Dean Amar, 14 Meyers alumni and faculty recognized as diversity leaders

Fifteen members of the NYU Meyers community have been named fellows of the National Black Nurses Association’s new Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing, which recognizes nurses who have advanced equity, diversity, inclusion and justice in nursing education, research, practice, policy, or administration.

Among the 175 members of the 2024 inaugural class of fellows are Dean Angela F. Amar and several Meyers alumni and faculty members, including trailblazers Vernice Ferguson, the first Black person to head the US Veterans Administration Nursing Service, and Estelle Osborne, who was the College’s first black faculty member. Ferguson and Osborne were honored as posthumous fellows. 

Dean Amar and Immediate Past Dean Emeritus Eileen Sullivan-Marx were selected as a Luminary Fellows, a group that includes deeply experienced leaders who have had significant impact on the profession over time, and continue to engage in groundbreaking work.

“This new academy recognizes those who have worked to make nursing a diverse, equitable and inclusive profession,” Dean Amar said. “It allows all of these remarkable individuals to harness their collective strengths, share their experiences and expertise, and unite around the goal of driving change.”

Also named as Luminary Fellows were alumni Catherine Alicia Georges, who is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, Carl Kirton and Diana J. Mason, and Clinical Professor Emerita Jamesetta A. Newland.

Another seven Meyers alumni or faculty were recognized as Distinguished Fellows. They are:

• Dewi Brown-Deveaux
• Natalia Cineas
• Selena Gilles
• Vincent Guilamo-Ramos
• Ashley Graham-Perel
• Julius Johnson
• Lisa M. Lewis

In addition, Gina S. Brown, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at Howard University, was named a Distinguished Fellow. Brown has a courtesy faculty appointment at Meyers as part of the College’s research and education partnership with Howard University to advance health equity.