Q&A with the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing's newest FAAN inductees

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It was announced on June 25, 2024 that three Elaine Marieb College of Nursing faculty members are to be inducted into a distinguished cohort of nurse leaders as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). Professors Memnun Seven, Jeungok Choi, and Jess Dillard-Wright will be recognized for "their substantial and sustained impact on health and health care" at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference later this fall in Washington, DC. The 2024 Class of Fellows was determined from a ambitious pool of applicants. This newest cohort hails from 37 countries and represents "a cross-section of nursing’s most dynamic leaders who are making positive change in their systems and communities to champion health and wellness," according to the AAN.

"I am thrilled to welcome these impressive nurse leaders into our organization... Induction into the Academy represents the highest honor in nursing. Earning the FAAN 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."

- Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN

There are more than 3,000 AAN Fellows from over 55 countries, including many EMCON faculty members. The Academy says it "represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia."

Q&A: Getting to know our newest FAAN inductees

Q: Describe your nursing journey. What got you into this field? What keeps you going?

Memnun Seven: My nursing journey started in a small town in Türkiye as I witnessed geographic and economic health disparities in my community. As I studied nursing, my background, and professional nursing experience gave me a deeper understanding of equal opportunities and sources influencing our health and lives.

Jeungok Choi: After more than 10 years of working for older homeless patients at a city hospital in Korea, I realized much more work was needed in the field of gerontological nursing research to improve care for this population. This experience inspired me to become a nurse educator, and I've been at UMass Amherst for 17 years now. As a gerontological nurse educator and researcher, I have the privilege of being in a position as nurse faculty to prepare and foster the next generation of nurses to advance the quality of care for a diverse group of older adults’ population, including older Asian adults. Most of all, I greatly enjoy working with older adults by educating them and conducting valuable research into improving their care. I love to hear their wealth of wisdom and storytelling! Improving care for older adults is challenging, but it is worth pursuing.

Jess Dillard-Wright: I've been a nurse for 15 years and at UMass Amherst since 2022. In that time, I have worked as a staff nurse in the emergency and shock/trauma critical care setting of a level I trauma center and as an academic educator, which has been my full-time pursuit since the end of 2016. I come from a healthcare family and am the third generation of nurses on my mom's side. This matrilineal history is really special to me, and I think about my nan and mom when I think about what keeps me going. The values and priorities that they instilled in me are part of what got me into nursing in the first place, taking care of each other and leaving the world a little better than you found it.

Discuss your research and academic focuses in nursing. What are some of the main goals with your work?

MS: Over the last few years, with my research, teaching, and professional experiences, I am committed to achieving the vision of the College of Nursing as a “force for innovation, learning, and discovery in preparing culturally proficient nurses for leadership in health for a global society.” Working in rural areas of western Massachusetts, I have dedicated myself to clinical and community-based research to improve the quality of life of people affected by cancer who are experiencing health disparities by giving them opportunities and sources to optimize their health and enjoy their lives.

JC: My research focuses on self-management of chronic conditions for underserved older adults such as Asian older adults. My research has led to the development of an innovative pictograph approach to self-management instructions and a tablet-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (“Tab-CBI”) and been disseminated nationally and internationally. The ultimate goal with my work is to improve chronic disease outcomes for those with underrepresented, underserved backgrounds. My academic focus lies on mentoring of faculty and students from underrepresented backgrounds, the goal being to support nurse professionals to achieve successful career advancement and make significant contributions as global nurse leaders.

JDW: I bring a unique perspective to the discipline by integrating critical humanities expertise to foster imagination, transformation, equity, and justice in and for nursing. This is demonstrated through my sustained record of innovative historical and philosophical research and my efforts growing community to cultivate epistemic diversity in nursing. While nursing is a well-established profession, the ideas and histories that inform nursing practice and philosophy remain contested. My research addresses these tensions by illuminating previously suppressed histories of ideas in nursing, including their philosophical foundations. This scholarship has far-reaching application for nursing in education, policy, and research, and beyond.

How does the FAAN credential impact your career?

MS: Being an AAN fellow will further enable me to advance policy and practice change by generating and disseminating nursing knowledge locally and globally.

JC: Being a FAAN can bring me a lot of opportunities for national and international work collaboration and mentorship experiences, as well as exposure to invaluable professional networks, all of which will improve my leadership and substantial career growth.