University race and equality champion join prestigious American Academy of Nursing 

With more than 3,000 fellows (about 1% from the UK), the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia. 

Commenting on the fellowship, Prof Archibong said: "I am deeply honoured to be recognised by the American Academy of Nursing and look forward to being inducted as a fellow. This recognition is evidence of the strength and force of nursing leadership and the collective effect of our profession on promoting health care.

"The footprint of excellence this fellowship represents motivates me and keeps me dedicated to furthering our mutual goal to promote health equity, pioneer care practices, and inspire the next generation of nurses. Together, we remain steadfast to advance the future of nursing and improve the well-being of our global communities."

The Academy is a policy organization and an honorific society that recognizes nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration, and academia to advance equitable solutions to the most complex health care challenges. Academy Fellows hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care in the United States and abroad. Induction into the Fellowship represents more than recognition of one's accomplishments within the nursing profession. Fellows contribute their collective expertise to the Academy, engaging with health leaders nationally and globally to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.  

The newest Fellows, selected from a competitive pool of applicants, represent 37 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 14 countries. Their unique expertise and expansive body of knowledge will soon bolster the collective impact of over 3,000 Academy Fellows to achieve the Academy’s vision of healthy lives for all people.

Professor Archibong and the 2024 inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 31 – November 2, 2024 in Washington, DC during the Induction Ceremony on the evening of November 2nd. After the ceremony, the new inductees can use their FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential, the most prestigious recognition in nursing. 

Professor Archibong is a foremost authority and leader on inclusion and diversity. She is currently setting the agenda to drive research, learning and knowledge exchange in enhancing workforce diversity and inclusive service delivery. Her work is having a major impact locally, nationally and globally. The body of her research has provided the evidence base for, and a robust understanding of, the development and application of cultural solutions and diversity interventions in public, private and third sector organisations.

She is Fellow of the West African College of Nursing and Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for her services to higher education and equality. 

In 2022, the University was awarded a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award by Advance HE, thanks to Professor Archibong’s leadership. The University has also been ranked #1 on the Higher Education’s Social Mobility Index in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and it was named University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2020 by The Times and Sunday Times.

She will officially become an Academy Fellow at an induction ceremony in Washington DC in November.