Suja P. Davis named American Academy of Nursing Fellow

The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) announced its selection of highly distinguished nurse leaders for its 2026 class of Academy Fellows, including Suja Davis, PhD, RN, CGRN, CGNC, Clinical Professor at the UNC School of Nursing. We are delighted to congratulate her on this significant achievement!

A woman with long curly dark hair, wearing a royal blue top and sweater, stands indoors by a railing, smiling at the camera with her hands clasped in front of her.

Davis will be recognized for her significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 8–10, 2026, in Washington, DC. The theme of this year’s conference is “Digital Health: Promise, Responsibility.”

Davis has 29 years of nursing experience specializing in Adult Health and holds certifications in Gastroenterology Nursing and Global Health Nursing, along with a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Informatics. Guided by her commitment to advancing nursing education through technological innovation, she has integrated a wide range of teaching and technology-enhanced strategies into her instruction and is the recipient of UNC’s prestigious Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. She received a 2024–2025 U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award which supported her teaching of nursing and research courses and contributed to faculty capacity building at the Department of Nursing, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Nepal.

According to the AAN press release, the 2026 Class of Fellows represent 39 states, the District of Columbia, and 17 countries, and reflects the powerful role nurses play in promoting health and well-being. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in which past and current accomplishments are honored by colleagues within and outside the profession.

AAN President Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN, said the vision, dedication and accomplishments of this year’s inductees represent the best of the nursing profession.

“Through evidence-based innovation, leadership, and scholarship, they have improved outcomes, shaped policy and practice, strengthened nursing education and care delivery, and advanced scalable solutions that promote healthy lives for all people. Their accomplishments demonstrate the depth and reach that define Fellowship in the Academy.”

Carolina Nursing alumni selected as Fellows this year include Gillian Adynski, BSN ’16, PhD ’20, senior policy advisor for the International Council of Nurses, and Davis, who earned her Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Informatics at Carolina Nursing in 2013.

Davis joins the following impressive list of Carolina Nursing faculty Fellows:

Carolina Nursing Fellows

G. Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, FAAN
Ruth Anderson, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Linda Beeber, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN+**
Beth Perry Black, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Jada Brooks, PhD, MPSH, RN, FAAN
Ashley Leak Bryant, PhD, RN-BC, OCN, FAAN
Lorinda A. Coombs, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, AOCNP, FAAN
Linda Cronenwett, PhD, RN, FAAN+*
Leslie Davis, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN
Jean Davison, DNP, FNP-BC, FAAN
Carol Durham, EdD, RN, ANEF, FAAN +
Cynthia Freund, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Cheryl Giscombe, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Jean Goeppinger, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Edward Halloran, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Joanne Harrell, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Donna Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Rebecca Hill, PhD, DNP, FNP-C, CNE, FAAN
Rachel Hirschey, PhD, RN, FAAN
Eric Hodges, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN
Valerie Howard, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Cheryl Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Kathleen Knafl, PhD, FAAN+
Barbara Mark, PhD, RN, FAAN+

Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN+
Margaret Miles, PhD, RN, FAAN+*
Mary H. Palmer, PhD, RN, AGSF, FAAN+
Nena Peragallo Montano, DrPH, RN, FAAN+
Audra Noble Rankin, DNP, APRN, CPNP, FAAN
Natalia Villegas Rodriguez, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, FAAN
Margarete Sandelowski, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Sheila Santacroce, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN
Karen Sheffield-Abdullah, PhD, RN, FACNM, FAAN
Gwen Sherwood, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, PHD, PMHCNS/NP-BC,
FAANP, FAAN
Lixin Song, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Suzanne Thoyre, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Mark Toles, PhD, RN, FAAN
Marcia Van Riper, PhD, RN, FAAN+
Julee Waldrop, DNP, FNP-BC, PNP-BC, CNE, EBP-C, NC-BC, FAANP, FAAN+
Jessica Williams, PhD, MPH, PHNA-BC, FAAN
Margaret Wilmoth, PhD, MSS, RN, FAAN
SeonAe Yeo, PhD, RNC, WHNP, FAAN+
Meg Zomorodi, PhD, RN, CNL, FAAN