Reflecting on this past year, I am filled with gratitude—for the people, the partnerships and the possibilities that continue to define the School of Nursing’s journey. Together, we are not just preparing nurses for the future, we are actively shaping it.
This year, our community’s excellence was recognized on the national stage with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award for our Collaboratory of Collaboratories—a pioneering network of 10 partners who share our vision, values, and commitment to innovation, improvement, and expansion of our nursing professional workforce. These partnerships are more than agreements, they are living ecosystems of collaboration, where education, research, and practice are seamlessly intertwined to advance health and wellbeing for all.
Our academic programs also reached new heights with our Doctor of Nursing Practice program earning its highest ranking of #4 in the nation. We continue to lead the country in the enrollment of American Indian/Alaska Native doctoral students, living out our mission of advancing equity, excellence and leadership in nursing education.
From immersive rural clinical experiences to transnational simulation collaborations, our students are gaining skills to meet the complexity of today’s care environments with confidence, compassion and creativity. Our faculty’s trailblazing research—on topics from nurse wellbeing to innovative care models—ensures our influence extends far beyond our walls.
The future of nursing will be defined not only by what we know. It will be defined by how we lead. In a time of rapid advancements, such as artificial intelligence, we stand poised to lead the way with courage, curiosity, humanity and love. We remain steadfast that every advancement—whether in clinical practice, research or technology—is grounded in dignity, equity, and the flourishing of people and communities.
To our alumni, donors, and colleagues across the profession and our interprofessional partners: thank you for your support this past academic year and beyond. You are part of every achievement you see in these pages. Your belief in our mission fuels the momentum that carries us forward.
Together, let us continue to discover, to innovate, and to care—deeply and boldly—for the health of all people and the planet we share.
Professor and Dean