The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing is proud to announce that Dr. Penninah Kako and Dr. Linda Wesp have been selected as 2025 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), one of the most prestigious honors in the nursing profession. This recognition places them among an elite group of nurse leaders whose work has significantly impacted health care, policy, and patient outcomes.
The American Academy of Nursing will officially induct its newest cohort during the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, to be held October 16–18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. This year’s class includes exceptional leaders from 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries, further strengthening the Academy’s mission to improve health and achieve health equity through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.
Dr. Kako and Dr. Wesp’s selection from a historically high number of applicants underscores their outstanding contributions to the nursing field and their commitment to evidence-informed solutions that advance health in communities locally and globally. Their induction brings distinction not only to their individual careers but also to the continued excellence and influence of UWM’s School of Nursing.