Beth NeSmith, PhD, has been selected to become a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy). Induction 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 outstanding contributions to improve health locally and globally.  

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 healthcare and collectively contribute their expertise to develop sound policy that help to achieve the Academy’s vision of healthy lives for all people.   

NeSmith serves as the Dean of the College of Nursing, and after serving Augusta University and its legacy institutions for 40 years, she will be retiring in September.

A first-generation college student, NeSmith found a home at Augusta University as she pursued her three degrees, BSN, MSN and PhD. NeSmith’s leadership journey began as a charge nurse in the emergency department before moving on to more academic roles. After becoming a faculty member in 2008, she took on more responsibilities within the college, serving as chair of the Department of Nursing Science and program director for the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program. In that time, she also founded nationally recognized interdisciplinary research collaborations while developing innovative and internationally disseminated models.

In May of 2024, she was announced as the college’s new dean and in that same year, she was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the National Academies of Practice. Her upcoming AAN induction serves as a prestigious final achievement, bookmarking her legacy at the university.

“Dr. Beth NeSmith’s selection as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is a well-deserved recognition,” said Maggy G. Tomova, PhD, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Augusta University. “Throughout her career, Dr. NeSmith has advanced nursing education, fostered innovative research, and mentored generations of nursing leaders. This award reflects not only the impact of her contributions at Augusta University but also across the nursing profession.”

Several former colleagues were NeSmith’s application sponsors and spoke highly of her work, including Janie Heath, PhD, who is an emerita professor of Nursing and former Dean of University of Kentucky College of Nursing and Dean of Nursing at the University of South Carolina, Jeannette Andrews, PhD.

“Dr. NeSmith’s career exemplifies what it means to be a nurse scientist while at the same time an authentic transformational leader,” Heath said. “Her vision, scholarship, and servant leadership have advanced trauma science, strengthened nursing practice, and inspired all of us who have had the privilege of working alongside her.”

“Dr. NeSmith has had a very impactful nursing career that is distinguished by a unique and influential integration of trauma practice expertise and nurse-led translational science,” Andrews said. “Her colleagues are excited for her to be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing, the highest of all honors for a nurse leader.”

Sandy Leake, DNP, was among the very first class of CON’s DNP-Nurse Executive Concentration and currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Office of the University Health System and the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Leake said the fellowship is one of the highest honors in the profession and NeSmith’s induction reflects the national significance and impact of her contributions to nursing education and the future of nursing.

“This prestigious fellow designation affirms Dr. NeSmith’s exceptional contributions and her enduring national impact on nursing, health policy, and the next generation of nurse leaders,” Leake said.

The newest fellows, selected from a competitive pool of candidates, represent 39 states, the District of Columbia and 17 countries. They will deepen the thought leadership of the Academy’s fellowship, growing its strength to more than 3,600 dedicated nurses, who together will advance the Academy’s mission focused on impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation and science.

“Being named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is a deeply humbling honor,” said NeSmith. “This recognition reflects the unwavering support of extraordinary mentors, colleagues and Augusta University – my academic home – as well as the visionary leadership of Dean Emeritus and longtime mentor, Dr. Lucy Marion, all of whom for which I am exceedingly grateful. Most importantly, it belongs to my family, my husband of nearly 40 years, our sons, my mother and extended family, whose love, encouragement and faith made every step of this journey possible. I give thanks to God for guiding my path and remain committed to paying forward this support to the next generation of nurse leaders around the world.”

NeSmith and the 2026 inductees will be recognized at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference on Oct. 8-10 in Washington, D.C., with the induction ceremony on Oct. 10. After the ceremony, the new inductees can use their Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing credential, the most prestigious recognition in nursing.