In Memoriam: Remembering Dr. Donna McNeese-Smith

Donna McNeese-Smith, RN, EdD, CNAA, a professor emerita at the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing, has passed away at the age of 86. 

Dr. McNeese‑Smith was a distinguished educator, researcher, and leader in nursing administration. Her work advanced patient safety and empowered nurses through education and advocacy. Throughout her career, she was honored with several distinguished awards, including the Nurse's Week Nursing Excellence Award for Teaching in 2001, the Excellence in Advancing Clinical Practice Award from the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) in 2006, and the Diane Cooper Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Nurse.Com Nursing Excellence Awards in 2012. 

As a Fulbright Scholar, she shared her expertise internationally and mentored countless students and colleagues throughout her career. Her contributions to nursing scholarship and practice leave an enduring legacy.

The entire UCLA Nursing community extends our deepest condolences to Dr. McNeese-Smith’s family, friends, and the many lives she touched.