Chamberlain University Provost Carla D. Sanderson, PhD, RN, of Tennessee Will Join the Prestigious American Academy of Nursing (AAN) 2021 Class of Fellows

Sept. 2, 2021 –  Carla D. Sanderson, PhD, RN, provost for Chamberlain University, a distinguished nurse leader, has been selected to join the 2021 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), one of the highest honors in nursing.

Carla D. Sanderson

Dr. Sanderson, a Jackson, TN native, is thrilled to join this elite group of nurse leaders. “Across the years of service to Union University and now Chamberlain University, I have been committed to improving patient and health system outcomes by educating the next generation of highly-qualified nurses,” she said.  “By joining this year’s Class of Fellows, I have an opportunity to make an even greater contribution to the future of healthcare in this country by advancing educational justice and health equity for under-resourced students and patients.”

According to the AAN, those inducted into the Class of Fellows are charged with engaging with other leaders to transform the nation’s healthcare system, in addition to being responsible to the AAN’s mission to serve the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy, practice, and science through organizational excellence and effective nursing leadership. 

Dr. Sanderson will be recognized, along with the other 2021 Fellows, in an induction ceremony during the AAN’s annual conference, Healthy Lives for All People: Advancing Equity, Science, and Trust on October 7 - 9, 2021.

Dr. Sanderson has forty years of leadership experience with global reach and impact in higher education and healthcare through academic leadership and board membership. In her current position she serves students at Chamberlain University, which has the largest school of nursing in the country and is part of Adtalem Global Education, a leading healthcare workforce solutions provider. 

Recognized as a mission-driven leader, Carla is an ambassador for educational justice in K-12 and higher education. With a team of fellow researchers, she has co-developed a Social Determinants of Learning™ framework for nursing education and beyond to remove unjust and avoidable social and structural barriers that create racial and ethnic disparities in learning outcomes. Dr. Sanderson is Provost Emerita, Union University where she served as faculty member, dean and provost.  

About Chamberlain University
Chamberlain University is a part of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE). Chamberlain University’s mission is to educate, empower and embolden diverse healthcare professionals who advance the health of people, families, communities and nations. Chamberlain is comprised of the College of Nursing, which offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and flexible post-licensure programs such as the RN to BSN option, Master of Science in Nursing degree program, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and graduate certificates, and the College of Health Professions, which offers Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work degree programs. Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. To learn more, visit chamberlain.edu.