanted to strengthen my skills in research to work in the psychiatric and addiction nursing field. The opiate and drug use epidemic has the world perplexed and we need more effective interventions supported by evidence to fight this disease. It is my hope to contribute to the science in the field and bring about substantial changes we see and treat substance use disorders.

Arizona State University has helped me build substantial skills in mixed methods research as I continue to work with imminent faculty who are pioneers in the field. I hope to pursue a research plan that substantially contributes to our understanding of prevention, early interventions, and management of substance use disorders with a special focus on adolescents and young adults. I hope to develop a novel intervention that uses heart-rate variability biofeedback as an adjunct intervention in the management of alcohol cravings which can be further adapted and studied across different substance use disorders. My leadership roles outside of the PhD program with the Arizona Indian Nurses Association’s Mental Health Initiative will continue to inform my work in my community and volunteering efforts for the mental health of young adults and vice versa.

August 2023

David Agor, DNP, PMHNP-BC
PhD Program
University of Pennsylvania
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2026

During my DNP program at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, I started investigating novel treatments for mental illness as part of my public health class. Then I was exposed to nutritional psychiatry, a novel branch of psychiatry aimed at improving microbiome dysbiosis with nutrients to improve mental health, and I became fascinated with the topic. However, there is a paucity of nurse researchers exploring nascent therapies for mental illness. Therefore, I decided to enroll in a PhD program to develop a program of research focused on affecting the implementation of nutritional psychiatry for the sexual and gender minority (SGM or LGBTQIA+) population.

I hope to serve at a research-intensive university researching nutritional psychiatry policies for SGM and helping educate the next generation of nurse scientists. Also, I am interested in having a joint appointment at para-governmental organizations and think tanks with global policy influence, such as the World Health Organization. Nurses are needed at every table where health care is discussed, and I hope to represent nursing effectively at those tables.