����app is pleased to announce that Esther Afolabi, PhD, RN, has been selected to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy). Esther Afolabi is an associate professor at ����app. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their significant contributions and impact to advance the public’s health.  

The Academy is a policy organization and an honorific society that recognizes nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration, and academia. Academy Fellows hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care and collectively they contribute their thought leadership to develop sound policy that help to achieve the Academy’s vision of healthy lives for all people.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. This recognition affirms the importance of equity-driven research and community-engaged scholarship,” said Dr Afolabi.  “I remain committed to advancing health outcomes for underserved women and families through research, advocacy, and faith-informed practice."

Globally recognized scholar

Dr. Afolabi is a globally recognized nurse scholar with a strong focus on community and public health, maternal-child health, and cancer prevention. Her work centers on developing culturally responsive interventions for underserved populations, including cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination, and reproductive health education. She has received prestigious fellowships from such as the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and the African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship (ADDRF). Dr. Afolabi has also played key roles in international research collaborations and curriculum reform in both Nigeria and the United States.

"Dr. Afolabi’s selection as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is both a remarkable personal achievement and a meaningful recognition of her global impact in community and maternal-child health,” said Adejoke Bolanle Ayoola, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, School of Health, ����app. “As a Fellow myself, I know the Academy seeks leaders who not only advance nursing science but also shape health policy and improve lives. Esther embodies that mission with excellence, humility, and deep compassion. We celebrate this milestone with her and give thanks for the ways her work reflects ����app’s commitment to faith-informed service." 

The newest Fellows, selected from a sizeable and competitive pool of applicants, represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Their unique expertise will soon bolster the collective impact of over 3,200 Academy Fellows.  

Dr Afolabi and the 2025 inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual , taking place on October 16 – 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. And Induction Ceremony ceremony will take place on the evening of October 18. After the ceremony, the new inductees can use their FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential, the most prestigious recognition in nursing.

About the American Academy of Nursing

�ճ�� serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,200 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.