Member News

AACN Members and related stakeholders are invited to submit articles, research awards and opportunities, member school announcements, new partnerships, grant-funded initiatives, and relevant resources for inclusion on the AACN website and in the AACN News Watch weekly newsletter.

News Watch Features:
Member news submission is published on the first, second, and third Wednesdays of each month:

1st Wednesday: Member News & Announcements
2nd Wednesday: New Partnerships & Grant-Funded Initiatives
3rd Wednesday: Resources (Note: School events will not be included.)

Submission Deadline:
Submissions must be received by 12:00 pm (ET) on the Monday prior to each issue to be included in that week’s edition.

Submit News

December 2024

• Duke University Health System and Duke University School of Nursing announced the appointment of Dr. Ryan J. Shaw to the role of Chief Nurse Innovation Officer. Dr. Shaw will be responsible for driving a culture of innovation in nursing practice and patient care. He will support strategic partnerships by building and nurturing internal and external collaborations that enhance nursing innovation, ensuring alignment with the broader goals of healthcare excellence and the missions of Duke Health. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Janice Hawkins, assistant professor at Old Dominion University Ellmer School of Nursing, was recognized by the United Nations Foundation as an influential changemaker toward making Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) progress in communities across the USA. Countries, including the United States, are turning to the SDGs to create a better future for all of humanity. The American Leadership on the SDGs initiative, a partnership between the United Nations Foundation and The Brookings Institution, is shining a light on the people and places that are making progress. Read more >>
   
• Several faculty members from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing are taking on significant leadership roles within national nursing organizations. Appointments include Dr. Felesia Bowen, President-Elect of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; Dr. Grace Grau, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses; Dr. Melanie Gibbons Hallman, President of the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners; Dr. Heather Nelson-Brantley, President-Elect of the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing; Dr. Susan McMullan, President of the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists; and Dr. Penni Watts, President-Elect of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Sharon Hewner, a faculty member at University at Buffalo School of Nursing, and her team were awarded the Harriet H. Werley Award for their research combining nursing expertise with machine learning. Their study identifies high-need primary care patients by focusing on clinical and social factors rather than cost, offering a new approach to understanding and addressing the complexities of vulnerable populations in healthcare. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Joan Carpenter, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, has earned the 2024 Excellence in Research Award from the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA). Carpenter was honored at GAPNA’s annual conference in September in San Antonio. The Excellence in Research Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to nursing research that benefits the geriatric community. The award highlights research as an essential element of nursing’s mission. Read more >>
   
• The University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing’s Dean Connie White Delaney was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders by Minnesota Physician for her contributions to advancing healthcare in Minnesota as a global model of excellence. Read more here. Additionally, Dr. Christine Mueller, received the Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award by the Gerontological Society of America. Read more >>

November 2024

• Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study post-stroke cognitive impairment using AI. Led by Dr. Xiao Hu, the project aims to develop AI algorithms to predict cognitive issues and assess vascular contributions. This funding will support the first three years of a five-year study. Read more >>
   
• Iowa State University announced a new 3+1 partnership with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) that will allow nursing graduates to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in one year. Starting in fall 2025, the program offers flexibility through a hybrid format, allowing students to work while completing their degree. Iowa State collaborated with DMACC to align the coursework, enhancing the growth of both the nursing program and the state’s healthcare workforce. Read more >>
   
• University at Buffalo’s nursing researcher Dr. Eunhee Park received a $745,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop an AI-enhanced smartphone app aimed at helping adolescents quit e-cigarette use. The app will provide real-time, personalized support through timely messages and an AI chatbot. The project will evaluate the app’s usability and effectiveness, offering a scalable solution to address the growing public health issue of adolescent e-cigarette use. Read more >>
   
• University of Connecticut’s School of Nursing received seven grant awards totaling over $1.2 million. Key projects include the Zuri app, led by Dr. Christina Ross, which supports sexual health for Black adolescent females, particularly those in foster care. Dr. Maurade Gormley’s study focuses on peer-led support for Black breast cancer survivors. Other research initiatives explore sleep quality in disadvantaged neighborhoods and cognitive function in cancer survivors. These projects aim to promote health equity across various communities and demographics. Read more >>
   
• University of Louisville School of Nursing received $4.8 million through two federal grants to help increase access to healthcare, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas. The funds will be used to develop and implement an accelerated Licensed Practical Nurse-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN-to-BSN) pathway in medically underserved areas of Kentucky. The second HRSA-funded project aims to increase the number and diversity of nurse practitioners to better address the healthcare needs of rural and urban underserved populations. Read more >>
   
• The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing received a $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop and evaluate a new intervention designed to improve communication between parents and their gay or bisexual adolescent sons. The study will focus on Generation Z youth, a group that is coming out at earlier ages than previous generations. Read more >>
   
• Recognized for her remarkable achievements that exemplify “the spirit of immigrant success and resilience,” Dr. Azita Emami, dean of the Yale School of Nursing, will be inducted into the Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame (IHHF) on November 14. A global health advocate and leading researcher on health equity, Dr. Emami is among the 2024 inductees being recognized for enriching Connecticut’s education, health, civic, and cultural landscape. Click here to find out more about the IHHF Induction Gala, which will be held in Plantsville, CT.
   
