The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing celebrates National Nurses Week 2025 by highlighting a few of our faculty, alumni, and students who work diligently toward improving health care for all. Read about our honorees below and join us in celebrating all Longhorn Nurse leaders making a difference.
Leading in Nursing Education and Community Health
Meet Ana Todd, PhD, RN, clinical assistant professor and assistant dean for academic affairs at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Leading Mental Health Nursing Education and Research
Meet Verónica García Walker, PhD, RN, CNE, clinical associate professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Preparing Nurses for Excellence in Disaster Response and Patient Care
Meet Li-Chen Lin, PhD, RN, CNRN, clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Leading with Heart and Insight
Meet Amy Boardman Patten, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PhD student, at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Building a Future of Compassionate Nursing Leadership
Meet Eldredge Calhoun, RN, an Alternate Entry Master of Science in Nursing student in the Leadership in Diverse Settings program at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Advancing Pediatric Care with a Foundation in Community Health
Meet Hannah Nauert, an Alternate Entry Master of Science in Nursing student at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, pursuing a career as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
Shaping Nursing Through Service and Leadership
Meet Yvonne VanDyke, MSN, RN, adjunct professor in the RN-to-BSN Program at Austin Community College, an alumna of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
Shaping Future Nurses Through Mentorship and Real-World Experience
Meet Tenzin Dickyi, MSN ’23, RN, who serves as a clinical teaching assistant for The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and Clinical Nurse Coordinator for a high-volume emergency department at an Austin hospital.
Shaping the Future of Geriatric Health Through Lifelong Service
Meet Davie Johnson, MSN ‘77, RN, who has focused her nursing career on advocating for older adults and has made significant strides in gerontological education and healthcare.
Inspiring Growth and Healing Across Uniforms and Communities
Meet Shannan (Willman) Smith, a 1994 BSN alumna, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and major in the USAF Air National Guard, where she has served as a flight nurse since 2020—returning to the Armed Forces after previously serving from 1995 to 1999.