UMass Nursing Faculty Sweep 2026 UMass ADVANCE Awards

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Elaine Marieb College of Nursing (EMCON) faculty recently earned multiple honors from UMass ADVANCE, "an interdisciplinary, faculty-led network that develops and supports campus-driven research and programming as the drivers of faculty equity on our campus." 

Equitable Practices in Collaboration (EPiC) Award

EMCON faculty Lindsay DuBois, MSN, BSN, RN, CHSE, Chris Diaz '23DNP, FNP-BC, and Celeste Surreira, DNP, FNP-BC, FNP-C, CNL, CEN, are being recognized for their group research, "Inclusive Care & Ethical Practice Simulation Group." They are one of two teams to win a 2026 UMass ADVANCE Equitable Practices in Collaboration (EPiC) Award, which recognizes faculty groups that advance effective and equitable collaboration practices at UMass Amherst. 

UMass ADVANCE Director Jennifer Normanly and Executive Director Elisa Martínez praised the team for creating “an inspiring model of inclusive clinical pedagogical development that expands knowledge and confidence for participating students and faculty, and equitable impacts in the communities seeking care.”

The simulation study builds on DuBois’s dissertation, which focuses on supporting best practices in clinical simulation through community collaboration to increase patient visibility and prepare students to provide trauma‑informed care. The project combines the faculty team’s inclusive clinical expertise across the lifespan with LGBTQIA+‑focused DNP capstone projects by Surreira and Diaz, inclusive clinical practices contributed by clinicians at Transhealth, and ongoing feedback from community members and participants.

An introductory simulation evolved into a standardized‑patient experience in fall 2025 and continues to receive positive feedback. Over the past three years, participants have consistently reported improved clinical confidence in caring for patients who identify as nonbinary or transgender after completing the experience. An informational session with Transhealth lead clinician Aleah Nesteby is offered each semester.

“We are grateful for the support from ADVANCE and EMCON. The value of community collaboration in the work we do as nurses can’t be emphasized enough. We hope our work can offer educators a replicable approach to ensure communities have a voice supported by our next generation of nurses.”

—Inclusive Care & Ethical Practice Simulation Group team statement

Faculty Peer Mentoring Award

Celeste Surreira, DNP, FNP-BC, FNP-C, CNL, CEN, has also been selected as this year’s recipient of the 2026 UMass ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentoring Award, which recognizes the vital role faculty play in mentoring their colleagues. She was nominated by multiple colleagues. "It is clear that the work you are doing makes an enormous difference to the success of your colleagues and has made the university a more inclusive and equitable place," Normanly and Martínez said.

Mentoring newer and more novice faculty is something Surreira cares deeply about. Helping to develop confident, capable leaders is central to her role as a leader in healthcare herself. She adds:

"I see mentoring as creating space for growth, building confidence, and supporting faculty as they step into leadership in their own way.”

—Celeste Surreira, 2026 UMass ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentoring Award recipient 

To Be Honored at April 17 Luncheon

The Marieb team will receive $500 and Surreira will receive $250 to continue their work. Their awards will be presented on Friday, April 17, during the UMass ADVANCE Annual Distinguished Lecture and Awards Luncheon. This year’s Distinguished Lecture, “Leaders Needed: Why Higher Public Education Matters,” will be delivered by Waded Cruzado, president of the Association of Public and Land‑grant Universities (APLU).