• Dr. Linda McCauley, dean from Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and Dr. Robert Phillips, Jr., executive director at the American Board of Family Medicine, were awarded the National Academy of Medicine’s David Rall Medal. This honor recognizes members who demonstrate distinguished leadership, notably as chairs of study committees. Both led the National Academies consensus study committee that produced the 2021 report Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Lorna Finnegan, dean from Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Loyola University, has been named as a Notable Leader in Health Care by Crain’s Chicago Business, a recognition honoring the city’s most influential leaders. Dr. Finnegan is committed to positioning Loyola Nursing as a driving force in achieving health equity. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Sarah Shannon, dean from Montana State University College of Nursing, received the State Advocate Award from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). This annual award is given to one individual from each state who serves as a role model in the healthcare industry and demonstrates excellence in alignment with the mission and goals of AANP in the areas of practice, education, advocacy, research or leadership. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Margo Brooks Carthon from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has been appointed the new Director of the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing, the preeminent history of nursing research center and archive. The Bates Center amplifies the importance of the history of nursing and healthcare to the development of crafting effective health policies and strategies to improve health for all. Read more >>
   
• Laima Karosas, the chair of Graduate Nursing Programs at Quinnipiac University, received the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2024-25 academic year. The $28,300 award will be used to teach and conduct research at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Read more >>
   
• The Caring for the Caregiver Program (C4CP) of the School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio received a national award for its comprehensive education and support for families living with dementia. C4CP won for the category, “Supporting Care Partners,” which recognizes education, training or support for care partners of persons living with dementia. Read more >> 
   
• Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study post-stroke cognitive impairment using AI. Led by Dr. Xiao Hu, the project aims to develop AI algorithms to predict cognitive issues and assess vascular contributions. This funding will support the first three years of a five-year study. Read more >>
   
• Iowa State University announced a new 3+1 partnership with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) that will allow nursing graduates to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in one year. Starting in fall 2025, the program offers flexibility through a hybrid format, allowing students to work while completing their degree. Iowa State collaborated with DMACC to align the coursework, enhancing the growth of both the nursing program and the state’s healthcare workforce. Read more >>
   
• University at Buffalo’s nursing researcher Dr. Eunhee Park received a $745,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop an AI-enhanced smartphone app aimed at helping adolescents quit e-cigarette use. The app will provide real-time, personalized support through timely messages and an AI chatbot. The project will evaluate the app’s usability and effectiveness, offering a scalable solution to address the growing public health issue of adolescent e-cigarette use. Read more >>
   
• University of Connecticut’s School of Nursing received seven grant awards totaling over $1.2 million. Key projects include the Zuri app, led by Dr. Christina Ross, which supports sexual health for Black adolescent females, particularly those in foster care. Dr. Maurade Gormley’s study focuses on peer-led support for Black breast cancer survivors. Other research initiatives explore sleep quality in disadvantaged neighborhoods and cognitive function in cancer survivors. These projects aim to promote health equity across various communities and demographics. Read more >>
   
• University of Louisville School of Nursing received $4.8 million through two federal grants to help increase access to healthcare, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas. The funds will be used to develop and implement an accelerated Licensed Practical Nurse-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN-to-BSN) pathway in medically underserved areas of Kentucky. The second HRSA-funded project aims to increase the number and diversity of nurse practitioners to better address the healthcare needs of rural and urban underserved populations. Read more >>
   
• The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing received a $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop and evaluate a new intervention designed to improve communication between parents and their gay or bisexual adolescent sons. The study will focus on Generation Z youth, a group that is coming out at earlier ages than previous generations. Read more >>
   
• The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the FY25 Health Center Controlled Network Cooperative Agreements. The grant will fund up to 49 eligible organizations to support networks of participating health centers to leverage health information technology and data to enhance how they deliver affordable, accessible, and high-quality primary care, with a specific focus on data management analytics, interoperability of systems and digital health tools, and Uniform Data System Modernization implementation. The deadline to apply is December 2. Read more >>
   
• Apply now for HRSA's National Rural Health Information Clearinghouse Program, which maintains and expands this centralized resource that supports improving access to and the quality of healthcare in rural areas. Funding will be offered for a single cooperative agreement to support a national clearinghouse to help improve population health in rural communities. The deadline to apply is December 9. Read more >>
   
• The State Offices of Rural Health Coordination and Development Program is offered by HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to enhance the capacity of the 50 state offices of rural health and stakeholders through leadership development, collaboration, education, and support for core functions to improve rural healthcare. The deadline to apply is December 9. Read more >>
   
• The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) will hold its next Institute virtually on February 26, 2025. The one-day IPEC Institute is themed Integrating the IPEC Competencies: Fostering Innovation Through Interprofessional Collaboration. Participants will engage with national leaders in interprofessional education for collaborative practice and competency-based education. Read more >>

October 2024

• East Tennessee State University (ETSU) has named Dr. Dena Evans as dean of the College of Nursing. Dr. Evans currently serves as vice dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. She will begin her new role at ETSU in January 2025. Read more >>
   
