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February 2026

FAU Nursing Named Lead Academic Affiliate in Caring Science

Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has been officially designated a Lead Caring Science Academic Affiliate by the Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI), for its distinguished legacy and global leadership in advancing caring science within nursing education, practice research and theory development.

The WCSI is an international nonprofit founded by Jean Watson, Ph.D., AHN-BC, FAAN, LL (AAN), WCSI founder and director, which is dedicated to advancing human caring through education, research and global partnerships. WCSI supports health care organizations in building cultures rooted in compassion, dignity and authentic human connection.

“Caring science is the foundation of nursing education, research and practice at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing,” said Cameron Duncan, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FAANP, Holli Rockwell Trubinsky Eminent Dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. “This collaboration with the Watson Caring Science Institute allows us to extend that work through shared scholarship, education and global engagement.” Read More

Lamplighter Scholarship Event Recognizes Next Generation of Nurses

The 11th annual Lamplighter Scholarship Event celebrated over 90 first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing who received scholarships made possible by generous donors and sponsors. The Jan. 29 event, held on the university's Boca Raton campus, featured inspiring remarks from Dean Cameron Duncan, college Advisory Board Chair Melissa Emerson, MBA ’18, BSN ’04, Dr. Katherine J. Molinet Drum, MSN '04, as well as messages of heartfelt gratitude from student recipients.

"Opportunities are hard to come by sometimes, but the people at Florida Atlantic and the community that supports this program are what grant many of us the opportunity of a lifetime," said Sarah Green, Lamplighter recipient and Freshman Direct Admit student. Read More

It's not too late to make a difference in a nursing student's life by donating to the Lamplighter and White Coat Scholarship funds. Gifts of any amount can make a profound impact. Give Here

Thank you to our Platinum and Gold Lamplighter and White Coat sponsors:

Platinum

Lynn Family Enterprises - Christine E. Lynn 

Gold

The Charles and Elsie Gols Charitable Foundation, Inc. - Helen Ballerano

George Snow Scholarship Fund, Inc.

FAU Climbs in U.S. News and World Report's 2026 Online Rankings

The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing's online master’s in nursing program climbed 13 spots to No. 85 from No. 98 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The college's master's degree program is designed to offer the leadership, clinical experience and teaching skills that students will need in their chosen direction of practice. Read More

Annual 'Future of Nursing' Survey Now Open

For the fifth consecutive year, Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has partnered with Cross Country Healthcare to present the annual "Future of Nursing" survey. The survey is now live for Florida Atlantic University College of Nursing students and faculty to complete.

This research will bring forward real-world insights on staffing, scheduling, burnout, retention, care delivery and support. The findings will help health care leaders make smarter, nurse-informed decisions. Share your perspective and help shape the future of nursing! Take Survey

FAU Recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement

Florida Atlantic University is one of 277 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for 2026, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement.

With this recognition, Florida Atlantic is now one of only 11 universities in the United States to achieve three Carnegie Foundation designations: Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production,” and “Opportunity College and University.” Read More

To learn how the College of Nursing's faculty, staff, students and Advisory Board are putting caring science into action across our communities, click here.

Student News

Student Spotlight: Sonia Caballero

Sonia Caballero, a student in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, draws inspiration from her mother, a certified nursing assistant known for her compassion and dedication. Sonia, who already holds degrees in Health Education and Behavior and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, was moved to pursue nursing after caring for her mother during a health crisis. Looking ahead, Sonia aims to combine her background in mental health with her nursing education to provide holistic care.

"Earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree will expand my skill set as a person-centered therapist and help me provide more integrative, holistic care as a nurse,” she said. “It’s allowing me to become more well-rounded and deepen my understanding of how the body works and how disease affects overall health." Read More

Alumna Spotlight: Dina Giovanetti, DNP '25

In December 2025, Dina Giovanetti became a triple-time alumna of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing when she received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Previously, Dina earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from the college.

From trauma care to women’s health, as well as hematology and oncology, Dina has built an impressive career. She is also passionate about teaching the next generation of nurses, and for more than 15 years, Dina has worked for Florida Atlantic University as a preceptor for the college's nurse practitioner students.

Dina hopes that the Doctor of Nursing degree will enhance her professional career and support her passion to teach nurses at the grassroots level, whether it means continuing working as a preceptor or teaching as a nursing faculty member.

“We need more nurses who care and are truly present, and this effort is changing the health care system,” she added. Read More

Interested in becoming a preceptor for FAU College of Nursing students? Click here or contact Charles Owens at cowens11@health.fau.edu.

