AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - A clinical associate professor at UMass Amherst's Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, has been named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practicioners (FAANP). Gabrielle Abelard is the only Massachusetts inductee among this year's 51 honorees, who represent 23 U.S. states and two other countries. The FAANP program honors nurse practitioner (NP) leaders who have made significant contributions in education, policy, clinical practice, and research. Abelard, who serves as both the graduate program director and psychiatric mental health specialty director at UMass, will be inducted into the FAANP in June during the 2025 AANP National Conference in San Diego. Ludlow eateries offer deals during town’s Restaurant Week Beyong her academic role, Abelard is the founder and director of a multisite community mental health clinic, which provides comprehensive behavioral health services to patients both in-home and in outpatient settings across Massachusetts. She is also a motivational speaker and an active mentor to emerging clinicians in psychiatric nursing. Abelard’s work emphasizes health care equity, mental wellness, and holistic health, addressing disparities in access to mental health care. This honor is the latest in a series of recognitions for Abelard’s contributions to the nursing field. She was previously named Nurse Leader of the Year in Nurse.org’s Best of Nursing Awards and received an Excellence in Clinical Practice Award from the New England Regional Black Nurses Association. Abelard is a past president of the New England chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and currently serves as the first chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Massachusetts Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. Fellows of the FAANP are recognized for their outstanding achievements and service to the field of nursing. They play a key role in advancing the profession through mentorship, research, policy advocacy, and scholarly contributions. Local News Headlines Westfield Starfires announce coaching staff for 2025 season Congressman Neal visits nonprofit affected by proposed Medicaid cuts Some criminals barred from shelter system under new regulations 2025 Remarkable Woman nominee feeds her community WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less