Three Cognella Authors Honored with 2025 Sigma Board Awards and International Awards for Nursing Excellence
Tim Porter-O’Grady, Jayne Jennings Dunlap, and Julee Briscoe Waldrop recognized by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)
San Diego, CA – November 17, 2025 – At Sigma’s 48th Biennial Convention, November 8 – 11, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, three Cognella authors received Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) 2025 Board Awards and International Awards for Nursing Excellence. Awarded every other year, the Sigma award program honors nurses, healthcare professionals, and global partners who embody Sigma’s mission to transform global healthcare.
The Sigma Board Awards, which include the Archon Award and the Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award, honor those who have made a lasting difference for the nursing profession and global health.
Tim Porter-O’Grady, Senior Partner at TPOG Associates and Clinical Professor in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, received the Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award.
Porter-O’Grady is a coauthor (with Kathy Malloch and Kathy Scott) of the forthcoming textbook Nursing Transition to Practice: Closing the Gap Between the Academic and Practice Environment.
“I have been gifted with the opportunity to make a difference as a nurse and a health system leader,” said Porter-O’Grady. “I am grateful for the colleagues and friends who have challenged, encouraged, and supported me in my work and I can’t wait for what’s next.” 
Sigma’s International Awards for Nursing Excellence reflect the organization’s dedication to recognizing outstanding contributions in service, leadership, research, education, innovation, and practice.
Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement for Professional Nursing Practice: A Competency Based Approach by Jayne Jennings Dunlap and Julee Briscoe Waldrop received the Capstone International Nursing Book Award.
“We are very honored by the international distinction, particularly because only one text is selected for this prestigious award every two years,” said Dunlap and Waldrop. “Our hope is that the award selection supports the global relevance of this content, to impact sustainable and scalable practice improvements. To all teaching and practicing nurses: please read this book, we wrote it for you.”
“The recognition of our authors by Sigma is a testament to their outstanding contributions to nursing scholarship and practice,” said Amanda Martin, Cognella Executive Publisher of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Their work continues to shape the profession in meaningful ways, and we’re proud to support their efforts to educate and inspire current and future nurses.”
About Sigma
Founded in 1922 by six nursing students, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) has more than 100,000 active members and 600 chapters at institutions of higher education and healthcare partners from Armenia, Australia, and Botswana to Thailand, the United States, and Wales. Sigma members include clinical nurses and administrators, academic nurse educators and researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others working to fulfill the organization’s vision of connected, empowered nurse leaders transforming global healthcare.
About Cognella®
Cognella® is redefining academic publishing by creating teacher-driven, student-centric higher education course materials in print and digital formats under three imprints: Cognella® Academic Publishing, Cognella® Custom, and Cognella® Active Learning. Cognella also publishes engaging nonfiction titles featuring modern perspectives as Cognella® Press. Learn more at www.cognella.com.
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