Jonas Nursing, a leading supporter of doctoral nursing education in the U.S., and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) have announced that Stephanie Acquaye, a current PhD student in Penn Nursing, has been selected as a Jonas Scholar for the program’s 2024-2026 cohort. This program aims to improve healthcare by expanding the pool of PhD and DNP-prepared nurses needed to educate the next generation of nurse leaders.

Ms. Acquaye, a Hillman Scholar in Nursing Innovation, joins a select group of doctoral nursing students chosen for their passion for teaching, academic excellence, and research prowess. As a Jonas Scholar, she will receive financial support, mentorship, and a curriculum tailored to providing students with the learning experiences they need to successfully transition into a faculty role.

Ms. Acquaye joins a diverse group of doctoral nursing students, with over 50% of its 2024-2026 cohort representative of Black, Latino, and other communities of color, ensuring that burgeoning nursing leaders reflect the patient population of their diverse communities. This group of 63 scholars contains a multitude of research interests focused on some of the country’s most pressing challenges, including underserved populations in nursing, mental health, and veterans’ health. Ms. Acquaye’s research focuses on health disparities in breastfeeding and is spervised by Diane Spatz, the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition and a professor of perinatal nursing in the department of family and community health.