Introducing the New AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Fellows

New Cohort of Academic Nursing Leaders Named
AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Fellows

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2013 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce the second class of nursing deans who have successfully completed the AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Program. Launched in 2012 in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, this world-class enrichment experience is designed exclusively for top academic leaders in schools of nursing. This ground-breaking program, which includes 57 graduates from schools nationwide, is generously sponsored in part by the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence.

“Given the calls to re-envision how nurses are educated and how they practice, today’s nursing leaders must possess the skills associated with building strategic relationships, mobilizing stakeholders, negotiating for resources,  and ushering in meaningful change,” said Geraldine “Polly” Bednash, AACN’s Chief Executive Officer. “AACN applauds the latest graduates of the AACN-Wharton program for their commitment to developing the expertise needed to help amplify nursing’s voice in discussions shaping healthcare delivery at the local, state, and national levels.”

Using a competitive process, 21 academic nursing leaders were selected this year to participate in the AACN-Wharton program, which convened in Philadelphia, PA on June 14-17, 2013. These applicants were chosen from a pool of more than 40 individuals with a strong interest in completing this rigorous program. The 2013 AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Program Fellows include:

• Jeannette Andrews, Dean, College of Nursing, University of South Carolina 
  
• Mary G. Boland, Dean, School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawaii at Manoa 
  
• Shelley Conroy, Dean, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University (TX) 
  
• Kathleen Czekanski, Associate Dean, School of Nursing, La Salle University (PA) 
  
• Susan Dean-Baar, Dean, College of Nursing, University of Missouri-St. Louis
  
• Lisa Eichelberger, Dean, School of Nursing, Clayton State University (GA)
  
• Michael Evans, Dean, School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
  
• Penelope M. Glynn, Dean of Nursing, Science and Health Professions, Regis College (MA)
  
• Cindy Greenberg, Director, School of Nursing, California State University – Fullerton
  
• Mary Hoke, Dean, Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of the Incarnate Word (TX)
  
• Jane Kirschling, Dean, School of Nursing, University of Maryland
  
• Denise Korniewicz, Dean, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota
  
• Patricia A. Kraft, Dean, Nursing and Health Sciences, College of Coastal Georgia
  
• Elizabeth Markham, Dean of Nursing, Herzing University (WI)
  
• Mary Nies, Director, School of Nursing, Idaho State University
  
• Patricia Ravert, Dean, College of Nursing, Brigham Young University (UT)
  
• Denise Robinson, Dean, College of Health Professions, Northern Kentucky University
  
• Jan Strom, Chair, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Northern Illinois University
  
• Alexa Stuifbergen, Dean, School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin
  
• Ann Tritak, Dean, School of Nursing, Saint Peter’s University (NJ)
  
• Paula Dunn Tropello, Chair, Department of Nursing, Wagner College (NJ)

The curriculum for the AACN-Wharton program is designed to provide the concepts and tools needed to enhance leadership capacity and hone the skills that are essential to thrive and move forward strategically. The content addresses issues around managing and leading change, influencing and galvanizing a diverse set of stakeholders, and building enterprising relationships in highly volatile environments. Participants leave the program equipped with an advanced set of negotiation, leadership, and influencing skills, as well as the confidence and ability to serve on or lead high-powered boards. For more information on this program, see the Wharton Executive Leadership Program site.
 
For more details on the full spectrum of AACN’s leadership development programs for deans, associate deans, faculty, and graduate nursing students, see AACN's resources for leadership development.

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The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania—founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school—is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. Informed by in-depth academic research and extensive industry experience, Wharton Executive Education programs offer a supportive and challenging context from which participants gain the skills necessary for their next level of executive development. In open-enrollment and customized programs, participants from a diverse range of industries interact with Wharton faculty, who are one of the most cited, most published faculties of all top-tier business schools. With a profound influence on global business, Wharton faculty are the trusted advisors of corporations and governments worldwide. Learn more at execed.wharton.upenn.edu.
 
In 2006, the Barbara and Donald Jonas Family Fund established the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence, a groundbreaking program that deploys philanthropy to advance the nursing profession in novel and traditional ways, including grants and programs designed to improve nurse recruitment and retention; increase ethnic and racial diversity among the nursing workforce; advance innovative practice models; and improve practice settings in New York City and beyond. The Jonas Center works closely with powerful partners in nursing practice.  www.jonascenter.org