Athena D.F. Sherman has been a member of ACHNE since xe was a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University. Xe was introduced to ACHNE by a mentor, Kelly Bauer, after beginning to explore the problems with the lack of queer health content in nursing education, both pre- and post-licensure. Xe received research funding to develop curricular mapping tools from ACHNE and was also impressed with the amazing content covered at the annual AI.
Athena earned xir BSN from San Jose State University School of Nursing, a LGBTQ+ Public Health Certification from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and a PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, as well as a post-doc position at Emory School of Nursing. Xe is currently an Assistant Professor at Emory, where xe splits time between this work and clinical practice in the San Francisco Bay area, focused on end-of-life care. Athena has not held any elected positions in ACHNE thus far but looks forward to that opportunity when the time constraints of building a research program in a tenure-track position allow for it!
Athena is passionate about human-to-human interactions and the social support of families (born into and created), friends, and communities. As someone who grew up experiencing neglect and both physical and verbal abuse, xe values the idea of safe communities and safe interactions, seeing the value and need for that, as xe knew what it looked like when someone did, or did not, have that. Xe believes that connecting with someone on a human-to-human level is more important than most other things that nurses do. This is part of what keeps Athena active in end-of-life care, experiencing the powerful and meaningful interactions with families in a difficult transition during the life course.
Athena’s sees xir research as having two lines, one focused on the education of nurses and how we can make systemic change in institutions and governing bodies to truly integrate queer health, rather than viewing it as an added class here or a lecture there. Xe has worked with an amazing team of collaborators across institutions, creating tools to assess queer health content in undergraduate and nurse practitioner programs, and currently looking at a PhD version of the tool. They have developed toolkits to guide integration, and Athena leads a consulting company that works with schools nationally and internationally to assess curricula, create change, and evaluate the sustainability of that change.
The other line of research Athena pursues explores violence survivorship with queer and gender expansive adults who have experienced discrimination. Xe has worked to create interventions focused on health and wellness and coping. Currently, xe is working with Kira Knight to develop a self-defense program alongside queer and gender expansive folks for that population, with the aim of preventing violence, regulating their own environment, and learning how to recognize and respond to danger. Athena also explores policy; how it is written or enforced and how that influences how people experience access to services, such as SNAP or WIC in the United States. Xe focuses on shining a light on important narratives from community members and integrating their needs and wants into research and products.
Despite all of xir professional success, Athena is most proud of xir family, particularly how they have “leaned into” change and navigated hardships with grace.
Athena would like ACHNE members never to let anyone “steal your shine.” Don’t let anyone tell you to not be your authentic self, be that an emotional response to current situations or seeing the value in the work you do. Always be aware of what you’re bringing to the table and think critically when someone challenges that—check in with other sources rather than let one person stifle you. While there will always be someone who will try to put you in another place, you deserve to be exactly who you are—your passions, your emotions, and your work.