American Academy of Nursing bestows highest award on Rowan nursing faculty member

The American Academy of Nursing has selected Dr. Marian Nowak, assistant professor in the Nursing Department and coordinator of the RN-BSN Program at Rowan University, as a fellow of its organization.

Nowak, of Elk Township, is among 173 nurse leaders from around the globe whom the Academy will induct at its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., in October.

With the addition of this new class, the total number of Academy fellows stands at more than 2,500, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 29 countries. The fellows are nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy and research. Academy fellows include hospital and government administrators, college deans and renowned scientific researchers.

Nowak earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in education leadership from Case Western Reserve University and six other degrees from Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, Johns Hopkins University, Richard Stockton University and Our Lady of Lourdes, as well as certificates from Holy Family University and Rowan. 

Prior to joining the Rowan faculty in 2016, Nowak worked for Rutgers University, LaSalle University, the Hammonton School District, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Atlantic City Medical Center, among other organizations. She has published extensively, presented at professional conferences around the world on disaster preparedness and other topics, and won numerous awards for her work and volunteerism.

For the past three years, she has been one of six nurses worldwide with United Nations consulting status. In her role as Pan-American president of the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS), she not only represents the CICIAMS organization at the U.N. but she also consults with officials in North, Central and South American countries to impact health care changes. Her expertise in disaster preparedness is particularly integral to her global nursing involvement and representation.

The American Academy of Nursing serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing policy, nursing knowledge and practice. Fellow selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current Academy fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprising elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee's nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and well-being of all.

“I am proud to welcome this talented cohort of nurses as they join the ranks of the nation's foremost health care thought leaders," said Academy President Bobbie Berkowitz, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. "They bring a rich variety of expertise to the table, and we look forward to recognizing their accomplishments at our policy conference and then working with them to transform health policy, practice and research by applying our collective nursing knowledge."