Dawn Langley-Brady, PhD

Dr. Dawn Langley-Brady is an assistant professor on tenure track in the nursing science department, with a joint appointment in The Graduate School. She serves as an advisor and mentor to many graduate students, and previous undergraduate students through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. Outside the university, she is involved in both international and national organizations, notably the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). Langley-Brady is an Augusta University alumna, earning her PhD in Nursing in 2020. She holds an MSN from the University of Pheonix as well as two certificates from the School for Aromatic Studies.

In her research, Langley-Brady explores how aromatic plant extracts impact pain perception through topical application and inhalation. In 2023, she was funded by Augusta University for the study, Elucidating Biological Pathways of Essential Oils for Analgesia in Chronic Pain. More recently, she was funded by the AHNA to study Nursing in Pain, and by the Weil Foundation to develop An Introduction to Aromatics and Botanicals course as a Pathway to Integrative Medicine for medical and nurse practitioner students.

Her recent first-author publications were featured in the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, the Journal of Pain Management Nursing, and AHNA Beginnings. Her collaborative publications include the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, an E-Book by Cancer Choices & The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), and the revised AHNA Scope & Standards of Practice (to be published fall 2026).

In August of 2024, Langley-Brady represented herself on the global stage, providing a poster presentation at the IASP’s Global Conference on Pain in Amsterdam. Her previous international presentations include STTI’s International Nursing Research Congresses in Canada, Ireland, and South Africa.

Her abilities as a researcher have been recognized by the university, the Alliance of International Aromatherapists, and the SIO, which awarded her a 2023 Dr. Barrie Cassileth New Investigator Award. Langley-Brady’s goal is to move the aromatherapy field forward through research, education, and mentorship. Her reach extends beyond academia, as she’s been interviewed for articles in Oprah Magazine and The Healthy, a reader’s digest brand.