明星八卦

March 2025

• The Minnesota Department of Education has awarded $746,220 to St. Catherine University’s School of Nursing through its Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline program. The grant will support work to address the shortage of school nurses and diversify the workforce in the Minnesota K–12 system.
   
• Researchers Katherine Barnett, Susan Beidler, Ashley Barber, and Lisa Reyes-Walsh from Kennesaw State University’s Wellstar School of Nursing (WSON) received a $1.2 million grant from the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust for their two-year project, Nurses Learning About Opioid Use Disorder. The project will prepare nurses from WSON’s bachelor’s and master’s programs to help patients dealing with substance use disorders.
   
• Elmira Tolentino, an international nursing student from the Arellano University International Nursing Program in the Philippines, is now at West Virginia University (WVU) to complete her last year of the 3-plus-1 program. Arellano University has partnered with the WVU School of Nursing to continue their international nursing program. Since the new partnership began, Ms. Tolentino is the first student to attend WVU.
   
• Dr. Cordelia Nnedu has been named the new dean of the Tuskegee University School of Nursing and Allied Health. The nurse educator, nurse practitioner, and midwife has been a Tuskegee University faculty member for over three decades. She received her BSN from the University of Northern Colorado, her MSN from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her PhD from Auburn University.
   
• Dr. Rene Love has been named dean of the School of Nursing at Old Dominion University. Previously, she was at the University of Florida where, since 2020, she has served as associate dean for Academic Affairs--Graduate Clinical Education and a clinical professor. She earned her BSN at Valdosta State University, her master’s degree and DNP at Vanderbilt University, and her PhD at the University of Arizona. Dr. Love will begin her new duties April 1, 2025.
   
• Dr. Terri Rebmann has been selected as the inaugural divisional dean of the School of Nursing at the George Mason University College of Public Health. Previously, she served for 25 years at Saint Louis University (SLU). While at SLU, she was the director of the Institute for Biosecurity and Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Dr. Rebmann earned her PhD in Nursing from SLU; her MSN from the University of Missouri, Columbia; and her BSN from Truman State University. 
   
• Dr. Mary Lou Sole, dean of the University of Central Florida College of Nursing, is among five healthcare professionals worldwide — and only two nursing professionals — to receive the Master of Critical Care Medicine designation from the Society of Critical Care Medicine. The honorees were recognized in a ceremony during the 2025 Critical Care Congress held in Orlando, February 24, 2025.
   
• Marquette University has received a $7.5 million gift from the Richard L. Boland Love for Life Foundation, Inc., to endow the Institute for Natural Family Planning in the College of Nursing. Marquette is the only university in the United States to have an institute that provides a natural family planning teacher training program for practicing health professionals. 
   
• Dr. Shiloh A. Williams, an assistant professor at San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Nursing Imperial Valley, has been honored with a 2025 National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Fellowship. As one of 18 fellows selected, Dr. Williams will collaborate with health leaders to address rural health challenges, focusing on health literacy in predominantly Hispanic, Spanish-speaking communities.
   
• University of Pennsylvania Nursing Dean Antonia M. Villarruel has joined over 70 leaders in releasing the Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST), a strategic plan to maintain U.S. global leadership in innovation. Spearheaded by the non-partisan Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC), VAST aims to reduce inefficiencies, empower a versatile workforce, and drive breakthroughs addressing societal challenges and national security. 
   
• The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis has earned accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs for its Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) degree program. This milestone marks the first DNP-NA program within the University of California system and only the sixth in California. The inaugural cohort will begin in June. 

February 2025

• Nursing students are invited to enter The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s 2025 Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest. Three winning essays by nursing students will be published in AACN’s Journal of Professional Nursing and the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Academic Medicine journal. Cash prizes also will be awarded: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. Essays of 1,000 words or fewer must illustrate a real-life experience in which the nursing student or a healthcare team member worked to ensure that humanism was at the core of care. Deadline for submissions is March 12. 
   
