The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) will officially designate William “Bill” Conway Jr. and Joanne Barkett Conway (in memorial), as well as Luci Baines Johnson as Honorary Fellows at the Academy’s Health Policy Conference, which is being held in Washington, DC, on October 16 – 18, 2025.
The Conways and Ms. Johnson are being honored for their extraordinary and sustained contributions to health care and the nursing profession throughout their careers, which have been marked by their notable charitable efforts over many decades.
“The Conways and Ms. Johnson are generous benefactors who have harnessed their immense influence to advance our profession.” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “Supporting nurses through philanthropy is a continued lifeline that secures improved health outcomes for countless individuals impacted by nursing’s care. Their strong commitment to the betterment of society coupled with their equally impressive philanthropic spirit has helped shape the future of nursing through investments in education, leadership development, and community health initiatives. It is an honor to recognize them through induction into the Academy as major contributors to advancing health, well-being, and serving as legacy change-agents.”
The Honorary Fellow designation is bestowed to leaders who have demonstrated unwavering dedication to advancing the nursing profession and to supporting the Academy’s mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.
Bill Conway, Jr. and Joanne Barkett Conway (in memoriam), Founders of the Bedford Falls Foundation, and the Bedford Falls Foundation—DAF, a donor-advised fund advised by the foundation, have made a transformative, everlasting impact on the profession, and in turn health care, through their sizeable, dedicated philanthropic focus on nursing. Notably, Mr. Conway is known for his $1 billion plan to end the nursing shortage and has advanced this goal through generous gifts to 45 nursing schools to date at various colleges and universities such as The Catholic University of America, Villanova University, University of Maryland, University of Iowa, and Winston-Salem State University, among others. The Foundation has supported thousands of nursing students, who often graduate debt-free and choose to serve in underserved settings—public health departments, community clinics, homeless shelters, and prisons—guided by a belief that all people are worthy of compassion and care. Mrs. Conway, who passed away in 2024, although not a nurse, was the driving force behind the focus on the nursing profession after she had a memorable exchange with a waitress who was an aspiring nurse and struggling to pay for her nursing degree. Mr. Conway credits her as the architect of their vision to empower individuals with opportunities to build fulfilling careers. To help address the nursing faculty shortage, the Conways also launched the Center for Future Faculty, a collaboration between several D.C. area universities, to prepare nurse educators with necessary skills to succeed in the academic nursing field. Through their unparalleled generosity, the Conways have transformed the future of nursing, ensuring that the profession remains not only resilient but deeply humanistic.
Luci Baines Johnson, Founder, LBJ Family Wealth Advisors, Ltd, is a highly regarded philanthropist, community, and business leader whose lifelong commitment to nursing has advanced the profession. A tireless advocate, she has testified before Congress to champion funding for nursing education and research, helping protect vital resources and elevate the voice of nurses to influence national health policy. As an Honorary Chair of Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow, a coalition of 43 nursing and health care organizations, she led efforts to address the nursing shortage through public awareness. Her philanthropy has endowed nearly 100 scholarships and graduate fellowships, particularly in gerontological nursing, at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) and Georgetown University, where she had previously enrolled in nursing school. In addition, the Luci Baines Johnson and Ian J. Turpin Center for Gerontological Nursing was established at the UT Austin School of Nursing in 2022 in honor of her and husband’s generous support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her $1 million gift to UT Austin supported students, clinical outreach, and essential services. She has served on hospital boards, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, and national leadership bodies such as the National League for Nursing’s Accreditation Board. Her visionary leadership, deep compassion, and unwavering support have left a lasting legacy—building a stronger nursing workforce and ensuring nursing science remains a national priority.
These Honorary Fellows will be recognized at the Academy’s Induction Ceremony, which will be held during the Health Policy Conference on the evening of October 18, 2025 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC. This event is a special tribute to celebrate the power of nursing’s impact
