Dean Eun-Ok Im giving Rising Star Alumni Award to Ashley Henneghan, PhD, RN, FAAN
Ashley Henneghan, PhD, RN, FAAN
Recipient of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing’s 2023 Rising Star Alumni Award
Ashley Henneghan began her nursing career after earning her BSN from Pennsylvania State University in 2008. Her clinical work has centered on improving symptom management and enhancing wellness for individuals with chronic and life-threatening conditions, including cancer. Seeking to expand her impact on national health outcomes, she pursued both her MSN and PhD at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. Before joining the UT Austin faculty in 2018, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she worked in the Neuroimaging Lab within the Department of Neuro-Oncology.
Henneghan’s research focuses on defining and improving cognitive outcomes in cancer survivors. Cancer-related cognitive impairments—affecting memory, attention, processing speed and executive function—are among the most distressing and burdensome side effects of treatment, significantly impacting daily life.
To achieve these goals, she collaborates across disciplines with faculty, clinicians and patient advocacy groups. Her research has secured nearly $1 million in funding from both internal and external sources, including major grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has been awarded a National Research Service Award, a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award and an Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant.
Henneghan’s contributions to science include 40 peer-reviewed publications and 36 conference presentations spanning nursing, basic science, oncology, neuroscience and public health. Her work has made an impact both regionally and internationally, earning her induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2020. She currently serves as Chair of the Patient-Reported Outcome Working Group for the Cancer Neuroscience Initiative and has been invited to deliver keynote addresses. Her research reach continues to grow globally, earning her the New Investigator Award from the International Cancer and Cognition Task Force in 2018 and collaborative opportunities with researchers in Colombia, China and Spain. Most importantly, her work extends beyond academia to improve the lives of cancer survivors facing cognitive challenges.
Beyond her research, Henneghan is deeply committed to mentorship and education. She strives to prepare students for success as nurses, leaders and scientists, believing that strong mentorship is essential to sustaining the nursing profession. She has mentored undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, international research fellows and medical students. Her dedication also extends to supporting junior nursing faculty in their academic development across teaching, research and service.
Henneghan is actively engaged in service both within and beyond the university. She has served on numerous committees at UT Austin, contributed to nursing practice-related initiatives, and participated in broader academic service through roles such as serving on the Sigma Theta Tau Research and Scientific Advisory Committee. Additionally, she is a peer reviewer for scientific journals, conferences, and grant proposals, including as an NIH study section reviewer.