• The Edmond J. Safra Nurse Educator Program at Parkinson’s Foundation was created to prepare nurse leaders across the U.S. to educate nursing students and nursing staff about Parkinson’s disease. This accredited train-the-trainer program was designed to enhance the knowledge and confidence of nursing educators in developing course content, delivering lectures, and providing clinical mentorship on Parkinson’s to nursing students and fellow nurses. Funded by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, the program hosts several in-person, 3-day trainings each year at university-based movement disorder centers, including upcoming events in Minnesota, California, and Pennsylvania. Participating scholars are eligible for a $3,000 stipend and continuing education credits following completion of the program and self-directed project. Click to apply.
   
• The National Faculty SGM Health Collaborative, led by Dr. Annesa Flentje, is a mentorship and peer support group for early-stage faculty conducting research on sexual and gender minority (SGM) health. This works-in-progress group provides a platform for discussing challenges, presenting research, and receiving feedback on grants and strategies. Eligible applicants include faculty members whose research focuses on LGBTQIA+/SGM health, with a preference for no more than one faculty member per institution. Participants commit to monthly 60-minute Zoom meetings for at least one year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and require a CV and cover letter, submitted on the website pridestudy.org/collaborate.
   
• The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) selects up to 30 undergraduate and graduate nursing students annually for the APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship. This opportunity provides funding for registration, travel, and lodging to attend the APNA 39th Annual Conference in New Orleans from October 15–18, 2025. Scholars also receive a one-year APNA membership, access to mentors, career advice, networking, job postings, continuing education, and discounts on certifications. With the demand for psychiatric-mental health nurses at an all-time high, this scholarship supports students in exploring careers in mental health nursing while building lasting professional connections. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2025.
   
• Elmira College (EC) received a $150,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s Healthcare Workforce program. The grant will fuel EC’s “Growing Future Nurses: Cultivating Holistic Care Providers Through Innovative Simulation Education” program that supports EC’s continued focus on quality hands-on experiences to train the next generation of professional nurses.
   
• Siena College received a $250,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to address the nursing faculty shortage in New York by creating the Pathway to PhD scholarship, which will fund two master’s prepared nurses to pursue a PhD in nursing. Siena is currently soliciting applications for this scholarship. If you would like more information about this opportunity, or directions on how to apply, please email Dr. Jennifer (Jenna) Thate at jthate@siena.edu. 
   
• Washburn University received a historic donation of $50 million from alumni Greg and Ronda Brenneman. The gift to the public university in Topeka, Kansas will be used in part to fund the construction of a new health education facility that brings together all health-related disciplines. The gift will also help transform Washburn's business and nursing schools; the former will now be known as the Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business for the couple, who met while attending the university in the 1980s. 
   
• AACN welcomes two new members to the Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC) for the 2025-2027 term: Sofia Aragon from the Washington Center for Nursing and Michele Diaz-Nelson from University of California – San Francisco. Established in 2015, HPAC provides expert guidance on health policy issues impacting academic nursing, with members selected for their diverse areas of expertise. Read more >>
   
• Florida Atlantic University has named Dr. Cameron G. Duncan as the new Holli Rockwell Trubinsky Eminent Dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. 
   
• Dr. Terri Robemann has been selected as the inaugural Divisional Dean of the School of Nursing by The George Mason University College of Public Health. The appointment reflects the critical role of the School of Nursing in achieving the mission of the college and delivering health and well-being for all. 
   
• Dr. Rene Love has been named dean of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University. Dr. Love will begin her new duties April 1, 2025. 
   
• Dr. Bridgitte Gourley, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and director of the DNP Family Nurse Practitioner specialty, has been inducted as an inaugural fellow of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU). The ACU is a multidisciplinary organization that strives to establish a robust and diverse workforce to help transform communities and achieve health equity. 

January 2025

• The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation has announced 2025 funding opportunities for two programs supporting nursing-driven innovation. Hillman Emergent Innovation (HEI) offers up to five $50,000 grants for early-stage interventions improving marginalized populations' health. Hillman Emergent Innovation: Serious Illness and End of Life (HSEI) offers up to ten $50,000 grants for interventions addressing serious illness and end-of-life care in marginalized communities. Letters of Intent are due February 18, 2025. For more information, see the press release. 
   
• The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) offers low-interest loans with up to 85% loan cancellation for graduates who work full-time as faculty for up to four years. The program also includes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses working as preceptors. HRSA will award approximately $25.6 million to up to 80 grantees. Eligible applicants are accredited nursing schools with advanced education programs. For more information, please view the grant page. Applications are due by February 24, 2025.
   
