Dr. Sanderson Named 2021 American Academy of Nursing Fellow

Every year, the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) extends a fellowship invitation to nurse leaders across the country. It’s an esteemed recognition and one of the highest honors in nursing.

Fellows are given recognition for their extraordinary contributions to nursing education, management, practice, policy or research.

This year, Chamberlain University Provost, Carla Sanderson, PhD, RN, has been selected as one of the distinguished nurse leaders to join the 2021 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing. 

The AAN fellowship is the newest accomplishment in Dr. Sanderson’s 40-year-career in healthcare, education and leadership. Her commitment to service and reducing educational and healthcare disparities are pillars of her career that will carry over to her role as a Fellow.

Recognized as a mission-driven leader, Dr. Sanderson 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 has served on 10 higher education, healthcare and faith-based boards. She has launched educational readiness programs and volunteer health clinics for the underserved in both domestic and international settings. She also guided the launch of six new BSN programs in faith-based institutions.

Prior to Dr. Sanderson’s role as provost at Chamberlain, she served as the vice president for accreditation and professional regulation, and supported program compliance with nursing and higher education boards’ standards in all 50 states.

She is provost emerita from Union University where she enjoyed a 32-year career as faculty, nursing dean and provost.  

As a Fellow, Dr. Sanderson is joining the ranks with many of nursing’s most accomplished leaders. She will be 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.

By Chamberlain University