Dean White Delaney designated Living Legend

The American Academy of Nursing officially designated Dean Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP, a Living Legend at the 2025 Health Policy Conference on Oct. 17.

“Constantly a step ahead, and forever with an idea bubble over her head, Dr. Connie Delaney is among the most brilliant thinkers in the profession and in the health care industry,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “With her career spanning more than five decades, she has been indispensable in shaping the integration of informatics into nursing research, practice and education.” 

Her service in the development and implementation of the Nursing Minimum Data Set and Nursing Management Minimum Data Set, the nation’s first informatics-focused Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Minnesota, and the Nursing Knowledge: Big Data Science Conference were highlighted.

“I am honored to stand among the 2025 Living Legends and I extend my deepest gratitude to the Academy,” said White Delaney. “I would choose nursing again. Nursing is about connection and connecting the head and the heart. Nursing, as we have heard and are committed to, is about advancing the health of all people, all communities, and our planet.”

The Living Legend designation is the highest awarded by the Academy, for extraordinary and sustained contributions as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history. In addition to White Delaney, Dyanne Affonso, PhD, RN, FAAN, Judith Haber, PhD, APRN, FAAN, Christine Miaskowski, PhD, RN, FAAN, Brother Ignatius T. Perkins, PhD, RN, ANEF, FRSM, FNYAM, FNCBC, FAAN, and Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, FAAN, were designated Living Legends.

Watch the ceremony