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Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award

The purpose of the ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award is to recognize excellence and innovation in the teaching of nursing at ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ member schools by faculty with more than five years of teaching experience. Faculty who teach in didactic and/or clinical settings will be considered for this award.

Call for 2026 Cycle Applications Now Open!

Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 5:00 pm (ET)

The call for award applications will be announced during each Fall semester, with the nomination application packets due at the end of the Spring semester.

  • Faculty at ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ member school
  • Experienced faculty; defined as teaching full- or part-time for 5 years or more in the faculty role
  • Faculty with a doctoral degree in nursing or related discipline or a master’s degree in nursing
  • Faculty teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level

  • Demonstrates significant innovation in teaching/learning approaches to promote learner outcomes
  • Leads in the promotion and implementation of innovation in teaching/learning approaches in nursing education
  • Acts as a role model for creating and sustaining a culture in nursing education that integrates theory and practice
  • Mentors faculty in evidence-based teaching/learning approaches
  • Shares innovation outside the home institution

The eligible faculty member may be nominated by their Dean/Program Director, a peer faculty member, or a student. The nomination application packet consists of the components:

1. Letter from Dean/Program Director – may be nominating letter or letter of support.
2. Letter from a peer faculty member or a student – may be nominating letter or letter of support.
3. Additional letters of support – not to exceed two additional letters of support from either students or peer faculty.
4. Nominee curriculum vitae
5. Nominee personal statement – describe your philosophical approaches to teaching and learning and how they contribute to meeting the Award Criteria

  • There must be at least one letter of nomination and one letter of support.
  • It is recommended that letters address the stated award criteria and provide evidence or examples of meeting the criteria.
  • All letters and statements must be no longer than two pages in length.
  • All letters must be written within the last six months.
  • All components of the application packet will be utilized to judge the degree to which each nominee meets the award criteria.
  • All components of the nomination application must be submitted as a single packet; either as a single document or multiple documents submitted attached to a single electronic mail message. PDF is the preferred format.

Call for applications for this award is now open. To apply, please fill out the . The deadline is May 15, 2026.

The Award recipient will:

  • Choose one from the following conferences to attend and receive your award during the following academic year: Access Connection Engagement (ACE) SymposiumDoctoral Education Conference or Transform Conference. The registration fee for your chosen conference will be waived. If the award recipient is a team, only one member of the team will receive a waived registration conference fee.
  • Receive an engraved award.
  • Be spotlighted on ÇéÂÂ×ÔÅÄ’s website and in the association’s electronic publications.


Contact

Please direct any questions related to this awards program to Alexa Tehansky, MS, Associate Director of Online Learning and Engagement at atehansky@aacnnursing.org.

Congratulations to the 2025 Award Recipient!

Christie Manasco

Christie Manasco, PhD, RN
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

View All Past Recipients