Nurses Educational Funds, Inc.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) conducted a Q&A with NEF President Edwidge Thomas, DNP, FAAN, for its November/December 2026 issue of Syllabus, its bi-monthly newsletter to nearly 900 nursing schools.

In addition to highlighting NEF's mission of scholarship for nursing leadership and support of graduate nursing students, Dr. Thomas shared her experiences and perspectives on the future of the nursing profession: "The next generation of nurse leaders must be literate in health economics, data analytics, contracting, and policy. When nurses cannot speak the language of finance and evidence, decisions about nursing get made without nurses."

Dr. Thomas also made the case that "Scholarship support is not charity. It is capital investment in the healthcare infrastructure of this country, and it carries one of the highest returns available in philanthropy. (And students) asking for support, whether a scholarship, grant, or a seat at a negotiating table, is not an imposition but a professional competency."

NEF Scholar Mary Ann Siciliano McLaughlin, EdD, MSN, RN, ANEF, has published a paper introducing the new middle-range theory, "The Theory of Nursing Professional Identity Formation," online in the Journal of Research in Nursing in October 2026. The paper introduces the middle-range theory as a set of principles explaining professional identity formation in nursing and how it is situated within the larger body of nursing disciplinary knowledge.

Dr. McLaughlin is an experienced nurse, educator, leader, author, clinical editor, and consultant in nursing. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Rutgers University - Camden School of Nursing and the Founder and Owner of Star Nursing Consulting, LLC.

Dr. McLaughlin was awarded two NEF scholarships towards her doctoral degree in 2014 and 2015. “NEF afforded me the opportunity to nurture and advance my leadership skills. My selection by NEF solidifies my connection to a legacy of visionary nurse leaders, suggesting that I may also follow in their legendary footsteps.”

NEF Board Member and Scholar Nancy Roecklein, PhD, ANP-BC, AOCNP, CBCN, is one of the authors of “Building Community Among PhD-Prepared Nurses in a Health System,” published in the October 2026 issue of the American Journal of Nursing (126(10), pp. 52–56). The article was led by Bevin Cohen, Senior Director of the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation at Mount Sinai Health System and Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and was written on behalf of the Mount Sinai Health System PhD-Prepared Nurses Network.

The PhD in nursing is often associated with academic careers, but the role of the PhD-prepared nurse in hospital settings is not well defined. The article addresses that gap by showing the many paths doctorally prepared nurses are taking outside of academia. "It’s about how we built a community for PhD nurses in the health system and highlights how they’re using their doctoral education in practice," said Dr. Roecklein.

Dr. Roecklein is a two-time NEF scholarship recipient. She joined NEF’s Board of Directors in 2024 and now serves as Co-Chair of its Criteria and Eligibility Committee.

Four NEF Scholars have been named 2026 Fellows by the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education, recognized for their contributions as leaders in higher nursing education:

• Jennifer Alderman, 2017 NEF Scholar
• Danilo Lovinaria, 2026 NEF Scholar
• Caitlin Nye, 2024 NEF Scholar
• Jennifer Roye, 2021 NEF Scholar

NEF congratulates all of the 2026 NLN Fellows on this recognition for their contributions to nursing education.

Four NEF Scholars have been named 2026 Fellows by the American Academy of Nursing, recognized for their contributions as nurse leaders:

• Yvette N. Conyers, 2017 NEF Scholar
• Suja P. Davis, 2019 NEF Scholar
• Jennifer D. Eccles, 2016 NEF Scholar
• Annie George, 2018 NEF Scholar

NEF congratulates all of the 2026 Fellows on their achievements and well-earned recognition.

Once a graduate nursing student is awarded a scholarship from Nurses Educational Funds, they are forever a member of NEF’s Circle of Scholars. Scholarship recipients are nurse leaders from across the U.S., and as they advance in their careers, the connection made between NEF Scholars can last a lifetime.

NEF Scholars are invited to submit a request to join our networking group on LinkedIn to meet other scholarship recipients, share their professional news, and learn about ways to get involved with NEF.