Nursing News

Faculty and Staff News

Upcoming Events

Feb. 6: Deadline to submit for the Teaching with Technology Showcase


Feb. 10: Nursing Career Fair

Feb. 10: Accelerated B.S.N. Information Session 


Feb. 12: Freshman Direct Admit Information Session

Feb. 19: RN to BSN Information Session

Feb. 19: Virtual Graduate Admission Information Session

March 7-13: Spring Break (No classes, university is open)

March 26: White Coat Ceremony

Every Tuesday: Free Yoga Classes

Every Wednesday: No-Sweat Stretch Sessions, 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Yoga Room. These sessions are open to all Florida Atlantic faculty and staff.

Save the Date: 2026 ABI Summer Academy May 27, 28 and 29

In the Media

Employment Opportunities

Faculty Publications

PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS:

*#Besser, L. M., Tourelle, M., Mitsova, D., Holt, J., Wiese, L. A. K., & Williams, C. L. (2025). Associations between neighborhood built environment characteristics and cognitive function vary by area deprivation in a rural, ethnoracially diverse setting. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21, e101246. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_101246

#Chukwuere, P. C., Butcher, H. K., & Du Plessis, E. (2025). Conceptualizing the DREAM model within Watson’s transpersonal theory of human caring for advancing adolescent   mental health nursing. Journal of Holistic Nursing, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101251404153

Hoch, C. R., Leavitt, M. A., Viveiros, J., & Dennis, H. (2025). Biomarkers in heart failure: A review for nurse practitioners. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 21(10). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2025.105566

*#Leavitt, M. A., & Hain, D. (2026). What matters most? Qualitative findings from the Home Health Heart Failure Nurse Navigator Study. Home Healthcare Now, 44(1), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001409

Lopes, M. V. O., da Silva, V. M., Wagner, C., Lopez, K. D., Arends, L., Clarke, M., Barros, A. L.  B. L., & Butcher, H. K. (2025). A design science research framework for evidence levels in the nursing interventions classification. Journal of Research in Nursing, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871251392092

Lopes, M. V. O., da Silva, V. M., Wagner, C., Clarke, M., Lopez, K. D., Arends, L., Barros, A. L.  B. L., & Butcher, H. K. (2026). Evidence for nursing interventions to promote family integrity: A rapid review. Journal of Research in Nursing

*#Malatyali, A., Cidav, T., Xie, R., Thiamwong, L., & Wiese, L. A. K. (2025). Social isolation and loneliness in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias: Rural and urban differences. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21, e108927. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70861_108927

*#Park, J., Williams, C. L., Holt, J., & Wiese, L. A. K. (2025). Social isolation and loneliness in diverse rural environments. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21, e101249. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_101249

*Sablan, O., Ford, B., Gargulinski, E., Henery, G. L., Nowell, H., Rosen, Z., Slater, K. D., Soja,   A., Wiese, L., Williams, C., Magzamen, S., Fischer, E., & Pierce, J (2026). Characterizing particulate matter impacts of smoke from 2022 to 2023 agricultural burning in South Florida. GeoHealth, 10, e2025GH001365. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GH001365



*Slater, K. D., Young, B. N., Ford, B., Adamo, S., Fischer, E., Gargulinski, E., Henery, G., Pierce, J., Rosen, Z., Sablan, O., Soja, A., Wiese, L., Williams, C., & Magzamen, S. (2026). Association of regional agricultural smoke exposure with sociodemographic factors in rural and urban communities. GeoHealth, 10, e2024GH001328. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GH001328

*Suriaga, A., Mangila, J., Do, H., Gensoli, L., Abrams, G., Del Carpio, K., Gittelson, A., & Nemia, G. (2025). Fatal drowning in older adults with alcohol, opioids, cannabinoids, and other drug exposures. Innovation in Aging, 9 (Suppl. 2).       

https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.812

*#Tolea, M. I., King, B. M., Wilson, C., Tolea, B., & Wiese, L. A. K. (2026). Optimizing rural community health to increase interdisciplinary detection and care: The ORCHID study. Planning Practice & Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2025.2612478

*Suriaga, A. (2025). Death circumstances of older adults with cannabinoid exposures. Innovation in Aging, 9 (Suppl. 2), igaf122.2261.     

https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.2261

*#Williams, C. L., Wiese, L. A. K., Holt, J., & Besser, L. M. (2025). Relationships among cognitive function, ADRD risk and sociodemographic characteristics in a diverse rural setting in southcentral Florida. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 21, e101721       

https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_101721

*Williams, A. and Louis, L. (2026). Cumulative Link Modeling of Ordinal Outcomes in the National Health Interview Survey Data: Application to Depressive Symptom Severity. Journal of Data Analysis and Information Processing, 14, 49-62.        

https://doi.org/10.4236/jdaip.2026.141004.

(* = Data-based, # = Caring Science)