Former Soviet Union Professor of Nursing Named 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar

Associate Professor Eugenia Millender, co-founder and co-director of the Center for Demographic Sciences for Health Equity at the College of Nursing, is one of 60 scientists who will make up the eighth annual Class of Presidential Leadership Scientists (PLS).
Associate Professor Eugenia Millender, co-founder and co-director of the Center for Demographic Sciences for Health Equity at the College of Nursing, is one of 60 scientists who will make up the eighth annual Class of Presidential Leadership Scientists (PLS).

Florida State University professor will join a unique network of leaders who are changing the world for the better.

Associate Professor Eugenia Millender, co-founder and co-director of the Center for Demographic Sciences for Health Equity at the College of Nursing, is one of 60 scientists who will make up the eighth annual Class of Presidential Leadership Scientists (PLS).

PLS is a diverse network of leaders who collaborate to bring about change around the world as they learn about leadership through the presidential experience of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations.

The class was selected after a thorough application and review process. Selection criteria included leadership potential and the candidate’s success in improving a civic or public good by addressing a critical problem faced by a community, profession, or organization.

As a Native Afro-Latino Nurse Scientist, Eugenia Millender has dedicated her career to expanding access to mental health care and culturally appropriate care. Her research focuses on reducing disparities in mental health among indigenous and vulnerable populations. Millender works with community organizations and draws on his expertise in mood disorders, stress, trauma, and how they are expressed through gene-environment interactions.

“I am honored to be able to represent the nursing profession and be recognized in such a prestigious national scholarship,” Millender said. “It’s very exciting to work on improving homeless care systems, especially in the current post-COVID climate.”

During the six-month program, Millender will focus on creating a holistic process for assessing and addressing the needs of homeless clients with associated medical needs who move from hospitals to homeless shelters. She hopes to provide evidence-based training for homeless care teams and develop a universal toolkit for this subpopulation that can be used across settings to build systemic capacity and improve collaboration to prevent readmission.

PLS is a diverse network of leaders who collaborate to bring about change around the world as they learn about leadership through the presidential experience of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations.  (Photo by Grant Miller)
PLS is a diverse network of leaders who collaborate to bring about change around the world as they learn about leadership through the presidential experience of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations. (Photo by Grant Miller)

Frankie Wong, Founding Director of the Center for Demographic Sciences for Health Equity and Mackenzie Professor of Health Equity Research, noted that “as Nurse Scientist Eugenia (Millender) provides a unique opportunity to see how the principles of nursing science can to inform about how and how best to address the issue of equity in health among the homeless. That she was selected to participate in this prestigious scholarship speaks volumes about her leadership at the center. Her experience gained through this fellowship will be very valuable in expanding our ongoing initiatives at the center.”

Jing Wang, Dean of the FSU College of Nursing, also expressed her excitement and gratitude for the program.

“The College of Nursing is very pleased to see Dr. Millender accepted into this prestigious fellowship,” she said. “This is a testament to her leadership and tireless work to advance health equity. This honor is incredibly well deserved. Dr. Millender is a true agent of change and I look forward to hearing about her experience and the impact she is sure to have throughout the program.”

During the program, scholars will visit each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, former key administration officials, business and community leaders, and leading academics. They will explore and practice different leadership approaches and exchange ideas to increase their influence.

Scholars have consistently reported a significant increase in skills, responsibilities, and opportunities for impact since the program launched in 2015. For example, 94% of academics said their confidence in how they lead social change improved as a result of PLS, and 98% of academics reported being inspired to do more from the start of the program.

The 2023 program began on January 24 in Washington, DC.

About Presidential Leadership Fellows

The Presidential Leadership Scholars program is a partnership of the Presidential Centers of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. To learn more, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org. For updates on Presidential Leadership Scholars, use #PLScholars and follow @PLSprogram on Twitter and Instagram.

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