Angelica Walton, DNP, RN, CCRN

Dr. Angelica Walton is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Her leadership connects frontline realities with high-level ecological policy, community-led land stewardship, and collective healing. Rooted in high-acuity ICU nursing, public health crisis response, home hospice care, and small-business leadership in naturalist therapies through Soul Terra LLC, her background informs a steadfast commitment to an ethics of care—a recognition that healing is fundamentally relational and that human health cannot be severed from the health and just care of our air, waters, lands, ecosystem relatives, and local communities. As a Minnesota Master Naturalist grounded in an ecofeminist framework which honors relational wisdom, somatic attunement, and the rights of nature, Dr. Walton guides academic nursing toward community-driven environmental justice and nature informed design. She has built a recognized academic agenda centered on "Eco-Social Reciprocity" and the design of "Environments of Care." Learning alongside the land, her students, and community partners, she operationalizes systemic care for human populations and ecosystems through cross-disciplinary efforts—including urban community air-monitoring pilots and partnerships sustaining traditional tribal food ecosystems. Dr. Walton's mission is to champion future health systems that elevate local wisdom, honor bioregional relationships, and cultivate healthcare leaders who are ecologically conscious, grounded in care ethics, and equipped to design and advocate for planetary health for generations to come.

• Ecofeminist Leadership & Bioregional Stewardship: Integrating social equity and gender advocacy to position care as a central strategy in the restoration of local ecosystems and community well-being.
• Biomimetic Design & Restorative Methodology: Utilizing nature’s laws, self-organizing principles, and embodiment to blueprint regenerative health system practices and organizational governance for nature's rights.
• Planetary Health Pedagogical Architecture: Designing immersive curricula that translate land based- Indigenous knowledge and ecological reciprocity into actionable leadership competencies for health professionals

DNP, University of Minnesota
Major: Integrative Health and Healing

BSN, University of Holy Cross
Major: Nursing  

• National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environmental Health Research Institute for Nurse and Clinician Scientist (EHRI-NCS)

• Critical Care Registered Nurse, American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• Okuden (Level II) Usui Reiki Ryoho, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing
• Registered Hatha Yoga Teacher, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing
• Registered Nurse, Minnesota Board of Nursing
• Shinpiden (Mastery) Usui Reiki Ryoho, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing
• Shoden (Level I) Usui Reiki Ryoho, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing

• Daisy Award for Out of the Box Thinking, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2026
• Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Faculty Award, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2025
• Global Scholar, University of Minnesota Global Scholars Community of Practice, 2024
• Dedication to Student Learning Award Certificate, University of Minnesota Center for Education Innovation, 2022
• Midwest Nursing Research (MNRS) Finalist: Impact of Mindfulness to Improve Staff Wellbeing, 2022

• American Holistic Nurses Association, Planetary Health Task Force
• American Nurses Association
• American Nurses for Healthy Environments
• Association for Leadership Science in Nursing
• Minnesota Holistic Nurses Association
• National Academies of Medicine, Climate Collaborative
• Nurses for Planetary Health

Abusbaitan, H. A., Walton, A., Munala, L., Eyadat, A., Luebke, J., Graf, M., Lopez, A. A., Kridli, S., Pirsch, A., Kimber, F., Kasine, Y., Melton, C., ElJarrah, I., & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2026). Gender-based violence and women's safety: A qualitative ecofeminist analysis across three countries. Women's Studies International Forum, 118, Article 103382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2026.103382

Walton, A., Potter, T., Brigham, J. K., Gingerich, S. D., & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2026). Cultural transformation in Minnesota: Partnership and domination during the surge of ICE. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 13(1), Article 7606. https://doi.org/10.24926/ijps.v13i1.7606 

Walton, A., Bellegarde-Armstrong, K., Hearst, M., Benbenek, M., Nisco-Madden, J., Fredejas, L., Winkiewicz, U., & Pechacek, J. (2026). Designing environments of care: Nursing leadership and healing practice in global advocacy systems. Creative Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10784535261447930 

Walton, A., & Wilson, R. (2026). Chapter resource guide. In S. Hassmiller & K. Huffling (Eds.), Taking action: Top 10 priorities for nurses to protect health in a changing climate (pp. 273-275). Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing. ISBN: 9781646481095  

Zoske, T., Harris, J., Mackerel, J., & Walton, A. (2026). Resilient landscapes for reimagined futures. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 12(2), Article 7126. https://doi.org/10.24926/ijps.v12i2.7126   

Olukotun, O., Nkhoma, Y., Adebayo, T., Olukotun, M., Mkandawire-Valhmu, L., & Walton, A. (2026). Quantifying with CARE: A framework for applying critical epistemologies in quantitative health research. Advances in Nursing Science. [ Advance Online Publication] https://doi.org/10.1097/ANS.0000000000000617 

