Distinguished AACN Partner Award

Created by the AACN Board of Directors in January 2024, this award honors individuals who have had a significant and sustained relationship with AACN leadership to advance academic nursing. Nominations may be advanced by Board members. Award recipients will be acknowledged at either the Deans Annual Meeting or the Academic Nursing Leadership Conference. This is an ad hoc honor that will be awarded as needed throughout the year.

Congratulations to the Inaugural Recipients!

AACN is proud to introduce the Distinguished AACN Partner Award to honor individuals who have collaborated with AACN and made a significant and sustained impact on academic nursing. We are thrilled to announce the inaugural recipients of this prestigious award!

Deborah Trautman, David Benton, and Cynthia McCurren

Dr. David Benton

With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. David Benton is recognized globally as an expert in nursing and regulation. His insights and guidance in healthcare provider organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and government have shaped nursing legislation and health policy worldwide. We celebrate his retirement as the CEO of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and applaud his influential work.

Deborah Trautman, Loressa Cole, and Cynthia McCurren

Dr. Loressa Cole

As the former CEO of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Enterprise, including the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Dr. Loressa Cole has been a longstanding collaborator with AACN. Her tireless commitment to advancing nursing and fostering excellence in the profession has earned her this well-deserved recognition. Cole's retirement marks the end of an extraordinary era, and we are grateful for her invaluable contributions to academic nursing.

This is an ad hoc award which may or may not be awarded annually. The recipients of this award will be formally acknowledged at either the Deans Annual Meeting or the Academic Nursing Leadership Conference.

This award honors individuals who have demonstrated a significant and sustained commitment to advancing academic nursing through their relationship with AACN leadership. Recommendations may be advanced by members of the AACN Board of Directors. The CEO and Board Chair will review, select, and advance the names to the full board. Board members will review selected recipients for the award and will have the opportunity to raise dissent by notifying the Board Chair and CEO.

The recipients of this award will be formally acknowledged at either the Deans Annual Meeting or the Academic Nursing Leadership Conference.