Dean Antonia M. Villarruel Honored for Diversity and Leadership
Margaret Simon Bond Dean of Nursing Dr. Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN—a graduate of Penn Nursing’s MSN program—has received the Dr. Gloria Twine Chisum Award for Distinguished Faculty. This award recognizes Dr. Villarruel’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on Penn’s campus.
May 23, 2018The Dr. Gloria Twine Chisum Award for Distinguished Faculty is given by the James Brister Society and named for James Brister Society co-founder and University Trustee Emerita Dr. Gloria Twine Chisum. Dr. Villarruel was chosen unanimously by the James Brister Society selection committee for her profound commitment to supporting and maintaining a culturally diverse and inclusive University community through her leadership, scholarship, mentoring, and collaboration, as well as her commitment in the broader Philadelphia community and throughout the world.
Lisa Lewis, PhD, RN, FAAN, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusivity at the School of Nursing, accepted the award on Dr. Villarruel’s behalf, noting that “a commitment to diversity is not just what occurs within our building. We are not doing our job unless our actions extend beyond our immediate community. A critical component of our strategic plan is to educate nurse leaders who are prepared to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society; recruit faculty who are diverse themselves and who are committed to creating and conducting research that addresses all members of society, and particularly those experiencing disparities in health care.”
Dr. Villarruel is the first Penn Nursing alumna to receive the Dr. Gloria Twine Chisum Award for Distinguished Faculty. She is the second Dean of the School of Nursing to receive it—former Dean Afaf I. Meleis, PhD, DrPS, FAAN, LL was honored with the award in 2007. Other awardees include Herman Beavers, Professor of Africana Studies and Salamishah Tillet, Associate Professor of English and Africana Studies, among others
The University of Pennsylvania’s James Brister Society is a diverse group of Penn alumni who support and promote the University’s efforts to attract, encourage and maintain a culturally diverse community of faculty, students, administrators, staff and volunteers. The Society hosted its annual Student and Faculty Leadership Awards ceremony in April 2018.