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 and abundance.
School of Nursing receives HEED Award for 10th consecutive year
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing received the 2025 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award recognizes U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging, and community-building across all levels of campus life.
School ranks No. 1 on Planetary Health Report Card
The school received an A on the 2026 Planetary Health Report Card, ranking first place of the nursing schools that were graded. The findings highlight the school’s curriculum, interdisciplinary research and support for student-led initiatives as particular strengths.
Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing celebrates 30 years
As the Bakken Center celebrates its 30th anniversary, its dedication to advancing health and wellbeing — through community outreach, interdisciplinary education, and community-based research — is more critical than ever. The center offers nearly 70 academic courses, which are taken by students in every college around the University of Minnesota and beyond. The demand for center courses continues to increase with nearly 2,000 student enrollments in 2025.
Center launches Resilience Facilitator Program
The Center for Flourishing Health Care Communities piloted a Resilience Facilitator Program, which is designed for University leaders, faculty, staff and students to improve their focus, emotion regulation, and interpersonal relationships.
Dean Delaney named a Living Legend
Dean Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FACMI, FNAP, FAAN, was named a 2025 Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing. The honor is the highest awarded by the Academy, bestowed for making significant contributions to nursing and healthcare over the course of a career. White Delaney joined alumni Clara Adams-Ender, MS, FAAN, and Marie Manthey, MNA, FRCH, FAAN, and professor ad honoreum and former interim dean Joanne Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN, as a Living Legend.
Goodroad, Horning named Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing
Clinical Professor Brian Goodroad, DNP, APRN, CNP, FAANP, and Associate Professor Melissa Horning, PhD, RN, PHN, were named to the 2025 Class of American Academy of Nursing Fellows. The achievement is considered one of the highest honors in the nursing profession. The Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice and academia. University of Minnesota alums Ryannon Frederick, MS ’05, RN, Lisiane Pruinelli, PhD ’16, RN, FAMIA, and Patrick Simon Soria, DNP, MHA, MAN, RN, CGNC, were also named Fellows.
Forneris inducted as NLN Academy of Nursing Education Fellow
Susan Gross Forneris, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE-A, FAAN, professor and associate dean for academic programs, was selected as a Fellow for induction into the prestigious National League for Nursing (NLN) Academy of Nursing Education.
School presents Beard Awards for advocacy for nursing profession
Jan Malcolm, Stuart Speedie, John Reiling, Educated Change, and Lloyd A. and his late wife Barbara A. Amundson received the Richard Olding Beard Award, which recognizes non-nurses whose foresight, wisdom and courageous advocacy for the nursing profession have led to better healthcare for all.
Martin named Public Engagement assistant vice provost
School of Nursing Associate Professor Lauren Martin, PhD, was named assistant vice provost for Community- Engaged Research in the Office for Public Engagement.
8 faculty receive promotions
The Board of Regents approved the promotion of eight School of Nursing faculty. Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, RN, NI-BC, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN, Cynthia Bradley, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, ANEF, Carrie Neerland, PhD, APRN, CNM, FACNM, and Dereck Salisbury, PhD, FAACVPR, were promoted to associate professor with tenure. Carol Flaten, DNP, RN, PHN, and Misty Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN, were promoted to clinical professor. Stephanie Gingerich, DNP, RN, CPN, and Mary DeGrote Goering, PhD, RN-BC, were promoted to clinical associate professor.
Awards and honors
President’s Post-Doctoral Fellow Nadeen Alshakhshir, PhD, RN, received the Early Career Award from the Palliative and End of Life Research Interest and Implementation Group at the 2026 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference.
Clinical Associate Professor Eunice Areba, PhD, RN, PHN, received the Mid-Career Investigator Award from the Adolescent Health Research Interest and Implementation Group at the 2026 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference.
Associate Professor Rozina Bhimani, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, CRRN, FARN, was named a Fellow of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.
Associate Professor Cynthia Bradley, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, ANEF, who serves as director of simulation, delivered the Debra L. Spunt Memorial Lecture From Headsets to Datasets: Empowering Nurse Educators to Use AI in Immersive Simulation & Beyond at the National League for Nursing Education Summit in Orlando, Florida.
Clinical Associate Professor Donna Eull, PhD, RN, CHPPN, was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a distinguished fellow of the Nursing Academy.
Erin Galegher, DNP, MPH, APRN, CNM, an adjunct faculty member, was selected to receive the student-driven American College of Nurse-Midwives Excellence in Teaching Award.
Clinical Associate Professor Mary Goering, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, earned the professional credential of Certified Nurse Educator.
Professor Niloufar Hadidi, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, FAHA, was awarded the 2026 Academic Faculty Award from the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists for her outstanding contributions as a clinical nurse specialist faculty member.
Associate Professor Melissa Horning, PhD, RN, PHN, FAAN, presented at NINR’s 40th anniversary symposium Advancing Nursing Science to Improve Health for All: NINR’s Impact.
Associate Professor Martin Michalowski, PhD, FAMIA, was elected co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine society.
Professor Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP, received the 2025 DAISY Nurse Leader Award in Forensic Nursing – Forensic Nursing Scholar by the Academy of Forensic Nursing.
Associate Professor Mary Fran Tracy, PhD, RN, APRN, CNS, FAAN, received the Senior Career Award from the Acute and Critical Care Across the Lifespan Research Interest and Implementation Group at the 2026 Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference.
Assistant Professor Mary Whipple, PhD, RN, PHN, FSVM, was named a fellow of the American Heart Association.