• UTHealth Houston has established the interdisciplinary Cizik Nursing Research Institute to provide resources and support for nurse scientists advancing meaningful programs of research. The new research center will focus on informatics, behavioral health, and vulnerable populations as well as clinical innovations and translational nursing science. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Brigit Carter, AACN's Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, received the 2024 Clinical Article of the Year for her impactful work, "Color Does Matter: Nursing Assessment of Varying Skin Tones/Pigmentation" by the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Read more >>
   
• In August, the Catholic University of America unveiled the new Conway School of Nursing building, which was made possible from a $40 million donation from William E. Conway Jr. and his late wife, Joanne Conway. The state-of-the-art facility includes classrooms, labs, simulation and clinical learning spaces, and study areas equipped with high-tech features to educate nursing students. Read more >>
   
• The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth celebrated the grand opening of its new nursing school. The 10,500-square-foot College of Nursing wing features 18 private offices, eight open office workstations, a virtual interactive teaching room, a breakroom/lounge gathering space, an enclosed huddle space, and a mothers’ room. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Ruth Palan Lopez, Nursing Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing, received a $50,000 grant from The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation to improve dementia care in the Chinese American community. Her project focuses on culturally tailored solutions, including the ADVANCED-Comfort program, to empower families to make informed care decisions. Dr. Palan Lopez aims to ensure high-quality, personalized care for those living with dementia. Read more >>
   
• Researchers from the University of Kansas School of Nursing have received a nearly $4 million HRSA grant to enhance maternal and neonatal healthcare in rural Kansas. The grant will support a network of hospitals in central and northwest Kansas, focusing on improving access to obstetric services through telehealth, developing emergency obstetrics training for nurses, creating nurse navigator positions, and more. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Carrie Henry, CCN Assistant Professor from the University of Alabama, has been awarded one of just nine grants from The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation to support innovative, early-stage interventions that address the serious illness and end-of-life needs of marginalized populations. Funds will support Dr. Henry’s project, Supporting Coping Efforts for Black Mothers After Stillbirth, which seeks to develop a new culturally sensitive intervention to facilitate adaptive coping for Black women after stillbirth. Read more >>
   
• University of Michigan-Flint School of Nursing professors Drs. Megan Keiser and Carman Turkelson have been awarded the HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention Workforce Expansion Grant in the amount of $3,938,111 over four years. Their proposal is titled: University of Michigan-Flint Educates Rural Nurses Expanding the Nursing Workforce in Rural and Underserved Communities. The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of nurses practicing in acute and long-term care facilities in the rural Thumb Region. This project reflects a dedicated effort to addressing rural workforce needs by leveraging critical partnerships.
   
• AACN is hosting a NursingCAS Overview: A Demonstration of the Student Application and Admissions Management Portal webinar, on Monday, October 28 at 2:00 pm (ET). Administered by AACN, NursingCAS provides colleges with a free student application and admissions platform. Using this service, schools will access a powerful enrollment management software to streamline recruitment operations, expand customer service capabilities, and reach a national applicant pool. Discover how NursingCAS can support your school’s recruitment and enrollment initiatives. Register to attend or to receive a recording of the webinar.
   
• The Arnold P. Gold Foundation has issued a call for abstracts and artwork for the upcoming 2025 Gold Humanism Summit: The Person in Front of You on September 17-20, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. The Gold Humanism Summit brings together hundreds of nurses, nursing students, doctors, medical students, deans, CEOs, and other healthcare professionals, as well as patients, families, and community members — all of whom believe that healthcare must be a safe, kind, and trusted space for patients and clinicians alike. The deadline to submit an abstract is November 4 and artwork is January 30.
   
• Our recent Academic Nursing Leadership Conference brought together over 500 nursing deans and faculty leaders in Washington, DC for a powerful exchange of insights and ideas. Revisit some memorable moments and key takeaways by viewing our online photo gallery and exploring featured posts on LinkedIn. Discover award highlights, including Dr. Lynda Benton’s Distinguished Partner Award, Dr. Betty Rambur’s Policy Luminary Award, and Dr. Marion Broome’s inspiring McGovern Lecture. Don’t miss the opportunity to revisit this year’s impactful sessions and celebrate the achievements that continue to drive nursing education forward!
   
• Nurses with a passion for shaping healthcare policies and practices are encouraged to nominate themselves or a colleague for positions on federal committees, including the Board of Scientific Counselors at the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps, the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, and the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation. Make a nomination here

September 2024

• Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College announce a new partnership between the two institutions which will extend access to nursing education for residents of the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles area by offering a quicker and more affordable pathway for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Kathryn Malin, assistant professor in the Marquette University College of Nursing, received a K23 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the cumulative impact of maternal social determinants of health and early life toxic stress in the neonatal intensive care unit on epigenetic alterations in preterm infants and their mothers. Read more >>
   
• Marymount University’s Malek School of Nursing Professions and VHC Health, a national leader in the professional practice of nursing, have agreed to a transformative partnership aiming to advance nursing education, research, and practice while significantly impacting the nursing workforce and patient care in Northern Virginia and beyond. The agreement is supported by a pledge of $318,000 from the Caruthers family for scholarship funding to the VHC Health Foundation. Read more >>
   