Streater, M., & Walton, A. (2025). The role of midwives in advancing planetary health: A contemporary issue in education and practice. Nurse Education Today, 155, 106880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106880 

Walton, A. (2025). Restoring the embodied art of connection: A value based approach for internationalization. In D. Beard & K. E. Chapman (Eds.), The Power of one anthology. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. https://doi.org/10.24926/9781959870081.115 

Walton, A., Beese, S., Chesak, S., Gingerich, S. D., & Wilson, R. (2024). A partnership perspective on ecosocial reciprocity for cultural transformation. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 11(1), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.24926/ijps.v11i1.6121 

Walton, A. (2023). Dear Healers: A photographic story of finding hope, community, and partnership in connection with nature. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 10(1), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.24926/ijps.v10i1.5441 

Walton, A. (2026). Fall [Photograph]. In [Chapter 4], Transforming health systems for sustainable care delivery. In S. Hassmiller & K. Huffling (Eds.), Taking action: Top 10 priorities for nurses to protect health in a changing climate (p. [Page 104). Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing. ISBN: 9781646481095

Walton, A. (2026). Connected [Photograph]. In [Chapter 5], Transforming nursing education. In S. Hassmiller & K. Huffling (Eds.), Taking action: Top 10 priorities for nurses to protect health in a changing climate (p. [Page 124). Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing. ISBN: 9781646481095

Walton, A. (2026). Glacial Wake [Photograph]. In [Chapter 6], Turning care into climate mitigation solutions. In S. Hassmiller & K. Huffling (Eds.), Taking action: Top 10 priorities for nurses to protect health in a changing climate (p. [Page 153). Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing. ISBN: 9781646481095  

Walton, A. (2024). Artist’s statement: REBIRTH. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 11(2), Article 12.  doi: 10.24926/ijps.v11i2.6468 

Walton, A. (2023). "Decide” Spring Art Exhibit Showcase," Community Arts at Health Sciences, Center for Interprofessional Programs. Medium: Photography

Walton, A. "Embodied Ecologies: Art, Healing, and Circular Thinking in a Time of Climate Crisis," National Science Foundation Circularity Impact Program Research Traineeship, University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering. (October 2025). 

Walton, A., Rassmusen, J., Rodgers, H., & Potter, T. “Empowering Agency for Planetary Health Through Ecosocially Restorative and Regenerative Learning,” Planetary Health Alliance Annual Meeting, Rotterdam, Netherlands. (October 2025)

Walton, A. “EcoHealth Quest: A Nature-Based, Transdisciplinary Immersion for Designing Resilient Health Systems,” Midwest Climate Resilience Conference, Milwaukee, WI. (October 2025).

Walton, A. “Leadership in Action: Empowering Wellbeing and Self-Care in Global Advocacy at the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women,” Association for Leaders in Science and Nursing International Conference. (September 2025).

Walton, A. “The Air We Share: Developing Resilient Systems for a Changing Climate," CLARION National Case Competition, University of Minnesota. (April 2025). Invited.

Walton, A. “Building Community Resilience Through Ecosocial Restoration," Center for Interprofessional Health Ecohealth Immersion Leadership Development Program, Lake Itasca, University of Minnesota Biological Center. (April 2025). Invited.

Walton, A. & Goodroad, B. “Doctoral Nursing Education in the United States: Fostering Partnerships for Global Progress," International Exchange, School of Nursing, Havana, Cuba. (March 2025).

Walton, A. & Chesak, S. “Regenerative Teaching Strategies that Foster Cultures of Flourishing," American Association of Colleges in Nursing Transform Education Conference, New Orleans, LA. (December 2024).

Walton, A. "Seeds for Healing at the Commission on the Status of Women," Planting Seeds for Innovation Conference, Densford Center for Leadership, Minneapolis, MN. (June 2024). Invited.

McKechnie, A. C., Bradley, C. S., Brown, C., Delkoski, S., Neerland, C., Ruud, M., Walton, A., & Woll, A. "Innovative Strategies Advancing Interprofessional Education to Improve Women's Health," Parallel event at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Forum, Virtual. (March 2024). Invited

Walton, A. "Transformative Models of Partnerism Found in Nature as Innovative Pedagogy for Advancing Improvements in Higher Education, Nursing, & Health," American Association of Colleges in Nursing Doctoral Education Conference, Naples, FL. (January 2024).

Award: Food Ecosystems for Tribal Community Health
Principal Investigator: Davenport, Mae
Sponsoring Organization: Mni Sota Center for Weather and Health
Award Dates: 2026-2027

Award: Metro Community Air Monitoring Pilot
Principal Investigator: Zulu, Makeda
Sponsoring Organization: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Award Dates: 2024-2027