The prestigious fellowship recognizes nursing leaders for their extraordinary contributions to improving health through research and scholarship.
Fairfield University Associate Professor Lisa Sundean, PhD, MHA, RN, FAAN, was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing for her significant and sustained impact on health policy and board governance. Inducted at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Dr. Sundean is one of six Academy fellows in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies.
“Being inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing is an honor and privilege,” Dr. Sundean said. “But more importantly, it is an opportunity to join other fellows to advocate for policies resulting in health equity and improved healthcare delivery. The Academy has global reach, and I look forward to extending my impact to the global level.”
With a considerable record of scholarly activity and professional leadership, Dr. Sundean was selected to the 2025 cohort of Academy fellows after a rigorous nomination and review process. Her nomination was supported by two existing fellows, both of whom commended her demonstrated commitment to expanding the influence of nurses on healthcare governing boards and in health policy.
Their statements of support cited her seminal scholarship on board leadership for nurses and her distinguished résumé of board and other appointments, including leadership roles for the Nurses on Boards Coalition, Connecticut Nursing Collaborative-Action Coalition, the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action, and the National League for Nursing.
While her induction into the Academy is a testament to her work, Dr. Sundean maintains that it is also a testament to the highly qualified faculty at Fairfield Egan with whom she collaborates daily. In key ways, their work is the work of the Academy.
“Fellowship in the Academy is perfectly aligned with our Jesuit values at Fairfield University,” she said. “We are expected to advocate for others, create a better world for all, extend ourselves to those in need, and engage in the holism of humanity. I am so fortunate to combine values in action for something much greater than myself.”
