Health care in the United States stands at a crossroads. Chronic diseases are rising, workforce shortages persist and costs continue to outpace outcomes. At the same time, academic nursing — long a cornerstone of health care education — remains underutilized as a driver of system-level change.
It is time for that change to change.
Edson Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Mar 20, 2026
Mar 20, 2026
Honoring the legacy of Barbara “Barbi” Browne Connors, the Barbara Browne Connors Nursing Scholarship celebrates her lifelong dedication to compassion, service and excellence in nursing. It supports Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation students who embody these values and are preparing to make a meaningful impact in health care. The scholarship covers full tuition for the academic year.
Aging shapes every story we tell, every community we build and every system we design. Our student organizations invite you into this work, whether you are beginning your undergraduate journey or advancing your graduate studies.
If the past few years have taught us anything as academic nurse leaders, it’s that change isn’t an event—it’s a constant. From evolving accreditation standards and workforce shortages to the rapid integration of technology and the shifting expectations of today’s learners, the ground beneath us seems to move faster each year. Yet amid this flux lies a profound opportunity: to lead with purpose, courage and compassion.