Faculty Emeritus honored for global service

March 11, 2025 — HOUSTON — The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) will honor TWU Houston Faculty Emeritus Joan Edwards, PhD, RN, FAAN, at the organization’s convention this summer in Orlando.

Edwards, a former College of Nursing faculty member in Houston, will receive the inaugural Award of Excellence in Global Health from AWHONN — a fitting honor for the former Center for Global Nursing and Healthcare director and current director emeritus.

“This award is a huge professional affirmation of the global health trajectory that has been a major focus of my life for more than 50 years,” Edwards said. “Whether I was living in a country on the other side of our world or teaching at Texas Woman’s University, I always tried to encourage students and faculty to think globally.”

Edwards’s career is peppered with global impact. As a Fulbright Scholar (2011-12) in Indonesia, Edwards worked with nursing leadership to successfully pass Indonesia’s first Nurse Practice Act in 2014. She served as a medical missionary in the Borneo, Indonesian jungles and, in 2008 and 2009, led People-to-People Ambassadorship programs for nurses and midwives in China in partnership with the U.S. government.

Now retired, Edwards continues global work with Kenya and Indonesia, most recently as a 2024-2027 Fulbright Specialist assisting the University of Indonesia.

“We live in melting pot societies. Houston is a prime example with patients, health care workers, families and neighbors having strong connections and ancestry from almost every continent and ethnicity,” Edwards reflected. “It is so important that we seek out their perspectives, their context, and desires and then appropriately react in ways that result in strong collaborations and optimal health outcomes.”

A 2015 inductee as a fellow by the American Academy of Nurses, Edwards was also awarded AWHONN’s 2019 Distinguished Professional Service Award.

Longtime TWU Houston Nursing colleague Sandra Cesario, PhD, FAWHONN, FAAN, was delighted for Edwards.

“She has always promoted global health, and it is a delight to see her receive this award,” Cesario said. “She is most deserving.”

Edwards will receive the excellence award at the 2025 AWHONN Convention, which runs from June 21-25.

About the award

The Award of Excellence in Global Health recognizes outstanding individuals who demonstrate unwavering commitment to advancing culturally sensitive, evidence-based maternity care in global communities and marginalized populations within the United States. AWHONN’s newest award celebrates professionals who uphold and respect cultural traditions, champion ethical advocacy, and work tirelessly to improve maternal health outcomes through equitable, inclusive care.

Award recipients are distinguished by their ability to implement sustainable, community-driven solutions that address disparities in maternal and newborn health. Their work exemplifies collaborative innovation, fostering partnerships that lead to tangible improvements in access, education and quality of care for underserved populations. Whether through direct patient care, policy advocacy, education, or research, honorees embody the highest standards of excellence in global maternal health, driving meaningful and lasting change.

Page last updated 1:08 PM, March 11, 2025