Barbara Fowler named to American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Diversity Leadership Institute

Barbara A. Fowler, professor of nursing

Barbara A. Fowler, Ph.D., professor of nursing at Wright State University, has been accepted into the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Diversity Leadership Institute beginning in January 2022.

The AACN is the national voice for academic nursing education. The institute’s goal is to enhance professional knowledge and build skills and capacity surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion in academic nursing and nursing practice.

Its Diversity Leadership Institute features an intensive mentoring program with leaders in nursing education requiring participants to develop diversity plans designed to drive excellence in their organizations as well as national and international platforms of nursing education.

Fowler said she is excited about participating in the prestigious institute.

“I look forward to further developing leadership skills in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion that will benefit the School of Nursing as well as nursing colleagues across the nation,” she said.

Fowler was also asked to be a co-presenter for AACN’s webinar series beginning on Feb. 26. The webinar is related to Fowler’s involvement as an inaugural member of the AACN Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee beginning in 2019.

In 2020, Fowler was appointed to the President’s Council for Inclusive Excellence at Wright State. She also serves on the American Public Health Nursing’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Ann Stalter, Ph.D., chair of the School of Nursing, and assistant co-chairs Deborah Ulrich, Ph.D., and Sherry Farra, Ph.D., said they were thrilled to hear of Fowler’s acceptance into the institute.

“As the School of Nursing transitions within the College of Health, Education and Human Services, the award uplifts its national reputation among elite nursing professionals working to improve diversity, inclusion, awareness and equity within the profession,” said Stalter. “We are all very proud of Dr. Fowler’s career and contributions.”

The AACN represents 825 member schools of nursing at public and private universities and senior colleges nationwide. It works to establish quality standards for nursing education and assists schools in implementing them; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research and practice.