University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Conyers Receives AACN Faculty Scholars Grant to Advance Student Leadership in Nursing Policy

(The following is an update of a news release published on Dec. 4, 2025)

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 named one of two recipients nationwide of the 2025 - 26 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Faculty Scholars Grant from the Foundation of Nursing, the philanthropic arm of the AACN.

Conyers, selected from among 147 applicants, received $25,000 in support of her project, titled “Nursing Policy Academy: Experiential Learning to Advance Nursing Policy and Leadership.”

The project seeks to implement and evaluate a one-year Nursing Policy Academy with students from UMSON’s bachelor’s and master’s entry-into-nursing programs. The goal is to assess the academy’s impact on building policy competencies through hands-on experience in health care policy processes; enhancing leadership skills via direct interaction with nurse leaders, policymakers, and advocacy organizations; and fostering long-term engagement in policy advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels.

Fifteen students were selected from among 45 applicants to the academy; these students exemplify UMSON’s mission to develop nurse leaders who shape health care through practice, research, education, and policy.

Program highlights include:

• hybrid workshops every two weeks on health policy, advocacy, and equity
• immersion experiences such as a field trip to the Maryland General Assembly and participation in the Maryland Nurses Association Legislative Night, the National Black Nurses Day on the Hill, the Hispanic Health Policy Summit, and student-led town halls
• community advocacy projects with local organizations
• a book club and op-ed writing on political determinants of health
• a voter empowerment campaign and civic engagement events

“Receiving the AACN Faculty Scholars Grant is both an honor and a deeply affirming moment in my journey as a nurse educator and advocate,” Conyers said. “Personally, it reflects the culmination of years of my dedication to advancing health equity, culturally responsive care, and policy engagement. Professionally, it validates the importance of integrating experiential learning into nursing education, especially in the realm of health policy, and affirms the value of preparing nurses to be leaders and changemakers beyond the bedside.”

With more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice, nursing education, and advocacy, Conyers serves as chair of the Health Policy Conference Planning Committee for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, is a Fellow of the Academy of Diverse Leaders in Nursing and was a 2025 participant in the Healing Politics Campaign School for Nurses and Midwives. She is also a George Washington School of Nursing Fellow in Health Policy and Media for the 2025 - 26 academic year.

Conyers integrates restorative practices and equity into her leadership, including contributing to legislation passed for health professional training on structural racism. Her work advances nursing’s role in policy, leadership, and system transformation to ensure justice and improved outcomes across diverse communities.

The AACN board of directors established the Faculty Scholars Grant Program in 2020 to support nurse educators whose scholarly work addresses pressing issues in nursing education and practice while advancing AACN’s strategic priorities.

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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.