Suzanne Smith Memorial Scholarly Writing Award

Call for Applications/Nominations: Suzanne Smith Memorial Scholarly Writing Award

Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025

The Association for Leadership Science in Nursing (ALSN) is pleased to invite applications and nominations for the Suzanne Smith Memorial Scholarly Writing Award. This annual award recognizes excellence in scholarly writing by an ALSN member that advances the science of nursing leadership. The award will be presented at the at the International ALSN Conference.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. The nominee must be a current ALSN member.
2. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible.
3. The nominee must be the first author of the article.
4. The journal article must have been published or made available electronically ahead of print between June 2021 and June 2025.
5. The article should align with the nominee’s broader body of scholarly work.

Each application or nomination must be submitted in PDF format and including the following:

1. Cover page:
   1. Name of nominated individual.
   2. Name of person making the nomination (self-nominations are welcome).
   3. Complete citation for the journal article, including author(s), year, title, journal name, volume, pages.
2. Nominee’s curriculum vitae, including a list of all publications.
3. Personal statement (1 page or less), a concise description addressing:
   1. How the article provides significant new insights into nursing leadership research, practice, and/or education.
   2. How the article presents innovative approach or its contribution to solving an important challenge relevant to nursing leadership.
      
      Important Notes for Submission: Your personal statement is not the same as your article abstract. Your personal statement should describe what is unique about your work and/ or explain what your work specifically adds to the current body of literature. If applicable, you might also describe how your work is being used in practice or education.
      
      
4. PDF Copy of the single journal article that most reflects the nominee’s contribution. Submissions with more than one article will be rejected.

Applications must be submitted in electronic format, consisting of a single PDF containing items #1-3, plus item #4 a separate PDF of the article.

The ALSN Suzanne Smith Memorial Scholarly Writing Award honors Suzanne P. Smith EdD, RN, FAAN, a respected member of the nursing community for her extensive contributions. Perhaps best known for her scholarly contributions on education and leadership, Suzanne served as editor-in-chief of two nursing journals, The Nurse Educator and until 2011, The Journal of Nursing Administration published by Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Dr. Smith also made significant contributions to many books and was an important leader within the International Academy of Nursing Editors (INANE). She was also committed to helping nurses to get their work published, especially those who have not been published.

Suzanne loved New England (she was originally from Worcester, Massachusetts) and was excited to welcome INANE to her home region. INANE is an international collaborative, a collective of nursing editors and publishers focused on meeting the practice, research, and education needs of the nursing profession. Established in 1982, the group has organized an annual conference every year since, all without a formal organizational structure. Their primary mission is to promote best practices in publishing and high standards in nursing literature.

Dr. Smith wrote about the importance of the evolution of nursing education to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare system. Renowned for her work on organizational transformation, process-centered healthcare, and leadership, she served as a mentor for aspiring authors, educators, and nurse leaders, particularly those seeking publication for the first time. Dr. Smith led by example and set a high standard for nurse editors, authors, educators, and leaders. In 2011, Suzanne was recognized for her contributions to the global nursing and healthcare community when she received the prestigious President's Specialty Recognition Award from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Dr. Suzanne Smith lived her life dedicated to her passion for nursing, leaving an indelible mark on countless lives and careers. She touched many lives and shaped many careers, from students, to editors, to educators, to administrators. Her legacy will be one filled with inspiration, dedication, and fortitude. Suzanne believed each of us has the power to transform healthcare organizations, education, and the nursing profession.

This award is given in Suzanne’s memory to recognize excellence in scholarly writing by an ALSN member that advances the knowledge of nursing leadership science. This award is given yearly at the International ALSN Conference.