In 2023, the American Academy of Nursing Inducted One NEF Board Member and Three NEF Scholars
Nurses Educational Funds is extremely honored to announce Dr. Michele Crespo-Fierro, NEF Board member; Irvin Ong a current 2023 NEF Scholar; Dr. Rebecca Hill, NEF Scholar in 2019 and 2020; and Dr. Calli Cook, NEF Scholar, 2018, have been inducted into the American Academy of Nursing for 2023.
This year the American Academy will induct 253 distinguished nurse leaders into the 2023 class of Fellows. The inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and outstanding impact on health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 5-7, 2023 in Washington, DC. This years’ conference theme is “Celebrating 50 Years of Leadership, Policy, and Partnership.”
The newest Fellows, and the largest class, represent 40 states, the District of Columbia, and 13 countries. In welcoming these Fellows, the Academy will be comprised of more than 3,000 leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.
Since 1912, Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. a non-profit organization has had one mission, to raise funds to award scholarships to graduate level nurses studying for their master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing education, advanced clinical care, research, health policy, and administration.
NEF-funded scholars have become outstanding faculty and deans of schools of nursing, renowned researchers, and experts in healthcare delivery, administration, and policy – all leading change in every arena across the country and globally.
The link to the list of this year’s AAN Fellows is:
https://www.aannet.org/news/press-releases
FEATURED SCHOLAR

Jennifer Kwapick
(2025-2026 Winner)
Jennifer Kwapick is honored to be the recipient of the 2025 Rita Reis Wieczorek Scholarship. Jennifer has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Rutgers University and a bachelor's degree in nursing from George... read more.
Support Graduate Nursing Education
Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by nurses for nurses in 1912, and since then, the organization has awarded over 1,500 scholarships to support the pursuit of advanced degrees in nursing.
NEF’s named scholarships, created with a minimum donation of $50,000, honor and memorialize nurse leaders, from Isabel Hampton Robb to Thelma Schorr to Susan Bowar-Ferres. 100% of donations help to keep NEF scholarships funded in perpetuity; organization expenses are covered by prudent management of NEF’s investments.