New national and international recognition for our faculty, alumni and students highlight impact in research and healthcare
Over the past three months, several members of The Ohio State University College of Nursing community have received honors that spotlight their achievements and impact across nursing and healthcare, including:
- Three active faculty and two alumni will be inducted as Fellows at the American Academy of Nursing. The three faculty members are John Welch, DNP, MS, APRN-CRNA, Esther Chipps, PhD, RN, and Randee Masciola, DNP, APRN-CNP. They are joined by alumni Kim Decker (BSN ’78) and Cheryl Kovar, PhD (PhD ’09).
- Masciola, who serves as director of DNP education at the college, will become an inaugural Fellow of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health.
- Becky Lorenz, PhD, RN, and Karen Moss, PhD, RN, CNL, were named 2025 Fellows of the Gerontological Society of America and will be honored at the organization’s annual scientific meeting this November.
- Shaunta Stanford, PhD, RN, senior director of community-engaged academic pathways and assistant professor of clinical practice, was selected for the inaugural cohort of Ohio State’s Engaged Scholars Academy.
- Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, CGNC, FFNMRCSI, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, earned two honors for her leadership in healthcare strategy. She was named one of Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Chief Strategy Officers of 2025 and inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the European Specialist Nurses Organization.
- Carolyn Gunther, PhD, RDN, FASN, was elected director at large for nutrition population science on the board of directors of the American Society for Nutrition. She is leading innovative efforts to integrate nutrition and medicine education into the undergraduate nursing curriculum, with a focus on population health.
- Heather Tubbs Cooley, PhD, RN, FAAN, was honored with the 2025 Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues (IRGNI) Mentorship Award from AcademyHealth.
- Jen Huynh, RN, a graduate student specializing in pediatric nurse practitioner primary care, will receive the 2025 Ohio National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Student of the Year Award in August, in recognition of her academic excellence and commitment to advancing pediatric care.
“These accomplishments reflect the expertise, passion and leadership that define our College of Nursing community,” said Karen Rose, PhD, RN, FGSA, FNAP, FAAN, dean and professor of the College of Nursing. “Every day, I have the privilege to witness the dedication and purpose of our faculty, students, alumni and partners as they answer their calling to care and shape the future of healthcare. I couldn’t be more proud and more grateful for their efforts and their unwavering commitment to creating impact that benefits all people.”
