Dr. Timian Godfrey Selected to AAN Class of 2022 Fellows
Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, an assistant clinical professor in the University of Arizona College of Nursing, will be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), a policy-oriented think tank composed of top nursing leaders and honorary health care colleagues elected by their peers. The induction ceremony will be held during the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference on Oct. 27-29 in Washington, D.C.
Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
“Becoming a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing is very special to me and one of the highest honors a nurse can receive,” Dr. Godfrey said. “This honor shines a critical spotlight on the work we are doing at the College of Nursing and the University of Arizona Health Sciences. I’m hopeful outside interest will grow in supporting and creating systems of inclusive excellence that reshape how we connect with disenfranchised communities to promote community capacity and advance health equity.”
Dr. Godfrey has more than 18 years of health care experience and teaches in the college’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program family nurse practitioner specialty. She is the project director for the nursing workforce diversity initiative at the college. Under her leadership, the initiative provides scholarship and success services to help cultivate a professional, cultural and academic identity for those with backgrounds underrepresented in nursing.
Joan L. Shaver, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor in the College of Nursing, wrote one of Dr. Godfrey’s nominating letters. “I sponsored Timian Godfrey’s application for fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing out of recognition of her accomplishments in advancing equity and diversity here at the University of Arizona and beyond,” Dr. Shaver wrote. “Her leadership has propelled sustained strides in effectively diversifying, attracting and courting students, faculty and staff.”
Dr. Godfrey is the only Arizona inductee out of the 250 nurse leaders in the class of 2022. The newest fellows are leaders and experts in policy, research, administration, practice and academia who champion health and wellness locally and globally. They represent 17 countries, 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Arizona has such a rich cultural landscape, and elevating the voices of our communities to inform academic and research processes is what I aim to incorporate into my work,” Dr. Godfrey said. “Being an ethnic minority, mixed race (Navajo and Okinawan-Hawaiian) and first-generation college scholar has allowed me to integrate my life experience into my professional journey and provides a tremendous amount of motivation. A strong connection to my culture guides an intuitive nature that strives to understand and uplift underserved populations.”
“I am thrilled to celebrate with Timian her induction into the AAN because as a leader in our field of nursing, she has genuinely earned the recognition of her peers,” Dr. Shaver said. “As an elected fellow, by bringing her culturally informed and uniquely humble but sophisticated presence and voice, she will be a remarkable asset to the AAN.”
The AAN’s announcement of this year’s fellows noted that the selection committee received a record number of applications, a 30% increase from the previous year. Fellows are selected based on their contributions in advancing the public’s health.
“At a time when investments in, and policy to address, health equity, innovation and access are paramount, the academy is thrilled to welcome these dynamic and courageous nurse leaders who will support our collective vision of healthy lives for all people. Induction in the academy is a powerful moment in a nurse’s career,” said Kenneth R. White, PhD, AGACNP, ACHPN, FACHE, FAAN, president of the American Academy of Nursing.