Ecosystem Overview: Introduction to the Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing
November 20, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
As healthcare and higher education continue to evolve, this webinar introduces the AACN Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing—a strategic, evidence-informed framework designed to help academic nursing programs align mission, people, and systems to support the success of students, staff, and faculty.
Building on AACN’s 2021 Inclusive Excellence Ecosystem, the updated model advances from awareness to integration. It provides flexible, sustainable strategies that can be adapted across institutional types and contexts. Grounded in AACN’s Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) vision, the Ecosystem transforms that vision into action by aligning human experience, operational effectiveness, and institutional culture.
The session will highlight the Ecosystem’s structure—its three interdependent Cores (Human, Operational, and Institutional)—and their associated Conditions that create environments where excellence is both human-centered and systems-driven. Participants will also explore the forthcoming Ecosystem Toolkit, which includes adaptable strategies, real-world scenarios, reflection questions, and a progress scorecard to help nursing programs strengthen infrastructure, enhance teaching and scholarship, and foster environments where all members of the academic nursing community can thrive.
Learning Outcomes:
After participating in this webinar, attendees will be able to:
- Summarize the purpose and evolution of the AACN 2025 Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing.
- Explain how the Ecosystem operationalizes AACN’s Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) vision.
- Describe the framework’s structure, including its three Cores and corresponding Conditions.
- Articulate how the Ecosystem supports success and well-being for students, staff, and faculty.
About the Ecosystem
The AACN Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing is a comprehensive, evidence-informed framework that aligns mission, people, and systems to create environments where all students, staff, and faculty can thrive.
At its foundation are the Humanistic Conditions—Healthy, Psychologically Safe, Connected, Supported, Valued, and Prepared—that enable individuals to achieve their best. These are integrated through the Ecosystem’s three Cores:
- Human Core, which centers on the Humanistic Conditions that foster well-being and engagement.
- Operational Core, which aligns systems and strategies through five Institutional Conditions: Infrastructure and Capacity, Climate and Intergroup Relations, Education and Scholarship, Access and Success, and Community Engagement.
- Institutional Core, which grounds excellence in shared culture through five Cultural Conditions: Mission, Vision, Values, Traditions, and Norms.
The Operational Core is supported by a digital Ecosystem Toolkit that translates the framework into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes, including:
- Strategies that strengthen policies, practices, and structures
- Scenarios illustrating real-world challenges and solutions—each intentionally linked to the Humanistic Conditions of the Ecosystem and aligned with relevant AACN Essentials
- Reflection questions that promote dialogue, planning, and innovation
- Dashboards and planning tools to monitor progress and outcomes
- Curated supporting literature that provides evidence and context for implementation
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speakers
Wanda Thruston, DNP, APRN, RN
Director of Access and Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Dr. Wanda Thruston, Director of Access and Engagement at AACN, is a national and international leader in academic nursing and advancing fair and just access to health and well-being for all, with expertise in institutional transformation, leadership development, and systems-level strategy. A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar Fellow, she brings decades of experience in clinical practice with under-resourced populations, health policy, and academic leadership.
At AACN, Dr. Thruston led the development and implementation of the Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing, a strategic framework designed to enhance institutional effectiveness and promote the success of students, staff, and faculty. She provides technical assistance, training, and consultation to HRSA-funded nursing schools and AACN member institutions—supporting strategies to expand access, strengthen student achievement, improve the institutional climate, and build academic environments where all individuals feel supported and prepared to succeed.
Previously, she served as Special Assistant to the Dean at Indiana University School of Nursing, where she led the development of the Diversity Strategic Plan and co-created a university-wide pathway for DEI faculty promotion. She also led a large-scale assessment of health and well-being for Indiana’s second-largest K–12 district to to inform fair and effective resource allocation that meets the needs of all students. Dr. Thruston is committed to advancing environments where students, staff, and faculty thrive.
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Ecosystem Overview: Introduction to the Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing
November 20, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
As healthcare and higher education continue to evolve, this webinar introduces the AACN Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing—a strategic, evidence-informed framework designed to help academic nursing programs align mission, people, and systems to support the success of students, staff, and faculty.
Building on AACN’s 2021 Inclusive Excellence Ecosystem, the updated model advances from awareness to integration. It provides flexible, sustainable strategies that can be adapted across institutional types and contexts. Grounded in AACN’s Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) vision, the Ecosystem transforms that vision into action by aligning human experience, operational effectiveness, and institutional culture.