• The University of Arizona College of Nursing received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service to fund the successful Indians in Nursing: Career Advancement and Transition Scholars, or INCATS, program for another five years. Additionally, the grant provides resources for dedicated time and personnel to partner with tribal communities in Arizona, fostering outreach and engagement efforts to inspire young Indigenous people to pursue nursing careers. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Laura Hays, associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing, has received a four-year, $1.4 million federal grant to expand and enhance the Arkansas Department of Health’s Newborn Screening Program. The new project will improve the efficacy of the state’s newborn screening efforts by creating a comprehensive educational program for health providers and families. Read more >>
   
• Susan Grinslade, clinical professor at the University of Buffalo School of Nursing, is a co-investigator on a project funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The initiative received $724,502 for the first year, with a total of $3.6 million expected over five years. The project aims to inspire and mentor a new generation of scientists from diverse backgrounds to conduct innovative research on health disparities. It will strengthen community-university partnerships to develop and test solutions for race-based health inequalities in Buffalo, while working with community partners to ensure the research leads to sustainable, system-level changes.
   
• Dr. Jennifer Kawi, professor from UTHealth Houston, received a “U-series” grant from the National Institutes of Health for large-scale testing of a self-managed auricular point acupressure intervention for nonpharmaceutical pain management in rural communities. The grant provides $817,483 the first year with multimillion dollar funding in the next four years given successful completion of first-year milestones. Read more >>
   
• Vanderbilt University School of Nursing received a $1.5 million grant to grow its effective sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) education program. The new grant will expand recruitment, education and retention strategies for SANEs and increase, diversify, and sustain the national SANE workforce. Read more >>
   
• Texas Woman’s University (TWU) announced Dr. Stephanie Woods as the university’s next dean of the College of Nursing. Dr. Woods returns to TWU after serving six years as dean and professor of the Hunt School of Nursing at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso. She previously served as associate dean for nine years at the Houston J. and Florence A. Doswell School of Nursing at TWU’s Dallas campus. Read more >>
   
• University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing faculty members Drs. Alice Bristow, Lauren Mays, Emily Patton, and D’Ann Somerall, have been appointed to leadership positions in the newly formed National Association of Family Nurse Practitioners (NAFNP). NAFNP is the first specialty-specific organization committed to serving family nurse practitioners (FNPs) and providing them with an education and clinical practice home. The organization provides FNPs with mentorship, leadership and networking opportunities, continuing education, and career support. Read more >>
   
• The University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions’ Executive Leadership team appoints Marilou Shreve, interim executive director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing and Boyce W. Billingsley Endowed Chair in Nursing. Dr. Shreve joined the university in 2012 and has over 25 years of pediatric experience in acute and primary care settings. She specializes in pediatric and adolescent obesity and opened and maintained one of Arkansas' first nurse practitioner-owned clinics. Read more >>
   
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) welcomes Dr. Sigrid Barrett as the new dean of the School of Nursing. Dr. Barrett brings years of experience as a nurse practitioner specializing in acute and chronic pediatric care. Before joining UNLV, she spent nearly ten years at the University of Alabama’s School of Nursing. Read more >>
   
• The University of South Carolina College of Nursing and Lexington Medical Center opened a new 52,000-square-foot facility to train the next generation of nurses during a ribbon-cutting ceremony August 12 in West Columbia, SC. Located on Lexington Medical Center’s West Columbia campus, the satellite clinical education building will be used primarily for clinical training of the university’s third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students as well as master’s program students. Read more >>
   
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) welcomes Dr. Sigrid Barrett as the new dean of the School of Nursing. Dr. Barrett brings years of experience as a nurse practitioner specializing in acute and chronic pediatric care. Before joining UNLV, she spent nearly ten years at the University of Alabama’s School of Nursing. Read more >>
   
• The University of South Carolina College of Nursing and Lexington Medical Center opened a new 52,000-square-foot facility to train the next generation of nurses during a ribbon-cutting ceremony August 12 in West Columbia, SC. Located on Lexington Medical Center’s West Columbia campus, the satellite clinical education building will be used primarily for clinical training of the university’s third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students as well as master’s program students. Read more >>

August 2024

• John Whitcomb, director and chief academic nursing officer of the Clemson University School of Nursing, has been appointed to the South Carolina Board of Nursing by Governor Henry McMaster. As part of the South Carolina Department of Labor and Labor Licensing Regulation, the Board of Nursing prioritizes public health and safety by ensuring the safe and ethical practice of nursing statewide. Read More >>
   
• The Summer Health Institute for Nursing Exploration and Success (SHINES) Program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine. The program is one of 83 hosted by universities recognized for encouraging students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read More >>
   
• University of North Carolina Wilmington’s College of Health & Human Services (CHHS) received full accreditation in the area of Teaching and Education to the CHHS’s Simulation Learning Center. The 10,000-square foot state-of-the art Simulation Learning Center provides future healthcare practitioners with realistic simulation technology across a variety of specialties to prepare professionals for a 21st century nursing practice. Read More >>
   
• Dr. Carleara Weiss, research assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing, has received a Notice of Award for her NIH/NIA R00 grant on “The Benefits of Nicotinamide Riboside upon Cognition and Sleep in Older Veterans” and has also received funding as a co-investigator with Dr. Brienne Miner at Yale for a NIH/NIA funded study on “Evaluating Sleep Deficiency in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias".
   