• The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) has announced a funding opportunity (RFA-NR-25-003) to develop innovative interventions addressing social determinants of health to reduce health disparities and advance health equity. Click here for more information about this initiative as well as details on eligibility, research objectives, key dates, application review, and award administration. Applications are due February 28, 2025.
   
• HRSA has announced a $22.2 million funding opportunity under the Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Program to increase nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses. Up to 40 grantees will be funded over four years. Eligible applicants include schools of nursing, nonprofit organizations, and tribal organizations, among others. Applications are due by March 18, 2025. Visit the for more details. Schools applying for this program can benefit from AACN’s Technical Assistance Program for for NWD grant applicants. AACN provides consulting to help applicants meet grant objectives, address challenges, develop staff, and maximize project impact. Learn more here.
   
• The AACN Student Policy Summit (SPS) is a two-day conference in Washington, DC, on March 30-31, open to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students from AACN member institutions. Attendees will participate in sessions focused on the federal policy process and nursing’s role in advocacy. For more details, visit the SPS event page. 
   
• The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) second annual Faculty Development in Palliative Care Education Workshop will be held in summer 2025. The workshop supports nursing faculty in advancing palliative care education, with funding for 100 undergraduate and 50 graduate participants. Attendees will learn about palliative care resources and teaching strategies and may submit a poster abstract. For more details and application, visit ELNEC’s website. Applications are due April 1, 2025. 
   
• The Advancing AI Across Academic Medicine Resource Collection is seeking submissions to expand its repository of free resources for integrating AI into medical education. Contributors will support collaboration and knowledge sharing on ethical and effective AI integration across academic health systems. For more information, visit the submission site.
   
• The University of South Carolina College of Nursing received a RO1 grant from the National Cancer Institute to dismantle barriers to treatment and reduce disparities in lung and colon cancer care outcomes. Led by Dr. Swann Adams, the five-year grant will integrate diverse data sources to create a comprehensive, population-based dataset that captures racial, socio-economic, and geographic differences. Guided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities research framework, Dr. Adams’ multi-disciplinary team will address disparities through a co-learning community approach. 
   
• The University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing was one of three organizations in Illinois to receive funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health intended to increase access to safe abortions from skilled providers. The grant is creating the Reproductive Advocacy and Diversity in Advanced Nursing Training (RADIANT) Learning Collaborative. RADIANT faculty are implementing six trainings with cohorts of nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives from across the state of Illinois, offering hands-on, mentored training experiences in clinical reasoning, patient interactions, safe abortion care and integration into practice. 
   
• The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, in collaboration with the University at Buffalo School of Nursing, received a five-year, $2.11 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to establish the Roswell Park/University at Buffalo Oncology Nurse Scientist Training Program. This initiative will provide advanced research training in clinical translational research to two to three PhD-level nurses annually. 
   
• Rush University College of Nursing received a $1 million gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation to expand clinical training for students and improve care for marginalized populations in Chicago through the Joanne and William Conway Faculty Practice Fund. The funding will increase student participation and training hours at faculty practice sites, enabling expanded pediatric and mental health care for underserved groups, including children in subsidized housing and individuals experiencing homelessness. 
   
• Montclair State University received a $599,998 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement the MSU Diagnosis to Recovery initiative. Led by Dr. Brenda Marshall and Dr. Rosita Rodrigues, the program will integrate substance use disorder (SUD) education, training, and mental health first aid certification into all graduate nursing programs. 
   
• Dr. Ann-Margaret Navarra, Associate Professor at Stony Brook University School of Nursing, has been named to a national fellowship program that will examine social determinants of health (SDOH) in the context of eliminating healthcare inequities in the United States. She is among the first of 10 “innovators” selected by the Institute for Policy Solutions at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing for the Nursing Science Incubator for SDOH Solutions Fellowship. 
   
• The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Dr. Bridgitte Gourley, Associate Professor; Director of the DNP FNP specialty; and Co-Director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Center for Interprofessional Education, has been inducted as an inaugural fellow of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved.
   
• Dr. Meagan Whisenant has been named director of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing program at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston. She will take over leadership of the PhD program at a time of substantial growth within the Department of Research. 

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