Lydia Rotondo Named Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, the School of Nursing’s senior associate dean for graduate education and innovation has been named a 2024 Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). A major milestone in a nurse leader’s career, induction into the Academy recognizes contributions to nursing and the public's overall health.

Rotondo, who also serves as director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program and a professor of clinical nursing, joins a cohort of Fellows that represents 37 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 14 countries. The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) comprises nearly 3,000 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia who champion health and wellness, locally and globally.

“I am thrilled to welcome these impressive nurse leaders into our organization. With exceptional subject matter expertise, each new Fellow will be vital to achieve the Academy’s mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN. “Induction into the Academy represents the highest honor in nursing. Earning the FAAN credential is a significant recognition of one’s accomplishments and signifies the future impact they will make in collaboration with their colleagues in the Academy.”

For Rotondo, recognition as a FAAN has offered a chance to pause and reflect on her contributions to the nursing profession as a leader, educator, and advocate.

“Nurses often start their careers wondering what they will contribute on a daily basis to improve health and support their colleagues. Induction into the Academy offers a longitudinal perspective, demonstrating that colleagues both within and outside of the nursing profession recognize your continued contributions over time,” Rotondo said.

Through her roles as an associate dean and program director, Rotondo has led efforts to promote interprofessional education and create innovative solutions to address workforce and community needs. Under Rotondo’s leadership in her previous role as associate dean for education and student affairs, the School of Nursing expanded its focus on academic innovation, implementing new educational technology and experiential learning to support competency-based education.

This transformation led the School of Nursing to earn designation as an Apple Distinguished School in 2021 and 2024, and receive endorsement from the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) for excellence in simulation education. The School also earned further recognition as the recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award (Academic Health Center). Most recently, UR Nursing was named a 2024 National League for Nursing Center of Excellence for enhancing student learning and professional development.

“We wanted to be intentional about continuing the School’s legacy as a leader in nursing education, and thinking about it in a way that prepares students for the future of healthcare,” Rotondo said. “Pivoting our philosophical and pedagogical foundations was critical in laying the groundwork for utilizing educational technology to prepare nurses as knowledge workers in a digital age practicing in complex healthcare environments.”

As DNP program director, Rotondo has helped UR Nursing stand out as an early leader in shaping DNP education. Over the past decade, Rotondo has had opportunities to add her expertise to DNP curriculum development and DNP scholarship through national presentations and publications.

Furthermore, through the establishment of the annual DNP Summit, Rotondo has positioned the School as a leader of national conversations on DNP education, career pathways, scholarship, and emerging topics. Now in its ninth year, the annual webinar series has welcomed thought leaders in nursing from across the country and attracted a growing national audience.

Her influence also extends beyond the university setting. Collaborating with New York State education leaders, she contributed to the passage of recent legislation that supports the integration of simulation in clinical nursing education. Earlier this summer, she helped lead the University of Rochester to become the first institution in New York to expand its DNP program entry point, a major milestone in expanding access and eligibility for master’s-prepared nurses to pursue a DNP.

Nationally, she has also served on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) New Essentials Implementation Task Force, further advancing nursing education in the U.S.

Rotondo looks forward to continuing her advocacy work and furthering her impact as a Fellow. Becoming part of the Academy will provide an opportunity to “magnify your impact by expanding your advocacy platform," she shared.

“I’m looking forward to learning from my colleagues and participating in the Academy’s initiatives to advance health policy and practice.”

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