• Mary Burman, former dean and professor of the University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, has been posthumously awarded the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) 2024 State Award for Excellence. Dr. Burman, who died in September 2023, was honored at this year’s awards ceremony at the AANP National Conference in Nashville. The award is presented annually to nurse practitioners and those who work to increase patients’ access to high-quality nurse practitioner care. Read More >>
   
• Andrew Smith has been named Millikin University's Dean of the College of Professional Studies, effective July 1. Dr. Smith oversees the college’s three schools: Exercise Science & Sport, Nursing, and Education. He replaces Dr. Elizabeth Gephart, who was appointed Interim Dean of the College of Professional Studies in July 2023. Read More >>
   
• The University of Washington Bothell has appointed Vanessa Lopez-Littleton to serve as the School of Nursing & Health Studies' new dean. Dr. Lopez-Littleton, who has nearly three decades of leadership and management experience in higher education, public service, and health care, will assume her new role on November 1. She previously held several executive positions at California State University and Monterey Bay, where she was most recently an interim dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. Read More >>
   
• Lori Popejoy, the dean of the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, was named among 60 exemplary professionals as the newest fellows of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization dedicated to the field of aging. Dr. Popejoy was selected for her outstanding contributions to the field. Read More >> Click here to review this year’s new class of GSA fellows.
   
• Jenifer Chilton, the University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing associate dean for academic affairs, was selected by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as an inaugural member of the advisory panel for the Healthcare Workforce Task Force, a Texas Higher Educational Coordinating Board initiative to address the healthcare workforce shortages in Texas. Dr. Chilton recently received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Texas Organization of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Education. Read More >>
   
• Angela Starkweather has been named dean of the Rutgers School of Nursing effective August 19. Dr. Starkweather comes to Rutgers Health having served as the Chamings Endowed Professor in Nursing and assistant dean of research development at the University of Florida College of Nursing in Gainesville, FL. Read More >>
   
• Zahra Rahemi, associate professor in the Clemson University School of Nursing, has received more than $650,000 in funding from the National Institutes of Health to examine the end-of-life decision making processes of caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across minority populations. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Deby Tyndall, an associate professor in the University of North Carolina Wilmington School of Nursing, recently received a grant from the National Association of School Nurses to conduct a national study examining the role of school nurses in youth suicide prevention. This grant will support survey distribution to school nurses across the country to examine school and district policies and practices that facilitate or hinder the role and reach of school nurses. Read more >>
   
• The University of North Carolina System has awarded nearly $29 million to expand nursing education at 12 public universities and North Carolina’s Area Health Education Centers. The grants are part of a groundbreaking effort to address the nursing workforce shortage in North Carolina. The recently distributed grants, which were funded by the North Carolina General Assembly as part of last year’s state budget, are designed to help public universities produce more nursing graduates. They will fund everything from new faculty positions to state-of-the-art equipment, allowing nursing schools to expand class sizes and create more effective, high-quality learning experiences. Read more >>
   
• Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to participate in a program to incentivize careers as nursing school faculty through low-interest loans and loan cancellation. Through the grant, doctoral students committed to teaching nursing are eligible to receive up to a $40,000 loan for the 2024-25 academic year, with the option to reapply for subsequent years of study. Read more >>
   
• The West Virginia University School of Nursing has received a $50,000 gift from Drs. Susan and Neal Newfield to establish the Murdoch Newfield International Community Fund. This endowment will provide financial support for global education programs within the school, expanding international experiences and opportunities for students. Read more >>
   
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Cizik School of Nursing received a $5.265 million, five-year grant from the prestigious Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translational Research in the Behavioral Health and Social Sciences of Aging program, funded by the National Institute on Aging. Led by Dr. Carolyn Pickering, the grant will support the creation of the multidisciplinary Roybal Center for Elder Mistreatment Intervention Research at UTHealth Houston. Read more >>

July 2024

• Duke University School of Nursing received a $1.4 million T32 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant, spread over five years, will fund the school’s innovative Nurse-LEADS program (Training in Nurse-LEd models of care ADdressing the Social determinants of health). The grant supports predoctoral/postdoctoral research training and enables institutions to recruit for training in specified shortage areas, with the goal to prepare trainees for careers that significantly impact the nation’s health-related research needs. Read more >>
   
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) received a $217,997 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program, which supports students in master’s and doctoral nursing programs who commit to serving as a nurse educator at any accredited school of nursing or as a clinical educator at an accredited health facility for four years. A total of 17 IUP students in the master’s, DNP to PhD, and PhD programs have committed to the Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program, which provides up to $40,000 for an academic year. Read more >>
   
• Johns Hopkins University received a $1 billion gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to make Hopkins free for most medical students and expand financial aid for future nurses and public health pioneers, infusing these critical professions with top talent from all socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds and communities. In addition to investing in future generations of physicians, this endowment will support leaders in other critical health-related fields through increased graduate financial aid in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Nursing. Read more >>
   
• Old Dominion University (ODU) School of Nursing received a $20 million gift from Dennis and Jan Ellmer to provide scholarships for students pursuing health sciences degrees. Students will be eligible for the scholarships if they are enrolled in ODU’s School of Health Professions, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, or School of Nursing. Read more >>
   
• Texas Wesleyan University’s Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia received a $500,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The grant specifically benefits Texas-native students, who make up about 35% of the program. This funding will facilitate a unique two-month clinical rotation focused on trauma care within local hospitals. Students will start the specialty clinicals in late spring 2025. Read more >>
   
