TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International) joins the global nursing community in mourning the passing of Lucille A. Joel, EdD, RN, FAAN, on October 13, 2026. A respected nursing leader, educator, and advocate, Dr. Joel dedicated her career to advancing nursing education, strengthening professional standards, and elevating the voices of nurses worldwide.
Dr. Joel’s service to TruMerit, then CGFNS International, spanned from 2000 to 2011. She served on the Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2007, including as vice president from 2004 to 2005 and president from 2006 to 2007. She also served on numerous board committees, contributing her expertise and leadership to the organization’s work supporting internationally educated healthcare professionals and advancing the global nursing workforce.
Her influence extended well beyond TruMerit. Dr. Joel served as president of the American Nurses Association from 1988 to 1992 and as first vice president of the International Council of Nurses, serving as its official representative to the United Nations and UNICEF. A distinguished educator and scholar, she joined Rutgers University in 1979 and spent more than four decades there, retiring in 2025 as Distinguished Professor Emerita. Throughout her career, she advocated for higher standards in nursing education, greater professional autonomy, and a stronger voice for nurses in healthcare policy and decision-making.
“Lucille Joel was a remarkable nursing leader and a deeply valued part of our organization’s history. As a volunteer leader of CGFNS International, TruMerit, she helped guide the organization through an important period of growth and renewal, working alongside then-CEO Barbara Nichols to strengthen our reach and impact,” said Peter Preziosi, PhD, RN, CAE, FAAN, president and CEO of TruMerit. “Lucille was a powerful, direct, and pragmatic voice for nurses, both here in the United States and around the world. She understood the challenges facing the profession, but she also believed deeply in what nurses could accomplish when given a meaningful voice in shaping healthcare. We are profoundly grateful for her leadership, her candor and her commitment to nursing, and her legacy continues to resonate in the work of TruMerit today.”
Throughout her career, Dr. Joel championed the essential role of nurses in improving healthcare and shaping the policies that affect patients and the profession. Her commitment to nursing excellence, professional leadership, and international collaboration reflected the values that continue to guide TruMerit’s work today.
TruMerit honors Dr. Joel’s distinguished service and enduring contributions to the organization and the nursing profession. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and the generations of nurses whose lives and careers she helped shape.
About TruMerit®
TruMerit is a worldwide leader in healthcare workforce development with nearly 50 years of experience supporting the mobility of nurses and other healthcare workers. Formerly CGFNS International, TruMerit validates the education, training and professional experience of internationally educated health professionals seeking authorization to practice in the United States and other countries. Through its expanded mission and the Global Health Workforce Development Institute, TruMerit advances research, standards and certifications that strengthen the global health workforce and promote equitable, sustainable career mobility.