Awards and honors

Postdoctoral Fellow Nadeen Alshakhshir, PhD, RN, received the Early Career Award from the Palliative and End of Life Research Interest and Implementation Group at the 2026 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference.

Clinical Associate Professor Eunice Areba, PhD, RN, PHN, received the Mid-Career Investigator Award from the Adolescent Health Research Interest and Implementation Group at the 2026 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference. Additionally, Areba’s article Structural adverse childhood experiences associated with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and repetitive nonsuicidal self-injury among racially and ethnically minoritized youth was recognized as a top-cited article by Wiley.

Associate Professor Rozina Bhimani, PhD, DNP, APRN, CNP, CNE, CRRN, was selected to serve as chair of the Advancing Science and Practice Committee at the Association of Rehabilitation Nursing for 2026-2027.

Jennifer Eccles, PhD, RN, FAADN, Center for Nursing Equity and Excellence executive director, received the Exceptional Leader Contribution State Representative Subscriber Award from the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. 

Brian Goodroad, DNP, APRN, CNP, FAANP, FAAN, was appointed coordinator of the Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty, starting in spring 2027.

Stacey Grenier, DNP, RN, was named assistant dean for the pre-licensure programs, starting in spring 2027.

Professor Sue Gross Forneris, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, was appointed to the AACN Organizational Leadership Network Steering Committee.

Clinical Associate Professor Nasra Giama, DNP, RN, PHN, was named a 2026 Bush Fellow.

Clinical Associate Professor Jenna Herman, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE, received the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified credential.

Clinical Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hopfenspirger, DNP, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, was selected as a Center for Interprofessional Health affiliate faculty member.

Associate Professor Melissa Horning, PhD, RN, PHN, FAAN, was appointed to the Standing Committee on Scientific Leadership by the American Academy of Nursing Board of Directors. The committee supports AAN Science, the new partnership-focused initiative that builds on the legacy of the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science.

Professor Siobhan McMahon, PhD, MPH, APRN, GNP-BC, FGSA, was named a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.
 

Professor Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN, was appointed chair of the National Academies of Medicine Health of Populations/Health Disparities Interest Group.

Clinical Assistant Professor Marshall Muehlbauer, PhD, RN, PHN, CHSE, CNE, earned Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and Certified Nurse Educator certification.

Associate Professor Leso Munala, PhD, MSW, was elected by members of the American Public Health Association to serve as a section councilor in the International Health Section.

Professor Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, FNAP was approved as an associate member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Professor Mary Fran Tracy, PhD, APRN, CNS, FCNS, FAAN received the Senior Career Award from the Acute and Critical Care Across the Lifespan Research Interest and Implementation Group at the 2026 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference.

Assistant Professor Mary Whipple, PhD, RN, PHN, FSVM, FAHA, was named the Fesler-Lampert Chair in Aging Studies by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation.
 

Clinical Professor Misty Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN, was elected to serve a three-year term on the Minnesota Indian Education Association Board of Directors.

Clinical Assistant Professor Ryne Wilson, DNP, RN, OCN, CNE, began serving as president of the Oncology Nursing Society, which has more than 35,000 members and represents 100,000 nurses.