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Gabrielle P. Abelard, director of the Master’s and Graduate Certificate Programs and clinical professor in the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, was recently celebrated as the recipient of the 2025 Melva Jo Hendrix Lectureship Award, an honor bestowed by the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN).

The award celebrates the memory of Hendrix’s leadership and recognizes her lifetime of contributions to psychiatric-mental health nursing. The award acknowledges psychiatric-mental health nurses whose careers exemplify Hendrix’s unswerving commitment to improving care for the underserved, stigmatized or disenfranchised, and her dedication to mentoring others.

Criteria for the award include articulate speaking ability, evidence of leadership or emerging leadership, recognition of work in the community, and a career that addresses key variables in the purposes of the award, such as working with underserved populations or mentorship.

Abelard was chosen for her nearly 20 years of service to the community, specifically her tireless advocacy for underserved populations and her incredible dedication to mentoring the next generation of nursing leaders.

Abelard was announced as the award winner at the 2025 conference and traveled to the 2026 ISPN Annual Conference in Seattle last month, where she delivered the featured award lecture on March 20. Her presentation, titled “RESET and INSPIRE the Future of Psychiatric Nursing,” addressed critical innovations in the field and aligns with the university’s mission of excellence in clinical leadership and community service.

More information about the ISPN and the Hendrix Lectureship Award can be found at ISPN-Psych.org.