Donna M. Nickitas, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN

Associate Member, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research

Chief Academic Officer (Dean) & Professor, Rutgers School of Nursing

Dr. Donna M. Nickitas, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, is a distinguished nurse scholar, global health advocate, and senior academic leader with more than four decades of experience advancing nursing education, health equity, and health policy. She currently serves as Chief Academic Officer (Dean) and a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Cabinet, where she provides strategic leadership for academic programs, faculty development, and global partnerships.

Previously, Dr. Nickitas served as Executive Officer and Professor of the PhD Program in Nursing Science at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School, with a joint appointment at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. Across her career, she has successfully integrated academic administration, international collaboration, and policy leadership to strengthen higher education and healthcare systems.

Dr. Nickitas has led multiple multimillion-dollar federally and privately funded initiatives, with support from organizations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Johnson & Johnson, and the Jonas Center for Nursing & Veterans Healthcare. Her scholarly work focuses on health policy, nursing workforce development, interprofessional collaboration, and equity in healthcare systems. She is the author and editor of influential texts, including Public Policy and Politics for Nurses and Other Health Professionals, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.

For more than 15 years, Dr. Nickitas served as Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Economic$, shaping national and global discourse on healthcare financing, workforce economics, leadership, and professional practice.

A recognized global leader, she has delivered keynote and plenary addresses in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico, and has led international collaborations focused on civic engagement, ethics, and the economics of care. She has also advanced service-learning and global citizenship initiatives that prepare students and professionals for leadership in an interconnected world.

Dr. Nickitas earned her PhD in Nursing from Adelphi University, holds a master’s degree in nursing administration, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Stony Brook University. A retired Major in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps (Active Duty and Reserve), she has combined military service, scholarship, and leadership throughout her career.

She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), the National Academies of Practice (FNAP) as a Policy Scholar, and the New York Academy of Medicine (FNAM). Her numerous honors include awards from the National League for Nursing, the Connecticut Nurses Association, and the New York Academy of Medicine.

A committed mentor and advocate, Dr. Nickitas has advanced community health initiatives, promoted access to care for underserved populations, and championed diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Her career reflects an enduring commitment to academic excellence, global engagement, and the preparation of future healthcare leaders.