The University of South Carolina College of Nursing proudly congratulates Demetrius Abshire, Carolyn Harmon, Sheryl Mitchell and Malissa Mulkey on their upcoming induction into the American Academy of Nursing’s 2025 Class of New Fellows. The AAN comprises over 3,000 of the profession’s most accomplished health care leaders.

This prestigious honor recognizes their exceptional contributions to nursing science, education, leadership and health policy.

• Demetrius Abshire, interim director of the PhD program and associate professor, is a dedicated researcher focused on rural health and health policy. With nearly two decades of nursing experience, he has led the development and testing of behavioral interventions aimed at reducing obesity among adults in rural areas. His work, including community engagement and pilot trials, addresses critical health needs affecting rural and minority populations.
• Carolyn S. Harmon, professor and director of the Healthcare Leadership and Nursing Informatics programs, is a nationally recognized expert in nursing informatics and clinical innovation. With dual doctorates (PhD and DNP), she advances technologies like AI to improve care delivery, patient outcomes, and nursing practice, while shaping policy and driving innovation in academic and clinical settings.
• Sheryl Mitchell, chair of the Department of Advanced Professional Nursing Practice & Leadership and professor, is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners with clinical experience in urgent care, emergency and primary care. A dedicated nurse educator for over a decade, her leadership has shaped nurse practitioner education nationally. Her research focuses on social and economic influences on health, graduate nursing education and breast cancer survivorship.
• Malissa Mulkey, assistant professor, brings nearly 30 years of critical care experience to her research, which centers on improving cognitive outcomes for older adults following critical illness. Her work involves using EEG to detect early signs of cognitive impairment and developing strategies to prevent ICU-associated cognitive decline.

Fellows are selected for their extraordinary efforts to advance health and health care both locally and globally. These faculty members will be inducted during the AAN’s Health Policy Conference this October, joining the largest class in the Academy’s history. Their achievements bring USC Nursing’s total to 22 faculty and faculty emeriti holding 30 Academy fellowships and honors to date.