Prestigious Society Recognizes Georgetown School of Nursing Supporters for Their Dedication to Health Care, Nursing

(July 25, 2025) — The American Academy of Nursing has announced that Georgetown supporters and friends Luci Baines Johnson (H’18) and Bill Conway and his late wife, Joanne, will be recognized as honorary fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN).

The AAN Honorary Fellow designation is bestowed upon 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.

Both Johnson and the Conways have close ties with Georgetown’s School of Nursing and have made generous philanthropic contributions to promote student scholarships.

“Being selected as an honorary fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is a tremendous and well-deserved honor,” said Roberta Waite, EdD, RN, PMHCNS, ANEF, dean of Georgetown’s School of Nursing, herself a AAN fellow. “Luci and Bill are steadfast champions of nursing and social justice, recognizing their essential connection in advancing health and humanity for all. They exemplify this commitment through their impactful philanthropy and advocacy, and we are deeply grateful.”

Luci Baines Johnson

Johnson is a champion of nursing and a 2018 Georgetown honorary degree recipient. She is one of two daughters of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, who attended Georgetown’s School of Nursing in the mid-1960s.

In 2020, Johnson and her husband, Ian Turpin, established the Johnson/Turpin Fellows Endowed Fund at Georgetown, an endowment made possible by a $1 million gift from the couple. The fund supports scholarships for graduate students who have a demonstrated interest in serving adult and geriatric populations, along with other underserved communities. Ten students have been supported to date. Johnson has also supported scholarships and fellowships at The University of Texas at Austin.

Johnson remains an active contributor with Georgetown. In 2024, she joined Georgetown nursing alumni who gathered in Palm Beach for a discussion with Waite about the ongoing nationwide nursing shortage, how Georgetown is contributing to building the workforce, and the unique aspect of the Georgetown education, cura personalis, which instills caring for the whole person.

Johnson also has served on hospital boards and national leadership bodies such as the National League for Nursing’s Accreditation Board.

Bill and Joanne Conway

The Bedford Falls Foundation, a private foundation established by William “Bill” E. Conway Jr. and his late wife, Joanne, made a $1 million commitment in 2024 to support undergraduates through loan-relieving scholarships.

The Conway Scholarship enables eligible Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students who qualify for and would otherwise need a federally subsidized loan to instead graduate from nursing school with little or no student loan debt, making nursing education more accessible. In 2024, Georgetown awarded Conway Scholarships to 45 BSN students.

“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 honorifics will be bestowed this fall.