Madeline A. Naegle Scholarship for Mental Health Nursing
Scholarship
Madeline A. Naegle, PhD, CNS-PMH, RN, BC, FAAN, is an international nursing leader in mental health/substance abuse education, research, and practice. She is a Professor Emerita at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, where she established the WHO Collaborating Center in Geriatric Nursing Education in 2004.
In 2018, Dr. Naegle created her NEF scholarship to be awarded to graduate nursing students specializing in mental health.
Featured Madeline A. Naegle Scholarship for Mental Health Nursing Recipients
In addition to pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric mental health nursing, these featured NEF Scholars offer a wealth of experience in reproductive and geriatric psychiatry, behavioral health, and child and adolescent psychiatry:
Claire Pettengill, MSN, RN, CCLS, MT-BC
2026-2027 Winner | Doctoral Degree
- Was a board-certified music therapist and certified child life specialist in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital
- Holds placements in reproductive psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and in the Women's Mental Health program at Columbia ObGyn, and serves as a registered nurse in the inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit at Gracie Square Hospital
- Volunteers with the Columbia University Care Access Project, Columbia Student Medical Outreach, and the Columbia Human Rights Initiative Asylum Clinic, where she provides physical and psychological screenings for asylum seekers
- Completed a summer science internship at Ema EQ, a women's health AI company, building practical expertise at the intersection of technology and women's health
Savanna Medina, RN, BSN
2025-2026 Winner | Master’s Degree
- Initially specialized in neurology, where she could directly support individuals navigating complex cognitive and neurological conditions at Mayo Clinic
- Transitioned to become a quality management nurse in behavioral health for the State of Arizona, serving vulnerable populations by conducting site visits to behavioral health facilities and collaborating with providers to ensure patients receive high-quality care
- Is an active member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Nurses Association, and attends national conferences focused on advancing knowledge in nursing and mental health care
Marcus Henderson, MSN, RN, FNAP
2024-2025 Winner | Doctoral Degree
- Was an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric nurse, where he observed high rates of adolescents receiving care for acute suicidal behavior and frequent inpatient readmissions
- Worked as a research assistant at Penn Nursing's Center for Health Equity Research and in a clinical placement with a school nurse, gaining exposure to the social and structural determinants of health and driving a passion to help individuals and families thrive in their communities
- Was a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellow of the National Institute of Mental Health and a Doctoral Fellow in the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program of the American Nurses Association