2018 Nurse Faculty Scholars Selected by AACN and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 8, 2018 - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce that six Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars have been selected through a national scholarship program funded by the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future. This program, developed to help address the faculty shortage while enhancing diversity among nurse educators, offers generous financial support, mentoring, and leadership development to graduate students from minority backgrounds who aspire to teach in our nation's schools of nursing. 

Joining the 60 scholars previously selected for this prestigious honor are the following students, who are enrolled in PhD and DNP programs: 

• Lourdes Carhuapoma, University of Virginia
• Jenna Magallanes, University of Michigan
• Angelina Nguyen, University of Arizona
• Safiyyah Okoye, Johns Hopkins University
• Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, Rutgers University - Camden
• Armiel Suriaga, Florida Atlantic University 

"AACN recognizes the strong connection between preparing a culturally diverse nursing workforce and the ability to provide quality patient care," said Dr. Ann Cary, Chair of the AACN Board of Directors. "We applaud the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for their generous support of our Faculty Scholars program that is opening new doors to careers in academic nursing for some of our best and brightest graduate students."

More details and photos of this year's scholarship recipients are posted on the AACN website.

Addressing a National Need

The need for more nursing faculty from ethnically diverse populations is particularly acute since only 16% of full-time nursing faculty are from groups under-represented in the profession.  A national faculty shortage also hinders the ability to enroll qualified nursing applicants and therefore impacts the nursing shortage. 

To address this great need, the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future joined with AACN in 2007 to launch a national scholarship program with a designated goal of increasing diversity within the nurse faculty population. Through this program, scholarship recipients receive financial assistance to help with the completion of their doctoral or master's degree in nursing. Scholars receive $18,000 in funding support for a maximum 2 years. Recipients must establish a mentoring relationship with a seasoned faculty member and attend a leadership development program as part of AACN's annual Faculty Development Conference. Scholars also must agree to teach in a U.S. school of nursing after graduation for at least one year for every year funding was received. 

Since the program was launched, 60 Scholars have been supported through this successful initiative. After graduation, scholars enter into roles as faculty and deans at institutions across the country. AACN typical receives 60 to 75 applications for the scholarship slots each year, demonstrating strong interest in this program. 

The award selection committee - a diverse group of 10 nursing school deans and faculty members - work diligently each year to ensure that top candidates for the scholarship are selected. This year's committee members included: 

• Willie Mae Abel, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, CNE, Assistant Professor, Texas Christian University  
• Timothy Gaspar, PhD, RN, Dean, School of Nursing, Cleveland State University
• Barbara H. Johnson, PhD, MS, BS, Dean, School of Nursing, Belhaven University  
• Rolanda Johnson, PhD, MSN, RN, Assistant Dean for Academics, School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University
• Danita Potter, PhD, RN, Professor, RN to BSN Director, College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, Northwestern State University
• Courtney Reinisch, DNP RN, FNP-BC, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Program Director, School of Nursing, Montclair State University
• Savitri Singh-Carlson, PhD, APHN-BC, FAAN, Endowed Chair for William & Bernice Castella, Distinguished Professorship in Aging Studies, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
• Yvonne Stringfield, EdD, RN, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Delaware State University
• Asma A. Taha, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC/AC, Associate Professor, Director Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University

For more information on issues related to diversity in nursing education and AACN's efforts to address this critical issue, see http://www.aacnnursing.org/Diversity.