Maria R. Shirey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FACHE, FNAP, FAAN, dean of the UAB School of Nursing, was inducted into the Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame this summer. She is one of 15 world-renowned nurse researchers selected from across the globe.
According to Sigma, the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame recognizes nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained national or international recognition and whose research has improved the profession and the people it serves.
Shirey was invited to deliver a plenary session during the society’s Research Congress in Seattle at the time of induction. The session titled “Building Nursing Leadership Science with Impact: A Personal Journey and Program of Research” drew a large audience.
Dean Shirey framed her entire presentation around the metaphor of gardening, using it to describe her personal journey and research in nursing leadership. She explained that just as a garden requires preparation, planting, and nurturing to thrive, building a career in research – and the field of nursing in general–demands patience, resilience, and consistent care.
Though delivered to nurse scientists this summer, Dean Shirey’s presentation strikes a chord of hope for all that can lift spirits during a bleak midwinter season.
Her early career was likened to “preparing the soil,” mid-career to “planting the garden,” and later career to “watching the garden grow.” This theme underscored the importance of finding personal outlets for renewal—gardening being hers—and encouraged others to identify their own sources of inspiration to sustain progress during challenging times.
The presentation also highlighted Dean Shirey’s extensive contributions to nursing leadership science. Her research focuses on the complexity of nurse manager roles, authentic leadership, and care delivery model design. Since joining UAB in 2013, Shirey has secured more than $20 million of extramural funding.
In keeping with her gardening analogy, Shirey closed by reminding her audience that building a program of research is like growing a garden—one flower at a time. She stressed patience, adaptability, and joy in the process, even when resources are scarce or challenges arise. Her advice included “seeding the land for others” through mentorship, collaboration, and the sharing of knowledge.
Ultimately, she urged listeners to pause and appreciate their “beautiful blooms”—the individual projects and the holistic legacy they are cultivating—and to take time to enjoy the garden with loved ones. Her closing message echoed Maya Angelou’s words: “Make a mark on the world that cannot be erased.”