AACN Elects New Leadership Amid Nursing Education Transformation
Event summary
- AACN elected six new members to its Board of Directors and two to its Nominating Committee in March 2026.
- Valerie Howard from UNC Chapel Hill becomes Chair-Elect, focusing on simulation-based education.
- Christine Verni from Niagara University was elected Secretary with a background in interprofessional education.
- Nearly half of AACN's member deans participated in the election process.
The big picture
The election comes as nursing education faces pressures to adapt to workforce shortages and evolving healthcare delivery models. The new leadership brings expertise in simulation, interprofessional collaboration, and health policy, which could shape AACN's response to these industry challenges. With over 890 member institutions, AACN plays a pivotal role in setting standards for nursing education nationwide.
What we're watching
- Strategic Priorities
- How the new leadership will address nursing workforce development and competency-based education.
- Policy Influence
- Whether the board's health policy expertise will strengthen AACN's advocacy efforts.
- Diversity in Leadership
- The impact of increased representation from diverse academic and clinical backgrounds on AACN's direction.
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