Oct. 10, 2023

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MILWAUKEE — Dr. Dora Clayton-Jones, associate professor in Marquette University’s College of Nursing, was named a Fellow for the American Academy of Nursing. She was inducted into the 2023 AAN Class of Fellows at the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, Oct. 5-7, in Washington, D.C.

AAN Fellows recognize distinguished nurse leaders for their significant contributions to health and health care. Clayton-Jones is the first African American Pediatric Nurse Practitioner to be inducted as a fellow from Wisconsin. This year, she was one of 253 inductees joining the academy of more than 3,000 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia who champion health and wellness, locally and globally.

“Dr. Clayton-Jones is the epitome of a courageous, caring nurse leader,” said Dr. Jill Guttormson, dean of the College of Nursing. “Her impact on our students, the profession and public health in the sickle cell community is undeniable. Dr. Clayton-Jones is absolutely worthy of this honor, and we wish to congratulate her on joining this esteemed group."

Using community-based participatory research and qualitative research methods, Clayton-Jones partners with the community and recipients of interventions to advance health and health care equity for adolescents and young adults living with sickle cell disease. She is an Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellow and received a 2021 Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators from the University of California, Davis nursing school.

As part of the Moore Fellowship, Clayton-Jones received funding for an innovative community engaged research project titled, “Eliminating Sickle Cell Disparities among Youth: The POSSE Intervention.” The POSSE intervention supports engagement with youth who are living with sickle cell disease and other stakeholders to build community and to develop interventions that prepare youth for managing their health and lives as adults.

Clayton-Jones became the first African American pediatric nurse practitioner to receive tenure in Wisconsin when Marquette’s faculty promotions were announced this past spring. She was also named to the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2022 list of Women of Influence and received the Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer Award from Milwaukee Common Council in April.

The American Academy of Nursing serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy through organizational excellence and effective nursing leadership. The academy and its fellows create and execute evidence-based and policy-related initiates to advance health care. Academy Fellows are nursing's most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice and research. Fellows include association executives; university presidents, chancellors, and deans; state and federal political appointees; hospital chief executives and vice presidents for nursing; nurse consultants; researchers; and entrepreneurs.

About Marquette University

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.