Briefly

School ranks No. 1 on Planetary Health Report Card

The School of Nursing received an A on the 2026 Planetary Health Report Card, ranking first place of the nursing schools that were graded. The Planetary Health Report Card is a student-led, metric-based tool for evaluating and improving planetary health content in health professional schools internationally. The findings highlight the school’s curriculum, interdisciplinary research and support for student-led initiatives as particular strengths.

AI Competency Framework announced

The School of Nursing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competency Framework was presented at an All School Assembly in April. The framework was created with the information and feedback that was provided at a town hall, led by Professor Jenna Marquard, PhD, FACMI, with guidance from a planning group that included Erin Armstrong, Margaret Celebrezze, Dorcas Kunkel, Cassandra Narr, Judith Pechacek, Erica Schorr, Renee Sieving, Kristin Trautman and Angelica Walton. The framework includes five domains – understanding, skills & workflow, stewardship & value, connection & advocacy, and values & safety.

8 faculty receive promotions

The Board of Regents approved promotions and tenure for eight School of Nursing faculty. Siobhan McMahon, PhD, MPH, APRN, GNP-BC, FGSA, Barb McMorris, PhD, Kristine Talley, PhD, APRN, GNP-BC, FGSA, and Mary Fran Tracy, PhD, APRN, CNS, FCNS, FAAN, were promoted to full professor. Kristin Sandau, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN and Priya Rajamani, PhD, MPH, MBBS, FAMIA, were awarded tenure. Jiwoo Lee, PhD, RN, PHN, was promoted to associate professor with tenure. Lauren Petersen, DNP, MPH, APRN, CPNP-PC, was promoted to clinical associate professor.

ANCHER supports community-engaged research

Advancing Nursing & Community Health through Engaged Research (ANCHER) supports community-engaged research at the school. The team of scholars, inclusive of students, in the School of Nursing includes anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, epidemiologists, and nurses, who are conducting or planning to conduct engaged research in the community. They engage grassroots, community-based agencies and partners in collaborative research that offers mutual benefit and connection to both the community and the university through the co-creation of knowledge. ANCHER provides members opportunities to build and maintain community collaborations and networks, workshop challenges toward practical solutions using principles and best-practices of community-engaged research, provide support for funding applications and ongoing projects, and improve school processes to better support community-engaged research.

Nurse anesthesia program receives IFNA accreditation

The Nurse Anesthesia Doctor of Nursing Practice program received accreditation from the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA). Accreditation by the IFNA positions the school and the nurse anesthesia program to serve as a leader in nurse anesthesia education globally.

School receives 11th consecutive HEED Award

The school received the 2026 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award recognizes U.S. and Canadian medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and health profession schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building. This marks the 11th consecutive year the school has been honored.