Three faculty named fellows in AAN

Three Michigan State University College of Nursing faculty members, Dawn Goldstein, Kathleen Poindexter and Courtney Sullivan, were among those in the new class of fellows in the American Academy of Nursing, who were honored on Nov. 2. The honor is among the highest a nursing educator member can receive. 

Poindexter is the college’s assistant dean for undergraduate education who joined the college in 2005 and is a former president of the National League for Nursing, one of the largest international organizations for nursing educators. Goldstein is the director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program, which she was instrumental in launching in 2019. Sullivan joined the college in August as an assistant professor and researcher.

“I am truly humbled to join this distinguished group and eager to contribute to the Academy's mission, engaging with health leaders globally to improve health and achieve health equity through policy, innovation, and science,” Goldstein said. “This induction is a significant milestone in my career and aligns perfectly with my research and policy goals.”

Goldstein, Poindexter and Sullivan will join three others from Michigan and dozens other from across the worldwide fellowship of 3,000.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be inducted as a member of the Academy and serve my profession alongside so many esteemed colleagues,” Poindexter said. “As a fellow, I plan on continuing my advocacy work and engage with thought leaders to influence policy-supporting initiatives to advance nursing education, research, and development of a qualified, diverse nursing workforce.”

Sullivan is humbled to have been selected.

“It’s a real honor to be inducted and something that I didn’t really anticipate,” Sullivan said of her fellowship. “For me, it’s stepping into a world of academic and scientific nurse leaders, and I look forward to being around all of them and contributing to the work of the academy.”

Including the three new inductees, the college has 14 fellows in the academy (full list at bottom of story).

“This fellowship is one of the greatest honors a nurse can achieve,” said Dean Leigh Small, also a fellow in the academy. “It speaks to Dr. Poindexter’s, Dr. Sullivan's and Dr. Goldstein’s leadership, passion and commitment to improving the nursing field and preparing the next generation of nurses. I am proud to have both join such an impressive pantheon of Spartan Nurse educators.”

According to the academy, fellows in the 2024 class, which were officially inducted at its conference last week in Washington, D.C., came from 37 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and 14 countries.

“I am thrilled to welcome these impressive nurse leaders into our organization. With exceptional subject matter expertise, each new Fellow will be vital to achieve the Academy’s mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott in a release. “Induction into the Academy represents the highest honor in nursing. Earning the FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential is a significant recognition of one’s accomplishments and signifies the future impact they will make in collaboration with their colleagues in the Academy.”

Full list of faculty from the MSU College of Nursing in the American Academy of Nursing:

Nancy Artinian, PhD, RN, FAHA, FPCNA, FAAN

Susan Buchholz, PhD, RN, FAANP, FAAN

Barbara Given, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAPOS

Dawn Goldstein, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Mildred Horodynski, PhD, RN, FAAN

Rebecca Lehto, PhD, RN, FAAN

Jiying Ling, PhD, RN, FAAN

Kathleen Poindexter, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF

Mary Mundt, PhD, RN, FAAN

Lorraine Robbins, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN

Marilyn Rothert, PhD, RN, FAAN

Leigh Small, PhD, RN, PNP-PC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN

Courtney Sullivan, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, CPHON

Gwen Wyatt, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAPOS

​​​​​Published July 2024; Updated Nov. 4, 2024