»»Á³AIÇø

Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing

Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing

Program for Aspiring Deans and Senior Faculty

The Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing (ELAN) program is designed for aspiring deans and senior faculty members in leadership roles. ELAN offers a transformative year-long fellowship experience that equips you with the skills, knowledge, and network needed to lead nursing academic units with confidence and excellence.

Program Highlights

  • Leadership Immersion: ELAN kicks off with an invigorating in-person week-long workshop, where you'll engage in peer coaching, team-building, and advanced simulations. It's the perfect launchpad for your leadership journey.
  • Online Learning Community: Following the on-site event, you'll join a vibrant online community, connecting with fellow ELAN participants, sharing insights, and supporting one another's growth.
  • Expert Workshops: Benefit from two 4-hour virtual workshops led by industry experts, delving deep into the essentials of successful executive leadership.
  • Tailored Support: Additional services such as one-on-one coaching and mentoring are available at an additional cost to provide personalized guidance on your leadership journey.

Who Should Apply: 

The purpose of ELAN is to enhance the executive leadership skills of individuals in administrative and leadership positions who aspire to lead the nursing academic unit. Ideal candidates possess a passion for excellence, a commitment to advancing nursing education, and a drive to make a meaningful impact in their academic communities. Take the first step towards becoming an exceptional academic nursing leader. Join ELAN and embark on a journey of growth, learning, and lasting connections that will shape your future in nursing academia.

Apply now and be part of the ELAN community that transforms leaders into visionaries.

The development of high-level leadership skills in faculty and administrators in schools of nursing is vital to the success of the baccalaureate and graduate nursing enterprise given the complex challenges being faced by these organizations. Individuals in leadership roles at schools of nursing are challenged by an array of complex issues including:

  • Financial constraints faced by higher education 
  • The need to develop effective partnerships with the practice environment to assure the development of training opportunities and appropriately educated professional nurses
  • The need for strategies to recruit diverse student populations to the field 
  • The need to partner with multiple players to meet these challenges
  • Competition for scarce resources at the university level

Moreover, there is growing awareness that the aging of the nursing professoriate is reflected in the demographics of those individuals who are administering academic nursing programs.

ELAN features an intensive 5 day in-residence leadership immersion, focused assessment activities, facilitation of a mentorship experience, opportunities for follow-up with seminar faculty, and the sharing of ideas and resources among fellows. 

Program Structure

  • Pre-work: assessment battery, reading, and case studies
  • 5-day in-residence leadership immersion experience
  • Post work: Virtual workshops 
  • Peer coaching group conference calls
  • Private online community 
  • Program fee: $4,000

Scheduled Meeting Dates

  • Session 1: October 19-24, 2025, In-Person | Chicago, Illinois
  • Session 2: Dates TBD | Winter 2026 | Virtual
  • Session 3: Dates TBD | Spring 2026 | Virtual

The program focuses on key leadership competencies needed in nursing education and healthcare environments. ELAN is devoted to general executive leadership development. Note that fiscal and academic issues, while discussed and used as examples, are not the primary focus.  

Seminar topics include the following: 

Introduction of the Key Vision and Framework for a Strategic Intervention on Leadership:

  • Theories of leadership
  • Relating theory to strategic actions 
  • Evidence for validation 
  • Review and evaluation of the strategic assessment 

From the Broad to the Specific: 

  • Strategic assessment of the individual – possibilities for growth and change 
  • Peer learning and feedback mechanisms 
  • Case studies for change 
  • Creating personal models for strategic growth and change 

Targeted Cultural Change: 

  • Linking the individual’s assessment to the organizational culture 
  • Developing plans for intervention 
  • Establishing long-term networks 
  • Change and conflict 
  • Evaluation and redesign  

ELAN is competitive, resulting in a select group of leadership fellows. Applicants must be nurse educators employed at »»Á³AIÇø member institutions, meet the eligibility criteria, and provide evidence of institutional support for this program. Specific eligibility requirements include:

  • Educational preparation and licensure in nursing 
  • Faculty or administrative appointment in a school of nursing 
  • Progressive experience in academic administrative roles and positions  
  • Professional goals congruent with the aims of the fellowship program 

 Applicants selected to participate in ELAN will be expected to:  

  • Complete all the self-assessment processes prior to the seminar (360 degree review, etc.) 
  • Attend the entire 6-day seminar
  • Participate in group discussions during the fellowship year via »»Á³AIÇø’s Online Community - »»Á³AIÇø Connect  
  • Commit to developing personal and professional skills to assume the role of chief academic administrator of a school or college of nursing 

Priority is given to individuals seeking leadership development in order to transition into the role of dean/director, or who have the potential for long-term commitment to the role of a chief academic administrator of a nursing program. Additionally, in order to enhance the pipeline of academic leadership, those faculty in formal leadership positions are encouraged to apply. Selected fellows will be expected to attend the entire conference and participate in all educational and evaluation activities.

The application for the 2025/2026 fellowship is now open. All applications must be received online by midnight on Monday, March 17, 2025. Please download and review the Call for Application (CFA) PDF to learn more, then use the following to start your application.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance in April 2025. At that time, institutions will receive an invoice for the $4,000 program fee.

265 Nursing Faculty Leaders have now engaged in professional development activities, including an assessment of current leadership style and skills and work to accomplish identified goals. Representing a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills, the »»Á³AIÇø Fellows have developed the necessary tools to be leaders in the academic nursing world. 

Meet the Fellows:

Cohort 1 - 2019-2020
Cohort 2 - 2020-2021
Cohort 3 - 2021-2022
Cohort 4 - 2022-2023

Cohort 5 - 2023-2024

LANP Fellows
The Leadership for Academic Nursing Program (LANP) is the predecessor to ELAN

 2018 Fellows   2009 Fellows 
 2017 Fellows   2008 Fellows
 2016 Fellows   2007 Fellows
 2015 Fellows   2006 Fellows 
 2014 Fellows   2005 Fellows
 2013 Fellows       2004 Fellows
 2012 Fellows   2003 Fellows
 2011 Fellows   2002 Fellows
 2010 Fellows  

I attended LANP - should I attend this? 
  • ELAN would repeat much of the content; we do not recommend applying for this program. Please see »»Á³AIÇø LEADS for all leadership development opportunities offered by »»Á³AIÇø.

How can I apply?

  • All applications must be received online by the specified deadline.

What if my school can’t pay?

  • At this time we want to accept applications that will be funded by their school. If your school is not able to fund your registration for this program ($4,000), and you would like to supplement the cost of this program please contact atehansky@aacnnursing.org

Contact

For more information, contact »»Á³AIÇø's Associate Director of Online Learning and Engagement Alexa Tehansky at 202-463-6930 ext. 265.

How to Apply

Application opens October 15, 2024.

Read the CFA

Testimonials

This was a life changing experience. I expect our peer group to remain closely connected and do amazing things this year and beyond.

I am fortunate to have had this opportunity. I enjoyed it immensely and feel I have real resources and skills that I can now apply in my setting. I learned much about myself as a person and a leader that will be helpful to me (and others, hopefully) going forward. Thank you for an excellent program and experience.

This was a wonderful leadership intensive. I am still processing the information but have specific tactics to apply it. I am looking forward to the future mentoring and peer coaching throughout the year.

This was a great experience overall. Well organized. I appreciated the up-beat atmosphere and use of humor throughout the week. You don't always experience that at work on a day to day basis.

This was an extremely valuable experience that I was able to glean a lot of awareness, self-reflection, and forward thinking options. The facilitators were great and the opportunity to discuss simulated scenarios and real world situations with other national leaders/peers was great!