Johns Hopkins Celebrates 13 Honorees from American Academy of Nursing

Thirteen faculty and alumni from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) have received prestigious accolades from the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) for their significant contributions to health, policy, and nursing education on a global scale. Among these honors are eleven new fellows and recognitions for a Living Legend and the President’s Award.

Induction of New Fellows

The eleven inductees from JHSON for the 2025 class include notable faculty members and alumni. The faculty inductees are:

– Laura Lucas, DNP, APRN-CNS, RNC-OB, C-EFM, Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Nursing Program
– Shawna Mudd, DNP, MBA, CPNP-AC, PPCNP-BC, CNE, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
– Shaquita Starks, PhD, PMHNP-BC, Associate Professor and Track Director for PMHNP/PMHNP Certification

The alumni inductees include:

– Ivy Latoja Pacis, DNP, MSN, MHA, FACHE, CNE, NE-BC, CPHQ, CCRN-CMC, Adjunct Faculty at JHSON
– Balkys Bivins, PhD, PMHNP-BC, Adjunct Faculty at JHSON
– Nakia C. Best, PhD, RN, University of California Irvine
– Sondra Leiggi Brandon, DNP, MBA, MPH, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, NEA-BC, APRN, Queen’s Health Systems
– Carolyn Dickens, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, CNP-FPA, FAANP, FHFSA, University of Illinois Chicago
– Betsy Hassan, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, University of Vermont Medical Center
– Audra Rankin, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, University of North Carolina School of Nursing
– Amy Sawyer, PhD, RN, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Recognizing Lifelong Contributions

Additionally, JHSON honors Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emerita, who has been named a 2025 Living Legend by the AAN. This title acknowledges her extraordinary contributions to nursing and global health. Dr. Sharps is renowned for her pioneering research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among pregnant and parenting women. Her Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation (DOVE) intervention, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has transformed how public health nurses identify and respond to IPV during pregnancy. Throughout her four-decade career, she has championed health equity and mentored numerous students and faculty.

The President’s Award, the highest individual honor from the AAN, was awarded to Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN, former Dean of JHSON and current Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Dr. Davidson received this recognition for her lifelong dedication to enhancing the health of individuals and communities.

“These recognitions from the American Academy of Nursing honor the remarkable breadth and depth of excellence within the Hopkins Nursing community,” said Sarah L. Szanton, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean of JHSON. “From our newest Fellows to our Living Legend and President’s Award honoree, each represents the spirit of innovation, compassion, and leadership that defines our school and advances the future of health and nursing around the world.”

The official induction ceremony for the AAN Fellows and award recipients took place during its Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 2025.

Located in Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a globally recognized leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It ranks first nationally for its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and second for its master’s program, according to U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, JHSON ranks third among nursing schools worldwide according to QS World University rankings. The school has also received the INSIGHT Into Academia Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Distinction (HEED) Award eight times and has been recognized six times as a Best School for Men in Nursing.

For more information, visit www.nursing.jhu.edu.