Two PhD Students Selected as Jonas Scholars

Jonas Nursing, a leading supporter of doctoral nursing education in the United States, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) announced on Oct. 1, 2026, that University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing PhD students Katrina Carr (BSN ’12) and Cameron Herbst (BSN ’21) were selected as Jonas Scholars.

This national program aims to improve health care by expanding the pool of PhD and DNP-prepared nurses needed to educate the next generation of nurse leaders. As Scholars in the 2026-2028 cohort, Carr and Herbst will receive financial support, mentorship and a curriculum that prepares them for faculty roles.

"I’m really looking forward to meeting other Jonas Scholars and learning more about what it means to be a nurse leader and educator," Carr said. "As someone who hopes to become nursing faculty in the future, I’m excited for the opportunity to grow and learn how I can help prepare the next generation of nurses.”

Coming from a family of educators, Herbst added that he felt honored to be selected as a Jonas Scholar.

“I'm looking forward to growing as an educator alongside scholars who share a commitment to strengthening the nursing workforce,” he said. “My goal is to become an academic nurse leader who brings bedside oncology experience and cancer disparities research into the classroom, preparing the next generation of nurses to deliver equitable, evidence-based care."

Carr and Herbst join a talented cohort of doctoral nursing students. This group of 80 Scholars represents a multitude of research interests focused on some of the country’s most pressing challenges. Carr’s research explores genetic and microbiome risk factors for fatigue in patients with early-stage breast cancer, and Herbst studies how social, structural and environmental exposures influence metastatic breast cancer outcomes.

Since launching in 2006, the Jonas Scholars program has awarded more than $28 million in scholarships to 1,400 nurse scholars across the United States. Scholars who complete the program and accept faculty positions qualify for an additional $6,000 award. This support helps to bolster the nation’s nursing workforce pipeline, which is currently experiencing a shortage of both nurses and nursing faculty members.

“The challenges facing nursing education today demand bold investments in leadership and education,” Lendri Purcell, co-president of Jonas Philanthropies, which founded the Jonas Scholars program, said in a press release. “The 2026-2028 Jonas Scholars cohort reflects our commitment to developing future nurse educators and leaders at a time when they are most needed. By combining financial support, professional development and mentorship, we are helping Scholars build successful academic careers while expanding the capacity of nursing schools nationwide.”