The School of Nursing is committed to a healthy culture, which includes respect of all people — including students and employees — and their wellbeing, through shared leadership, open communication, continuous learning, and a culture of excellence.
School ranked No. 46 in global Shanghai Ranking
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing is ranked No. 46 in Shanghai Ranking’s 2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. It is the first time the school has been ranked in the top 50.
School receives HEED Award for 9th consecutive year
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing received the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine for the ninth consecutive year. The school was one of only 19 nursing schools to receive the HEED Award honoring U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
University of Minnesota earns top ranking on Planetary Health Report Card
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing received an A on the 2025 Planetary Health Report Card, ranking #1 of nursing schools that were graded.
NLN honors school for climate change leadership
The National League for Nursing recognized the School of Nursing for leading the way on climate change initiatives. In announcing the recognition, NLN stated that school’s “pioneering efforts in education, curriculum, research, and outreach help to set a standard for schools and organizations, in nursing and other health professions to follow.”
Austin named Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
Associate Professor Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, NI-BC, FAMIA, FNAP, was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing after being selected for the 2024 Class of Fellows. Holly Shaw, a Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership director, was also inducted into the American Academy of Nursing.
Bradley named McKnight Presidential Fellow
Associate Professor Cynthia Bradley, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, was named a recipient of the McKnight Presidential Fellow Award, a three-year award given to the most promising faculty at the University of Minnesota.
New book chronicles school’s transformation
The School of Nursing’s transformation over the past two decades is chronicled in the new book Igniting Transformational Change: The University of Minnesota School of Nursing Journey. Co-authored by Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP, Joanne Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN, Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, and Marie Manthey, MNA, FRCH, FAAN, the book shares insights into the school’s transformative journey, particularly its past 20 years, and provides recommendations to schools experiencing challenges. It was published to celebrate the 115th anniversary of becoming the first school of nursing established within an institution of higher education. Learn more at z.umn.edu/IgnitingTransformationalChange.
3 faculty receive promotions
The Board of Regents approved the promotion of three School of Nursing faculty. Lauren Martin, PhD, was promoted to associate professor with tenure. Joanne Donnelly, DNP, APRN, CRNA, FAANA, Elena Geiger-Simpson, DNP, PMHNP-BC, APRN, PHN, and Anne Hayden, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, were promoted to clinical associate professor.
Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies celebrates 10th anniversary
Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, which is the first open access, peer reviewed journal published by the University of Minnesota, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The journal, which is published in partnership with the School of Nursing, the University of Minnesota Libraries, and the Center for Partnership Studies, has provided a global audience with online and open access to 24 published issues including 230 articles by a total of more than 330 authors.
3 faculty join the school
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing welcomed three new faculty to the school. They are Jenna Herman, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Elizabeth Hopfenspirger, DNP, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, and Leso Munala, PhD, MSW. They bring expertise ranging from psychiatric/mental health and clinical reasoning for nurse practitioners to gender-based violence.
School appointments
Kris Talley, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, was named associate dean of Faculty Affairs for the School of Nursing.
Stephanie Delkoski, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, PNAP, was named assistant dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Lucy Mkandawire-Valhmu, PhD, RN, FAAN, was named chair of the Population Health and Systems Cooperative.
Elizabeth Hopfenspirger, DNP, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, was named the specialty coordinator for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program.
Kelaine Haas, PhD, was appointed to the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership directorate.
Awards and Honors
Professor Donna Bliss, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, WOCNF, was elected to the Scientific Committee of the International Continence Society. She was also identified as a 2024 Top Scholar by ScholarGPS.
Associate Professor Rozina Bhimani, PhD, DNP, APRN, CNP, CNE, CRRN, was named a Fellow of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.
Dean Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP, was named to the list of 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders by Minnesota Physician. She also received the African American Registry 2025 Juneteenth People Award.
Clinical Associate Professor Stephanie Delkoski, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, PNAP, received the Inspiration in Women’s Health Award for Education from the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. She also was named a professional member of the National Academies of Practice Class of 2025.
Clinical Associate Professor Stephanie Gingerich, DNP, RN, CPN, was appointed the executive editor of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies.
Professor Mary Hearst, PhD, MPH, was selected as a Fulbright Specialist by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and World Learning.
Clinical Associate Professor Jenna Herman, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, was elected to the Minnesota Nurse Practitioners Association board of directors as secretary and elected to the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Faculty Institute Committee.
Associate Professor Melissa Horning, PhD, RN, PHN, presented on the panel Ecosystem Approaches to Improving School Health at the Advancing Nursing Research to Support Healthy School Environments for All virtual convening hosted by the National Institute of Nursing Research and Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.
Associate Professor Martin Michalowski, PhD, FAMIA, FIAHSI, was awarded the Marco Ramoni Award for Best Paper at the 22nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Medicine for Manually-Curated Versus LLM-Generated Explanations for Complex Patient Cases: An Exploratory Study with Physicians.
Professor Margaret Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN, was named to the inaugural class of Fellows selected for the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing by the National Black Nurses Association. She was also awarded the Manzer Award for outstanding humanitarian effort in professional nursing from New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing.
Associate Professor Ryan Mays, PhD, MPH, FAHA, FSVM, received the 2024 Blue Ribbon Peer Reviewer Award from the Vascular Medicine journal. While nationally nursing schools struggle with a dearth of clinical instructors, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing utilizes current DNP students — who often are also practicing nurses — as teaching assistants for pre-licensure students. Read more about the innovative approach by scanning the QR code.
Professor Christine Mueller, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, was named the recipient of the Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). She also was appointed to the Board on Aging by Gov. Tim Walz.
Professor Susan O’Conner-Von, PhD, RN-BC, CHPPN, CNE, FNAP, was named a fellow of the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education. She also was awarded an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Award.
Clinical Professor Teddie Potter, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP, was appointed to the Planetary Health Report Card and MEDICC boards of directors.
Professor Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, FNAP, was named the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Forensic Nursing. She also was appointed to the Department of Human Services Special Review Board by the commissioner of Human Services.
Clinical Professor Judith Pechacek, DNP, RN, CENP, was named a recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education.
Associate Professor Sripriya Rajamani, PhD, MPH, MBBS, FAMIA, with colleagues at the Minnesota Department of Health, earned the Presidential Priorities Award at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists conference for Aligning Agency-Wide Data Modernization Strategy and Electronic Case Reporting for All Public Health Reportable Conditions: Perspectives from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Associate Professor Kristine Talley, PhD, APRN, GNP-BC, FGSA, was elected treasurer of the Midwest Nursing Research Society Board of Directors.
Clinical Assistant Professor Angelica Walton, DNP, RN, is serving on the American Holistic Nurses Association Planetary Health Task Force. She also was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the University’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships as faculty representative for southeast Minnesota communities and chair of the Resilient Communities Workgroup.
Clinical Assistant Professor Ryne Wilson, DNP, RN, OCN, was named to the class of 40 Under 40 in Cancer by the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care.
