Members on the Move
Dr. Julia Ugorji — Global Health Advocate Named 2026 AAN Fellow
Julia Ugorji, DNP, MSN/Ed, RN is an accomplished nurse leader, educator, and global health advocate whose career spans nursing education, mental health, leadership, public policy, and international health initiatives. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Nursing at Southwest Minnesota State University, where she teaches across multiple nursing programs and is committed to advancing student success and academic excellence.
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Ugorji has held several executive leadership positions, including Associate Dean of Nursing at Rasmussen University, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at North Hennepin Community College, andAssociate Dean/Chief Nurse Administrator at Metropolitan State University. A strong commitment to academic excellence, workforce development, health equity, community engagement, and transformational leadership distinguishes her leadership.
Dr. Ugorji serves as an External Advisor on Public Engagement to the Minnesota State Governor’s Office and is nationally recognized for her contributions to nursing leadership, advocacy, and health policy. She is a Fellow of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty Leadership and Public Policy Mentoring Program, theCarnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, Sigma Global Advocacy,and thePolicy Scholar Program. She also serves as a subject-matter expert for the American Nurses Association’s National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. Her professional service extends to several boards and organizations, including the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA), the Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses (MNORN), theAssociation of Black Nursing Faculty (ABNF), and the Sigma Omega Omicron Chapter.
A visionary leader with a passion for global impact, Dr. Ugorji has developed and led numerous initiatives in the United States and internationally. Her accomplishments include developing a clinical preceptorship curriculum adopted by several Nigerian universities, leading a grassroots mental health advocacy train-the-trainer initiative, and co-creating Nigeria’s first Public Policy and Advocacy curriculum for nurse leaders. Through her leadership in NANNNA, she has fostered strategic partnerships among nurses, physicians, and pharmacists in both the United States and Nigeria, advancing collaborative efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and build sustainable systems for lasting impact.
Dr. Ugorji has received numerous honors recognizing her exceptional leadership and service. These include the 2022 U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service, presented by President Joe Biden; the International Leadership Award from the Caribbean African Faith-Based Leadership Conference (CAFBLC); and the NANNNA Leadership Award, honoring her enduring contributions to nursing leadership and community advancement.
In 2026, Dr. Ugorji was selected for induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), one of the profession’s highest honors. She will be inducted during the Academy’s Health Policy Conference, held October 8–10, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Reflecting on Dr. Ugorji’s leadership, Katheren Koehn, Executive Director of the Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses (MNORN), who sponsored Julia’s nomination to the American Academy of Nursing, remarked:
"Dr. Ugorji is always engaged in the organization, asks thoughtful questions, and brings valuable perspectives that enrich our discussions. She never emphasized her impressive credentials but instead became an active and collaborative member of the MNORN community. Over time, I learned of her work on the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, her service initiatives in Nigeria, and the foundation she established to support those efforts. Only after reviewing her curriculum vitae did I fully appreciate the breadth of her awards and accomplishments. Dr. Ugorji is driven by service rather than recognition."
Throughout Dr. Ugorji’s career, she has remained steadfast in her commitment to servant leadership, believing that the greatest measure of professional success is the lives transformed, the leaders developed, and the systems strengthened through purposeful service. Her legacy continues to inspire the nursing profession and exemplifies the American Academy of Nursing's mission to improve health and achieve health equity through leadership, innovation, and evidence-informed policy, hence come her selection to the AAN.
Dr. Ugorji holds aDoctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) fromWalden University, aMaster of Science in Nursing Education (MSN)fromGrand Canyon University, and aBachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)from theUniversity of the District of Columbia.