Stacey A Mitchell
September 2026
Stacey A
Mitchell
,
DNP, MBA, MEd, RN, AFN-C, SANE-A, SANE-P, DF-AFN, FAAN
Forensic Nursing
Academy of Forensic Nursing
College Station
,
TX
United States
Her leadership, scholarship, and service shaped policy, education, and practice at local, national, and international levels. Dr. Mitchell’s influence is felt not only through her direct patient care and program development but also through her mentorship, research, and advocacy. She embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award, demonstrating integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the field of forensic nursing.
It is my distinct honor and privilege to nominate Dr. Stacey Mitchell for the DAISY Award. With unwavering enthusiasm, I affirm that Dr. Mitchell’s remarkable and sustained contributions to the field of forensic nursing not only meet but far exceed the criteria for this prestigious recognition. Her career is a testament to dedication, innovation, and exemplary leadership in advancing forensic nursing as both a discipline and a vital healthcare service.
From her pioneering work in developing one of Virginia’s first emergency department forensic nursing responses to sexual violence, Dr. Mitchell has continually shaped and elevated the role of forensic nurses. She further expanded the scope of forensic nursing through her visionary establishment of forensic nurse involvement in death investigations at the Texas medical examiner’s office. At Houston Harris County Hospital System—the nation’s fourth largest—she was instrumental in creating the hospitalist forensic nurse role, ensuring expert care for patients intersecting with the legal system and leading a skilled team of forensic nurses.
Her ascent to a leadership position in Risk Management was driven by her deep understanding of hospital operations, systems, and forensic nursing practice. Following significant achievements in the hospital arena, Dr. Mitchell transitioned to academia at Texas A&M School of Nursing, where her thoughtful leadership skills were pivotal in establishing the Virginia A. Lynch Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing. Under her guidance, the Center secured millions in funding to enhance forensic nurse services statewide, and her expertise continues to be sought after by colleagues and institutions nationwide. She is also recognized by her alma mater as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.
Her leadership, scholarship, and service shaped policy, education, and practice at local, national, and international levels. Dr. Mitchell’s influence is felt not only through her direct patient care and program development but also through her mentorship, research, and advocacy. She embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award, demonstrating integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the field of forensic nursing.
Dr. Mitchell's service and her commitment to education is evident through her work at Texas A&M, where she secured grants to enhance didactic and simulation experiences for graduate forensic nursing students’ innovations that have since been adopted by programs across the country. Her visionary and strategic planning with exceptional skills and innovative spirit have garnered numerous accolades, including being named one of the Top 20 Outstanding Nurses by the Texas Nurses Association (District 9) and Professional of the Year by Child Advocates of Fort Bend in 2014. More recently, she received a Bronze Medal from the Good Samaritan Foundation (2018), was honored as a Health Care Hero by the Texas A&M University Foundation (2021), and received the Virginia Lynch Visionary Award (2018).
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Mitchell has consistently promoted the image and visibility of forensic nursing within the community and the profession. Her visionary approach and tireless advocacy have elevated the role of forensic nurses, ensuring that patients receive expert, compassionate care at the intersection of healthcare and the legal system. Dr. Mitchell’s commitment to excellence and her ability to inspire those around her have set new standards for the profession.
As a founding President of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board and lifetime member of the Academy of Forensic Nurses, I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Mitchell since 1993. Since 2014, we have frequently presented together at numerous venues, such as the EVAWI annual conferences. Dr. Mitchell consistently delivers compelling presentations on a broad range of topics, including DNA recovery science, elder abuse, medical response to human trafficking, and promoting equity in patient care. She demonstrates exceptional expertise in leading case reviews on sexual assault, domestic violence, strangulation, and both child and elder abuse that leads to death. Dr. Mitchell’s professionalism, reliability, and leadership are unmatched; she is always at the forefront of research, seamlessly integrating practice and scholarship while supporting forensic nursing programmatic and policy development.
As founder and President of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board, Dr. Mitchell has been instrumental in developing both the Generalist and Advanced Forensic Nurse Certifications. Guiding FNCB credentials provides forensic nursing with a strong foundation for academic and professional advancement, ensuring rigorous standards and global recognition for forensic nurses at all educational levels.
