Howett Explores Inclusive Education Through EDJI Fellows Program

Maeve Howett, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, FAAN, served as the University at Buffalo School of Nursing’s representative for the 2024-25 Equity, Diversity, Justice and Inclusion (EDJI) Faculty Fellows Program.

Howett is a clinical professor and associate dean for strategic initiatives whose work focuses on nursing education; pediatrics; social determinants of health; and diversity, equity and inclusion in health care. She also serves on the American Academy of Nursing’s Expert Panels on Environmental Health and on LGBTQ Health.

“Inclusive pedagogy is essential to nursing education,” Howett says. “The research about ‘belongingness’ and success in nursing school is clear. Students who feel included are more likely to persist, speak up, advocate for themselves and graduate from college.”

The EDJI Faculty Fellows Program, launched by UB’s Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation, was created to support the university’s implementation of PACOR (President’s Advisory Council on Race) recommendations. Each year, one faculty member from each academic unit is selected to participate. Fellows take part in professional development and community building to enhance inclusive teaching practices and lead unit-specific efforts that can improve the learning environment.

Howett says she sees both strengths and opportunities within the School of Nursing. “Nursing faculty are generally very well intended with earnest work to make students feel welcome, but we know implicit bias creeps into our admission processes, grading, and evaluation of students despite our best efforts,” she says. “It is incumbent upon nursing faculty to actively counteract their implicit bias by working towards becoming anti-racist and educating themselves about EDJI research.”

As part of the program, Howett participated in a multi-day training series and collaborated with a cohort of faculty across campus throughout the year. Fellows also work on individual goals and a project within their academic unit that may serve as a foundation for future initiatives.

Looking ahead, Howett says she hopes the School of Nursing can continue to build a culture where all students feel valued for who they are and what they bring to the classroom. “I hope as a school we can make every potential student feel welcomed and celebrated for who they are, their backgrounds and experiences, and that we can support and learn from all their diversity,” she says. “When we welcome diverse voices, we all are better and stronger for the collective result.”

By SARAH GOLDTHRITE