The session will highlight the Ecosystem’s structure—its three interdependent Cores (Human, Operational, and Institutional)—and their associated Conditions that create environments where excellence is both human-centered and systems-driven. Participants will also explore the forthcoming Ecosystem Toolkit, which includes adaptable strategies, real-world scenarios, reflection questions, and a progress scorecard to help nursing programs strengthen infrastructure, enhance teaching and scholarship, and foster environments where all members of the academic nursing community can thrive.
Learning Outcomes:
After participating in this webinar, attendees will be able to:
- Summarize the purpose and evolution of the AACN 2025 Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing.
- Explain how the Ecosystem operationalizes AACN’s Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) vision.
- Describe the framework’s structure, including its three Cores and corresponding Conditions.
- Articulate how the Ecosystem supports success and well-being for students, staff, and faculty.
About the Ecosystem
The AACN Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing is a comprehensive, evidence-informed framework that aligns mission, people, and systems to create environments where all students, staff, and faculty can thrive.
At its foundation are the Humanistic Conditions—Healthy, Psychologically Safe, Connected, Supported, Valued, and Prepared—that enable individuals to achieve their best. These are integrated through the Ecosystem’s three Cores:
- Human Core, which centers on the Humanistic Conditions that foster well-being and engagement.
- Operational Core, which aligns systems and strategies through five Institutional Conditions: Infrastructure and Capacity, Climate and Intergroup Relations, Education and Scholarship, Access and Success, and Community Engagement.
- Institutional Core, which grounds excellence in shared culture through five Cultural Conditions: Mission, Vision, Values, Traditions, and Norms.
The Operational Core is supported by a digital Ecosystem Toolkit that translates the framework into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes, including:
- Strategies that strengthen policies, practices, and structures
- Scenarios illustrating real-world challenges and solutions—each intentionally linked to the Humanistic Conditions of the Ecosystem and aligned with relevant AACN Essentials
- Reflection questions that promote dialogue, planning, and innovation
- Dashboards and planning tools to monitor progress and outcomes
- Curated supporting literature that provides evidence and context for implementation
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speakers
Wanda Thruston, DNP, APRN, RN
Director of Access and Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Dr. Wanda Thruston, Director of Access and Engagement at AACN, is a national and international leader in academic nursing and advancing fair and just access to health and well-being for all, with expertise in institutional transformation, leadership development, and systems-level strategy. A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar Fellow, she brings decades of experience in clinical practice with under-resourced populations, health policy, and academic leadership.
At AACN, Dr. Thruston led the development and implementation of the Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing, a strategic framework designed to enhance institutional effectiveness and promote the success of students, staff, and faculty. She provides technical assistance, training, and consultation to HRSA-funded nursing schools and AACN member institutions—supporting strategies to expand access, strengthen student achievement, improve the institutional climate, and build academic environments where all individuals feel supported and prepared to succeed.
Previously, she served as Special Assistant to the Dean at Indiana University School of Nursing, where she led the development of the Diversity Strategic Plan and co-created a university-wide pathway for DEI faculty promotion. She also led a large-scale assessment of health and well-being for Indiana’s second-largest K–12 district to to inform fair and effective resource allocation that meets the needs of all students. Dr. Thruston is committed to advancing environments where students, staff, and faculty thrive.
Tags
Reimagining Health Equity: Disruptive Solutions to Improve Health Outcomes
October 23, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
Ready to disrupt the status quo in clinical education and healthcare outcomes? This high-impact session is designed for forward-thinking educators ready to serve as health equity catalysts. Participants will be challenged to reimagine their influence, not only in practice, but in policy, pedagogy, and population health.
This session features the Health Equity Influencers Program (HEIP, pronounced "hype"), a bold innovative ecosystem that positions students and nurse educators as powerful agents of systemic change. Far more than conventional clinical education and leadership development models, HEIP redefines learning and leadership, lifting it from an academic checkbox to an outcomes-driven dynamic force that bridges classrooms, clinical settings and the communities we serve.
Educators seeking to drive measurable actions that advance health equity, elevate patient safety, and reshape care delivery across community and acute care settings will find this session essential for leading meaningful transformation.
HEIP for Nurse Educators
Health equity catalysts transforming learning institutions
HEIP in the Community
Meeting community members where they work, play, pray and stay
HEIP in Acute Care Settings
Nursing students as partners advancing patient safety and quality improvement initiatives
High School Scholars & Influencers
Building a pipeline of health equity influencers as students engage family and friends to improve health outcomes
Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
- Design innovative approaches to broaden clinical education sites and experiences that advance health equity.