• The University of North Carolina (UNC) Greensboro School of Nursing received a $2.4 million grant to expand and enroll more nursing students. The funding, allocated from the UNC System Office, is part of the legislature’s efforts to increase nursing degree completions by at least 50 percent. Read more >>
   
• The University of Southern Indiana’s (USI) College of Nursing and Health Professions received $5 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to continue the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) for an additional five years. USI and its partners are among an elite group, working with 41 new or returning GWEPs. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Stacy Barnes, associate professor of practice and director of the Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center in Marquette University’s College of Nursing, received a $5 million HRSA grant to educate and train the health workforce, address care gaps, and improve health outcomes for older adults. Approximately $1.7 million of this award will be dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Read more >>

• Dr. Jing Wang, dean of the Florida State University of College of Nursing, has been invited to serve on the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NACNR) at the National Institute of Health. Dr. Wang joins an interprofessional group of researchers, including representatives from several AACN member schools. Per the NACNR charter, the council advises the secretary and the director of the National Institute of Nursing Research. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Brigit Carter, Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), has been selected for the inaugural class of fellows of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing. The new fellowship, established by the National Black Nurses Association, recognizes nurse leaders for their significant and sustained contributions to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in nursing and health care. Read more >>
   
• The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and the University of Rochester School of Nursing are extending the groundbreaking UR Nursing Scholars program for an additional three years through Summer 2027. This initiative will provide tuition-free nursing education to an additional 300 students in the accelerated baccalaureate program, significantly bolstering efforts to address the nursing shortage in the Rochester region. Read more >>
   
• The American Academy of Nursing has just announced a cohort of distinguished nurse leaders, including many representatives from AACN member schools, as its 2024 class of new Fellows. The inductees will be recognized for their substantial and sustained impact on health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 31 – November 2, 2024, in Washington, DC. The new Fellows represent 37 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 14 countries, joining over 3,000 current Fellows. Read more >>
   
• On June 18, AACN hosted a Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC) Retreat. The council was joined by Jon Fansmith, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs from the American Council on Education and Dr. Olga Yakusheva, economist and professor from the University of Michigan. Key highlights included insightful discussions of what is taking place on Capitol Hill, assuring a thriving nursing workforce, engaging in Value-Informed Care, and working group sessions outlining projects for the remainder of the year. View HPAC Committee >>
   
• Dr. Brooke A. Flinders has been selected as the next president of Frontier Nursing University (FNU). Dr. Flinders brings extensive experience as an advanced practice nurse, educator, and college administrator. She will leave her current position as Professor of Nursing and Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs at Miami University (Ohio) to assume the presidency at FNU on August 1, 2024. Read more >>

June 2024

• A recently expanded partnership between Aurora University, University Center at McHenry County College, and Northwestern Medicine aims to increase educational opportunities for nurses across the community. Through the partnership, registered nurses and others who have graduated with an associate degree in nursing can complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing through Aurora University in just three semesters. Read more >>
   
• Emory University announced a five-year partnership with Oglethorpe University to combat the national nursing shortage. The collaboration will create a pathway for students with bachelor's degrees in other disciplines to complete an "entry-to-practice pre-licensure degree program." Students graduating from Oglethorpe University with a bachelor's degree will be able to enroll in Emory's Master of Nursing program. Read more >>
   
• The University of California Irvine nursing program receives a $5 million grant from CalOptima Health for the new NURSE-OC Program. The goal of the NURSE-OC program aligns with the school’s strategic plan by enabling training for a diverse population of nursing students and expanding the workforce available to deliver quality care for Orange County’s most vulnerable populations. Read more >>
   
• The University of New Mexico College of Nursing received over $450,000 from Western Sky Community Care to fund scholarships for Doctor of Nursing Practice students enrolled in nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery programs. The scholarship will be awarded to 10 students in the 2024-2025 academic year. Read more >>
   
• The University of Texas at Tyler received $200,000 in funding to assist the city of Longview with a project under their Greater Longview Optimal Wellness initiative. This subaward is part of a four-year grant given to Longview by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The SAMHSA grant will support Narcan and Naloxone distribution and training throughout the Longview area. Read more >>
   
• The West Virginia University School of Nursing announced a partnership with Arellano University-International Nursing Program, which is based in the Philippines. The program is a 3-plus-1 curriculum, with Arellano students remaining in the Philippines for the first three years of their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree before relocating to Morgantown to complete their senior year at the WVU School of Nursing. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Hudson Santos is the new dean of the University of Miami (UM) School of Nursing and Health Studies, effective June 1. Dr. Santos joined the UM faculty two years ago as a tenured professor and the inaugural Dolores J. Chambreau Endowed Chair in Nursing. He was formerly the Beerstecher-Blackwell Distinguished Term Scholar and a tenured associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing. He was also the Director of Training and Mentorship Division for the Institute for Environmental Health Solutions at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Emily Roper has been appointed dean of Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, effective September 1, 2024. Dr. Roper will join Drexel from Sam Houston State University, where she is the current dean of the College of Health Sciences. As dean, Dr. Roper led the development of a college strategic plan, oversaw the design of a new Health Professions Building, and completed a feasibility study with $15 million in funding to support the expansion of the undergraduate nursing program. Read more >>
   
