Deepening partnership with United Nations

The beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year provides the opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments related to the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership’s purposes and initiatives. Of particular note is the work focused on continued development of the Center for Nursing Leadership and Engagement at the United Nations within the School of Nursing to promote preparation and engagement of nurses to represent underrepresented peoples in discussions about planetary health, human rights, global health, and other global challenges of the United Nations.

In addition to previously achieving associate membership in the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CoNGO), the Densford Center spearheaded the successful efforts of the University to achieve status in the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), which engages the UN with higher education institutions to advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, promote human rights and foster global cooperation. School of Nursing faculty hosted a virtual parallel event during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (principal intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of genders equality and the empowerment of women), focusing on the use of technology in nursing education related to women’s health.

Most recently, the Densford Center has submitted applications to be a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a principal organization responsible for the direction and coordination of the economic, social humanitarian, and cultural activities carried out by the UN and for accreditation with the United Nations Global Communications.

An exciting development is an immersion experience at the United Nations in a course on global leadership created by the School of Nursing faculty and United Nations Champions. Providing students with opportunities to interact at the UN will facilitate their development to advance health and social equity.