- Lead measurable actions that elevate patient safety and position nursing students as catalysts for healthcare transformation.
- Evaluate the impact of health equity initiatives across clinical and community settings to drive continuous improvement and systemic change.
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speakers
Kenya Beard, EdD, AGACNP-BC, ANEF, FAAN, FADLN
Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Mercy University
Dr. Kenya Beard is the Inaugural Dean and Chief Academic Officer for the School of Nursing at Mercy University. As a national leader committed to strengthening workforce diversity and advancing health equity, she served as a reviewer for the Future of Nursing's 2020-2030 report and established the nation's first Nurse Faculty Fellow's program. Recognizing that a diverse workforce could improve healthcare outcomes, she has led efforts to advance the needle on diversity, inclusion, and health equity for over three decades and created environments where professional values align with behaviors.
Tags
Reimagining Health Equity: Disruptive Solutions to Improve Health Outcomes
October 23, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
Ready to disrupt the status quo in clinical education and healthcare outcomes? This high-impact session is designed for forward-thinking educators ready to serve as health equity catalysts. Participants will be challenged to reimagine their influence, not only in practice, but in policy, pedagogy, and population health.
This session features the Health Equity Influencers Program (HEIP, pronounced "hype"), a bold innovative ecosystem that positions students and nurse educators as powerful agents of systemic change. Far more than conventional clinical education and leadership development models, HEIP redefines learning and leadership, lifting it from an academic checkbox to an outcomes-driven dynamic force that bridges classrooms, clinical settings and the communities we serve.
Educators seeking to drive measurable actions that advance health equity, elevate patient safety, and reshape care delivery across community and acute care settings will find this session essential for leading meaningful transformation.
HEIP for Nurse Educators
Health equity catalysts transforming learning institutions
HEIP in the Community
Meeting community members where they work, play, pray and stay
HEIP in Acute Care Settings
Nursing students as partners advancing patient safety and quality improvement initiatives
High School Scholars & Influencers
Building a pipeline of health equity influencers as students engage family and friends to improve health outcomes
Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
- Design innovative approaches to broaden clinical education sites and experiences that advance health equity.
- Lead measurable actions that elevate patient safety and position nursing students as catalysts for healthcare transformation.
- Evaluate the impact of health equity initiatives across clinical and community settings to drive continuous improvement and systemic change.
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speakers
Kenya Beard, EdD, AGACNP-BC, ANEF, FAAN, FADLN
Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Mercy University
Dr. Kenya Beard is the Inaugural Dean and Chief Academic Officer for the School of Nursing at Mercy University. As a national leader committed to strengthening workforce diversity and advancing health equity, she served as a reviewer for the Future of Nursing's 2020-2030 report and established the nation's first Nurse Faculty Fellow's program. Recognizing that a diverse workforce could improve healthcare outcomes, she has led efforts to advance the needle on diversity, inclusion, and health equity for over three decades and created environments where professional values align with behaviors.
Tags
Improving Communication and Care of Patients with Autism in Healthcare Settings
January 24, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Hosted by the Faculty Leadership Network
Webinar Details
Autism diagnosis rates and associated co-morbidities continue to rise. Yet, many who work in the healthcare field have limited understanding of the autism spectrum and how autism manifests. Hear from experts who will provide the latest evidence and information on supportive interventions to better care for both the patients and families living with autism.
Objectives:
- Learn to recognize autism characteristics and the common challenges associated with autism in the healthcare setting
- Increase understanding of how to effectively manage environments of patients and families living with autism and identify strategies to reduce risk of behavioral challenges.
- Gain knowledge to enhance communication about autism to improve outcomes for patients and families.
- Expand awareness of healthcare avoidance by patients and families living with autism.
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speakers
Sharon L. Colley, PhD, DNP, RN, ACAC, CNE
Professor
Ferris State University School of Nursing
Dr. Sharon Colley has been a nurse for 34 years, working for many years in mental health as well as med-surg, rehab, and ambulatory care prior to moving into a faculty position in 2006. She earned a PhD in higher ed leadership and a DNP in nursing leadership. Dr. Colley has a passion for education and preparing nurses to be educators. She has earned certification as a nurse educator, as an advanced autism specialist, and as a neurodiversity professional. She has also earned several awards for her teaching, including the Ferris State University Distinguished Teacher Award in 2016.
Sharon’s interest in providing information sessions for healthcare professionals stems in part from her own experiences as the parent of a child with autism as well as her DNP project work that focused on improving healthcare environments for those with autism.