Saluting our FAANs Fifty-one alumni and faculty have received prestigious honor
When the American Academy of Nursing inducted its 2026 class of fellows on October 10, three Cizik School at UTHealth Houston faculty members and alumna Melinda Stanley Hermanns, a distinguished teaching professor at The University of Texas at Tyler, joined at least 47 other alumni and faculty members in achieving one of the highest honors in nursing.
“Many Cizik School of Nursing graduates are leading important research studies, improving patient care, and serving in the highest levels of academia across the globe,” said Dean Diane Santa Maria. “As we honor the newest Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, we also recognize the dozens of other alumni and faculty who have become FAANs over the years. We compiled a list, but we are sure there are more alumni FAANs out there, and we encourage them to contact us.”
Alumni FAANs
- Sherry Adkins, MSN, RN, ANP-C, CNS, FAAN
- Anne Alexandrov, PhD, AGACNP-BC, ANVP-BC, NVRN-BC, ASC-BC, CCRN, FAAN
- Terri Armstrong, PhD, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
- Tommye Joyce Austin, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN
- Gloria Beriones, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAAN
- Ninotchka Brydges, PhD, DNP, MBA, APRN, ACNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
- Garry Brydges, PhD, MBA, MHA, CRNA, ACNP-BC, FAANA, FAAN
- Lisa Campbell, DNP, PHNA-BC, FAAN
- Heeseung Choi, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
- Michael Evans, PhD, RN, FAAN
- Falicia Fadol, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
- Bertha Flores, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN
- Lorraine Frazier, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
- Melinda Stanley-Hermanns, PHD, RN, PMH-BC, CNE, PN/FCN, ANEF
- David House, DNP, CRNP, FNP?BC, ENP?C, CEN, CNE, FAANP, FAAN
- Huaping Liu, PhD, RN, FAAN
- Sarah Livesay, DNP, APRN, FNCS, FAAN
- Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FADLN, FAAN
- Gia Mudd Martin, PhD, MPH, RN, FAHA, FAAN
- Michael Neft, PhD, DNP, MHA, CRNA, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN
- Ainslie Nibert, PhD, RN, FAAN
- Elias Provencio-Vasquez, PhD, RN, FAANP, FAAN
- Elda Ramirez, PhD, FNP-BC, ENP-BC, FAANP, FAEN, FAAN
- Paula Rieger, MSN, RN, CS, AOCN, FAAN
- Debora Simmons, PhD, RN, FAAN
- Mary Beth Thomas, PhD, RN, FAAN
- Cindy Weston, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNS-CC, CHSE, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN
- Pamela Windle, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CPAN, CAPA, FASPAN, FAAN
FAANs who are alumni and faculty
- Daniel Lee Arellano, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN, CEN, CFRN, EMT-P, FCCM, FAANP, assistant professor in the Department of Undergraduate Studies
- Jennifer Beauchamp, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of nursing research labs, associate professor in the Department of Research
- Veronica Joyce Brady, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FADCES, BC-ADM, CDCES, assistant professor in the Department of Research
- Deanna E. Grimes, DrPH, RN, FAAN, professor emerita
- Meagan Whisenant, PhD, APRN, FAAN, director of PhD program, associate professor in the Department of Research
Faculty FAANs
- Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate dean for faculty development, associate professor in the Department of Research
- Allison Edwards, DrPH, MS, RN, CNE, CDDN, FAAN, associate professor in the Department of Undergraduate Studies
- Joan Engebretson, DrPH, AHN-BC, RN, FAAN, professor emerita
- Higinio Fernández-Sánchez, PhD, RN, FAAN, assistant professor in the Department of Research
- Joanne Hickey, PhD, ACNP, FCCM, FAAN, professor emerita
- Constance Johnson, PhD, MS, RN, FAAN, professor emerita
- Jennifer Kawi, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAAN, professor in the Department of Research
- Melanie McEwen, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, professor emerita
- Thomas Mackey, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emeritus
- Janet Meininger, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emerita
- Sara Mithani, PhD, RN, assistant professor in the Department of Research
- Linda Roussel, PhD, RN, CNL, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor in the Department of Graduate Studies
- Cathy Rozmus, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, professor emerita
- Susan Ruppert, PhD, RN, FNP-C, ANP-BC, FCCM, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, associate dean for the Department of Graduate Studies
- Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, MSN, RN, ACRN, PHNA-BC, FSAHM, FAAN, dean
- Ansley Stanfill, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate dean for the Department of Research
- Janet Van Cleave, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate professor in the Department of Research
- Geri Wood, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emerita
If you are or know of a Cizik School of Nursing alumni FAAN not listed above, please contact [email protected].