A prolific author, Dr. Mitchell has contributed multiple books, book chapters, and an expanding portfolio of peer-reviewed journal articles, disseminating critical knowledge to the forensic nursing community and beyond. Her accomplishments, dedication, and impact fulfill but surpass the requirements for the DAISY Award. For these reasons, and with the highest confidence and respect, I enthusiastically recommend Dr. Stacey Mitchell as the next recipient of the DAISY Award.
From her pioneering work in developing one of Virginia’s first emergency department forensic nursing responses to sexual violence, Dr. Mitchell has continually shaped and elevated the role of forensic nurses. She further expanded the scope of forensic nursing through her visionary establishment of forensic nurse involvement in death investigations at the Texas medical examiner’s office. At Houston Harris County Hospital System—the nation’s fourth largest—she was instrumental in creating the hospitalist forensic nurse role, ensuring expert care for patients intersecting with the legal system and leading a skilled team of forensic nurses.
Her ascent to a leadership position in Risk Management was driven by her deep understanding of hospital operations, systems, and forensic nursing practice. Following significant achievements in the hospital arena, Dr. Mitchell transitioned to academia at Texas A&M School of Nursing, where her thoughtful leadership skills were pivotal in establishing the Virginia A. Lynch Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing. Under her guidance, the Center secured millions in funding to enhance forensic nurse services statewide, and her expertise continues to be sought after by colleagues and institutions nationwide. She is also recognized by her alma mater as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.
Her leadership, scholarship, and service shaped policy, education, and practice at local, national, and international levels. Dr. Mitchell’s influence is felt not only through her direct patient care and program development but also through her mentorship, research, and advocacy. She embodies the spirit of the DAISY Award, demonstrating integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the field of forensic nursing.
Dr. Mitchell's service and her commitment to education is evident through her work at Texas A&M, where she secured grants to enhance didactic and simulation experiences for graduate forensic nursing students’ innovations that have since been adopted by programs across the country. Her visionary and strategic planning with exceptional skills and innovative spirit have garnered numerous accolades, including being named one of the Top 20 Outstanding Nurses by the Texas Nurses Association (District 9) and Professional of the Year by Child Advocates of Fort Bend in 2014. More recently, she received a Bronze Medal from the Good Samaritan Foundation (2018), was honored as a Health Care Hero by the Texas A&M University Foundation (2021), and received the Virginia Lynch Visionary Award (2018).
Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Mitchell has consistently promoted the image and visibility of forensic nursing within the community and the profession. Her visionary approach and tireless advocacy have elevated the role of forensic nurses, ensuring that patients receive expert, compassionate care at the intersection of healthcare and the legal system. Dr. Mitchell’s commitment to excellence and her ability to inspire those around her have set new standards for the profession.
As a founding President of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board and lifetime member of the Academy of Forensic Nurses, I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Mitchell since 1993. Since 2014, we have frequently presented together at numerous venues, such as the EVAWI annual conferences. Dr. Mitchell consistently delivers compelling presentations on a broad range of topics, including DNA recovery science, elder abuse, medical response to human trafficking, and promoting equity in patient care. She demonstrates exceptional expertise in leading case reviews on sexual assault, domestic violence, strangulation, and both child and elder abuse that leads to death. Dr. Mitchell’s professionalism, reliability, and leadership are unmatched; she is always at the forefront of research, seamlessly integrating practice and scholarship while supporting forensic nursing programmatic and policy development.
As founder and President of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board, Dr. Mitchell has been instrumental in developing both the Generalist and Advanced Forensic Nurse Certifications. Guiding FNCB credentials provides forensic nursing with a strong foundation for academic and professional advancement, ensuring rigorous standards and global recognition for forensic nurses at all educational levels.
A prolific author, Dr. Mitchell has contributed multiple books, book chapters, and an expanding portfolio of peer-reviewed journal articles, disseminating critical knowledge to the forensic nursing community and beyond. Her accomplishments, dedication, and impact fulfill but surpass the requirements for the DAISY Award. For these reasons, and with the highest confidence and respect, I enthusiastically recommend Dr. Stacey Mitchell as the next recipient of the DAISY Award.