• The University of Washington (UW) School of Nursing has announced a $10 million bequest from UW chemistry professor emeritus Larry R. Dalton and his wife, Nicole A. Boand. The gift, the largest in the history of the School of Nursing, will increase access to nursing education, with $8 million dedicated to cost-of-attendance scholarships. The remaining $2 million will be used to enrich and expand clinical education, including the recruitment of clinical nurse educators who can provide practical, on-the-job training for students. Read more >>
   
• Cizik School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has launched a first-of-its-kind continuing professional development series to prepare nurse practitioners and physician assistants to take the American College of Cardiology® Certified Cardiovascular Knowledge Examination. This online, self-paced series provides didactic instruction to support in-person clinical fellowships and training. Read more >>
   
• Springer Nature has published The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps, which includes a contribution from Dr. Lin Zhan, dean of the UCLA School of Nursing. Her chapter, “Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance”, details Dr. Zhan’s unique journey in academia and is included as part of the book series: International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice.

May 2024

• Dr. Linda Lewandowski has been appointed the new dean of Grand Valley State University’s Kirkhof College of Nursing, effective July 6. Dr. Lewandowski is a professor of nursing and former dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Toledo. She also served as the University of Toledo's Vice Provost for Health Affairs and Executive Director for University Health Services. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Amy Hite will be the next dean at Pittsburgh State University’s Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing, effective June 9. Dr. Hite earned her BSN and MSN from Pitt State and her Doctorate from the University of Kansas. This summer she will complete her Doctor of Education with a focus in Higher Education Leadership from Lindenwood University. Read more >>
   
• The University of North Carolina Wilmington College of Health and Human Services has announced that Dr. Patricia D. Suplee has accepted the role of Director of the School of Nursing and Irwin Belk Distinguished Professor of Nursing. She earned her MSN and PhD degrees in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a BSN from Indiana University. Most recently, Dr. Suplee has served as an associate professor at Rutgers University, School of Nursing. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Norma Hall-Thoms will serve as the next dean of the University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Nursing, effective July 1. Dr. Hall-Thoms formerly served as dean of the University of Indianapolis School of Nursing. She holds a master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Indianapolis and a DNP in organization and health systems leadership from the University of Southern Indiana. Read more >>
   
• San Diego State University (SDSU) Imperial Valley’s nursing program received a gift of $500,000, courtesy of Carolyn and Cliff Colwell. This contribution will benefit students enrolled in the RN to BSN program. This five-year donation, which is unrestricted, will allow SDSU to strategically allocate funds to meet the program's evolving needs. Read more >>
   
• The University of Rochester (UR) School of Nursing will host an inaugural Experiential Learning Summit, June 6-7 in Rochester, NY. The UR School of Nursing was honored with the AACN’s 2023 Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award this past fall. Attendees at the summit will engage with national leaders in mobile learning, educational technology, and competency-based education and have opportunities to explore cutting-edge practices that are shaping the future of nursing education. Visit the website to learn more and to register.

April 2024

• Faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing received a grant to create virtual reality simulations that will deliver diversity, equity, and inclusion training to nursing students and faculty. The $20,000 in funding was provided by the American Nurses Association’s National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. The project is one of 10 selected from more than 130 submissions. Read more >>
   
• The University of Maine School of Nursing has received a four-year, $1.96 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program to provide financial assistance to and new educational opportunities for aspiring family nurse practitioners who can help improve access to primary care in Maine’s rural and underserved regions. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Patricia Kinser has been appointed to lead the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Nursing as interim dean, effective April 15. Dr. Kinser is an endowed professor and currently serves as assistant dean for research in scholarship and innovation in the school. She is an alum of VCU and joined the faculty in 2012. She will replace Dr. Jean Giddens, who will be the new dean at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Dr. Giddens is Chair of AACN’s Board of Directors. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Alicia Ribar has been selected to serve as dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, effective July 1. Currently, she is professor and executive associate dean for academics and accreditation at the University of South Carolina (USC). Dr. Ribar joined USC in 2016 serving as interim director of the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, assistant dean for graduate studies, and was named associate dean for academic affairs in 2020. Read more >>
   
• Elissa Saunders has been appointed Chair of the Department of Nursing within the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU). She served as a registered nurse for 10 years before transitioning into nursing education. Before her appointment, she taught in the areas of women’s health and nursing research before transitioning into the role of nurse administrator. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SWOSU in 2010 and her master’s degree in nursing education in 2017. Read more >>

