Penn Nursing’s Sharon Irving Wins 2023 Women of Color at Penn Award

LDI Senior Fellow Cited for Leadership and Distinguished Service

February 21, 2023

By:

Hoag Levins

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Sharon Y. Irving, PhD, LDI Senior Fellow and Vice Chair of the Penn Nursing School Department of Family and Community Health, has been named winner of the 2023 Women of Color at Penn (WOCAP) Award for exceptional leadership, distinguished service, and serving as a role model for women of color. She will receive the award at a March 17 ceremony.

The 32-year-old WOCAP program is headquartered in Penn’s African-American Resource Center. Its annual award is given “in recognition of individuals who have conscientiously endeavored to increase respect for women of color at the University of Pennsylvania, its Health System, and the Delaware Valley community.”

Critically Ill Children

An Associate Professor and pediatric Nursing Practitioner at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Irving’s work and research focuses on the nutrition assessment, delivery, and monitoring in critically ill infants and children.

The nomination for the award was submitted by a former student, Marcus Henderson who wrote, “Dr. Irving is a quintessential nurse, leader, and scholar. She is a pioneer in her field of critical care and nutrition science not only because she is a nurse, but more importantly because she is a woman of color. Dr. Irving has been a nurse for over 40 years and has broken the glass ceiling to pave the way for woman of color to enter the nursing profession and pursue advanced education.”

“To be nominated by a former student and then honored with this award is extremely humbling,” said Irving in an interview with Penn Nursing News. “I am so honored to be recognized among the numerous outstanding Women of Color here at Penn. We all have our challenges and struggles, as a woman of color, mine are similar to many and different from others, but at the end of the day, to know that I have inspired even one to push through, accomplish, and achieve, is truly a gift.”