The Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing has established the Linda McCauley Research Excellence Endowment to honor the retired dean’s visionary leadership and lifelong dedication to nursing science. The new fund will strengthen the school’s capacity to advance nursing science, improve health and well-being, and develop new standards in patient care.
During her 16-year tenure – culminating in her retirement in December 2025 – Dean Linda McCauley 79MN, PhD, RN, FAAN, FRCN, led the school to unprecedented national prominence, including U.S. News & World Report No. 1 rankings for the school’s master’s degree and undergraduate programs. She also expanded the school’s academic offerings, increased enrollment to more than 1,500 students – making Emory Georgia’s leading producer of registered nurses – and spearheaded major initiatives, including the Emory Nursing Learning Center, the Center for Data Science, and the Emory Nursing Experience professional development program.
Under her direction, the school also grew in research, securing more than $121 million in NIH support alone from 2010-2015. The school rose from No. 38 to No. 3 among nursing schools in NIH funding and has maintained a top 5 ranking for 11 consecutive years.
A distinguished researcher in her own right, McCauley has spent her career examining the effect of toxic environmental exposures and heat-related risks on vulnerable populations. Her work has garnered more than $58 million in continuous funding since 1985 and produced over 200 peer-reviewed publications. Her work includes long-term collaborations on heat‑stress illness among farmworkers and support for a national initiative on the impact of environmental racism on children’s health.
“This endowment is a powerful tribute to Dean McCauley’s legacy,” says Philip Brooks, Managing Senior Director of Development at the School of Nursing. “We are deeply grateful to the donors who have already given and those who will join them, and to Dean McCauley for her extraordinary leadership. This support ensures that our researchers have the resources to pursue bold ideas that will shape the future of nursing science.”
To give to the fund or learn more, visit here or contact Brooks at philip.brooks@emory.edu.
About the Emory School of Nursing
The Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is a top nursing school committed to educating visionary nurse leaders and scholars. Home to the No. 1 master’s, No. 2 BSN, and No. 8 DNP programs nationwide, the school has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing. The school offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and non-degree programs, bringing together cutting-edge research, distinguished faculty, top clinical experiences, and access to leading health care partners to shape the future of nursing and impact the world’s health and well-being. Learn more at nursing.emory.edu.
