UMSON’s Conyers Awarded Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Fostering Diversity in Nursing Education

Baltimore, Md. - Yvette Conyers, DNP, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS, CNE, FADLN, CWCN-AP, assistant professor and associate dean for strategic engagement and impact at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded the Maryland state Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition Award.

Conyers was recognized for demonstrating excellence in “Fostering Diversity,” one of six award areas. She is among 69 faculty recipients statewide of this $10,000 award, which recognizes commitment to excellence in nursing education and service to Maryland.

“I am truly honored to receive the Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition Award,” Conyers said. “This distinction is especially meaningful because it celebrates excellence across Maryland’s nursing education community. Being selected in the Fostering Diversity category is profoundly rewarding, as it affirms the importance of advancing equity, representation, and inclusion within our profession.

“I am deeply grateful for this acknowledgment of my work and for the colleagues and students who share in the commitment to fostering learning environments where every voice is valued and empowered.”

The award is part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

According to the letter of nomination, submitted by Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and professor, Conyers excels in her ability to foster a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

“Through her welcoming nature and open-door policy, she has been particularly adept at creating a climate in which underrepresented students feel seen, heard, and supported,” Ogbolu wrote in the letter. “She is committed to mentoring emerging nurses and developing education models that challenge assumptions, foster critical reflection, and equip students to be compassionate nurses prepared to serve their communities as change agents.”

In 2023, Conyers led UMSON’s successful proposal to the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s initiative, “Eliminating Structural Racism in Nursing Academia: A Systems Change Approach to Anti-Racist Nursing Education.” UMSON was one of 12 schools nationwide selected to participate in the collaborative, which seeks to improve nursing education environments for all students.

Conyers also led AACN’s national “Leading Across Multidimensional Perspectives Survey,” which examines inclusion and belonging within nursing education, including experiences related to curriculum, academic culture, and clinical environments. The work has continued through AACN’s “Building a Culture of Belonging in Academic Nursing” initiative.

With support from an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Faculty Scholars Grant, Conyers recently established the UMSON Nursing Policy Academy. The program provides students with firsthand exposure to the policymaking process, opportunities to engage with nurse leaders and legislators, and education to influence health policy at local, state, and national levels.

She is also active in legislative advocacy. During the 2025 Maryland legislative session, she helped advance a bill requiring health professionals to complete training on structural racism as part of license renewal. The legislation passed the Maryland General Assembly, and Conyers is now developing educational programs to help professionals meet the new requirement, supported by grants from the American Nurses Association and the Maryland Nurses Association.

Conyers joined UMSON in 2023. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Family Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate from St. John Fisher College in New York; a master’s degree in nursing education from Roberts Wesleyan College in New York; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Rochester in New York; and an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing from Monroe Community College in New York.

###

The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.