March 2024

• Dr. Jean Giddens has been named dean of the University of Kansas (KU) Medical Center School of Nursing. Dr. Giddens is currently professor and dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing, where she has served for the past decade. She will become dean of KU School of Nursing on April 15. A prolific writer and scholar in nursing, Dr. Giddens is chair-elect of the AACN Board of Directors who begins her tenure as Board Chair on March 25. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Joseph Tacy is the new Director of the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing at Lamar University. Dr. Tacy holds a PhD in nursing from The University of Texas at Tyler, an MSN from James Madison University, a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University, and an associate in nursing from Davis and Elkins College. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Liz Sturgeon has been named the new director of the Western Kentucky University (WKU) School of Nursing and Allied Health in the WKU College of Health and Human Services. A nursing professor, she has served as the interim director of the nursing school since July 2023, and assumed the permanent position on March 1. She received ASN, BSN, and MSN degrees from WKU. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Catherine Quay has been selected to join the faculty at the Elon University School of Health Sciences as an associate professor and will serve as chair of the Department of Nursing and director of the university’s nursing programs. She will begin in her new role on June 17. She is currently a course chair for holistic gerontological nursing at Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Kathleen McElroy has been named associate dean for the baccalaureate program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She served as the interim associate dean since June 2023. Prior to her appointment as interim dean, Dr. McElroy served as vice chair of the Department of Family and Community Health beginning in 2021. In 2020, she received the University of Maryland School of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award for Undergraduate Education. Read more >>
   
• Students entering University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing pre-licensure programs this fall will take a new summer course to prepare them for the nursing program. The six-week online course, Pre-licensure Readiness Education Program for Aspiring Registered Nurses (PREPARE), will be delivered to BSN and MSN for non-RNs students. The program is funded with a $148,000 grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and will be offered free of charge to all students starting a pre-licensure program in 2024. Read more >>
   
• Walla Walla University School of Nursing has received a $105,231 grant from the Washington Student Achievement Council to upgrade nursing simulation labs on the Portland campus. This is the third significant grant awarded to the School of Nursing in the past year, which total more than $490,000. Read more >>
   
• Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies has been awarded a four-year grant of $2.59 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration through its Advanced Nursing Education Workforce program. The grant will support the university’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs. Read more >>

February 2024

• Dr. Barbara Resnick, the Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology and associate dean for research at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been awarded a five-year, $2.13 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging to address the treatment of pain in nursing home residents with dementia. The focus of this work is how to implement use in nursing homes of the recently revised Pain Management Clinical Practice Guideline from AMDA — The Society of Post Acute and Long-Term Care. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Tsu-Yin Wu, professor and director of Center for Health Disparities Innovations and Studies at the Eastern Michigan University School of Nursing, has received funding from the National Institutes of Health for a study, “Adaptable Community-Engaged Intervention for Violence Prevention: Michigan Model.” The study team will employ both geographic information systems and photovoice approaches to engage communities in identifying multi-level risks and protective factors for firearm-related violence. Read more >>
   
• The Missouri State University School of Nursing will expand its nursing program thanks to a $377,000 grant from the state’s Nursing Education Incentive Program. The grant will provide funds for two new faculty members to teach in the accelerated MSN program. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Rosario Medina has been appointed the new dean of the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, effective June 3. She is currently the associate dean of Clinical and Community Affairs at the University of Colorado. She worked 25 years as a family nurse practitioner and researcher and is an expert in understanding underserved populations. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Rhoberta Haley is the new dean at Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing, effective February 1. She served as the dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions at Chaminade University of Honolulu since 2019. Dr. Haley is a current member of the AACN Board of Directors. She holds a BSN from California State University, Sacramento, an MSN from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD in nursing from the University of San Diego. Read more >>

January 2024

• Dr. Amy L. Fry is the new dean of the College of Nursing at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), effective January 1, 2024. Dr. Fry served as interim dean since July 2023. After joining the college in 2022, Dr. Fry held positions as a clinical associate professor of Nursing and director of Online Programs. Prior to PNW, she served as a clinical nursing faculty member and associate dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Saint Xavier University. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Danny Willis is the new dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island, effective January 2, 2024. Dr. Willis served as dean and tenured professor at Saint Louis University (SLU) Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing since 2020. Prior to SLU, he was associate dean of academic affairs and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing; department chair and associate professor at the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing; and instructor of clinical nursing and coordinator of psychiatric nursing at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Read more >>
   
• In September 2023, Dr. Patricia Sharpnack, dean and professor in the Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions at Ursuline College, advanced to serve as National League of Nursing (NLN) chair, having concluded her two-year term as chair-elect. She will serve in that role through 2025. Dr. Yolanda VanRiel, chair of the department of nursing at North Carolina Central University, was elected NLN chair-elect for 2023-25. Read more >>
   
• The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing was awarded a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce grant to create its new Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Simulation Education Training Program. The 3-year, $1.5 million grant will allow the school to expand simulation offerings for students, faculty, and other health professionals. Read more >>
   
• Dr. Kelly Foltz-Ramos, assistant professor and director of simulation at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing (UB), received a 3-year, $1.5 million HRSA grant aimed at using virtual reality based experiential education to meet the needs of rural and underserved populations. Funding will support UB’s REACHvr (Rural and Underserved Education and Awareness for Community Health through Virtual Reality) program, which aims to offer evidence-based experiential education to pre-licensure undergraduate nursing students. Also, Dr. Kafuli Agbmenu, assistant professor at UB’s School of Nursing, received a National Institutes of Health grant to support her work on reproductive health care in African refugees.
   
• Dr. Alicia Ribar, executive associate dean for Academic Affairs & Accreditation and professor at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, received a 4-year, $2.6 million HRSA grant aimed at furthering the advancement of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse training in the underserved rural regions of South Carolina. This grant supports the training of 100 Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner fellows chosen to meet the healthcare needs of these rural communities. Read more >>