Academy for Cultural Pioneering Nurse Leaders
Empowering emerging and aspiring nursing changemakers
An immersive professional development program led by experienced leaders from interdisciplinary backgrounds in health care and academia who are committed to empowering aspiring and emerging nurse leaders.
July 20-24, 2026* | Nashville, TN
Save 15%. Apply by March 31.
Learning Tracks
Two distinct learning tracks that provide opportunities for mentoring, networking and growth.
Track 1
Aspiring
For passionate future nurse leaders
Map your career path to become a nurse leader
- 4 day in-person workshop
- 3+ years nursing experience, not currently in a leadership role
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing
*Aspiring Academy is July 20-23, 2026
Track 2
Emerging
For trailblazing early-career nurse leaders
Gain the tools to empower you as a strong nurse leader
- 5 day in-person sessions
- 3+ years of experience in a nursing leadership role
- Master’s degree or higher in nursing
*Emerging Academy is July 20-24, 2026
What Makes the Academy Different
- Authentic stories and real-life experiences of leaders sharing hard-earned knowledge and skills
- Representation from a wide breadth of disciplines—not just nursing—including higher education, health systems and entrepreneurs
- Global perspectives and insight from regional, national and international leaders representing organizations such as ANA, AANP, NLN, AAMN and more
- On-going mentorship from two personal mentors:
- From the academy to serve as an authentic executive coach aligned with your leadership project
- From your home institution to support the development of your project and the implementation of learnings
- Community—Limited class sizes and in-person interaction throughout the academy assure a personal connection with speakers, facilitators, leaders and peers from around the country with whom you’ll share learning and understanding
Who is it for?
The Academy for Cultural Pioneering Nurse Leaders is for those nurses who are innovative, want to transform traditional perspectives in nursing, and desire that all have holistic care and opportunities.
It is for those nurses who
- desire to transform academia and nursing practice with evidence-based best practices
- want to advantage all and ensure all have fair care and opportunities
- devalue traditional values, and rather, want to reinvent in nursing practice
Impact on Universities and Organizations
Nursing schools need to recruit faculty and students to shape the education of the future nursing workforce. Health care systems must recruit and retain nurse leaders to positively affect the health outcomes of the patients they serve.
The Academy for Cultural Pioneering Nurse Leaders offers a path to prepare outstanding leaders and potential leaders to succeed.
Meet Director Rolanda Johnson
This unique, immersive experience is supported and led by recognized local and national leaders with varied backgrounds in health care and higher education.
Destination
Nashville, TN
About Vanderbilt School of Nursing
Vanderbilt School of Nursing has a long-standing reputation for excellence in nursing teaching, practice, informatics and research. Our dedication to fostering a strong sense of belonging, collaboration and growth is at the heart of our community. We value and celebrate differences, creating a space where every individual feels respected, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. By actively engaging with varied populations and perspectives, we work together to build a connected environment that encourages shared growth for students, faculty and staff. VUSN is part of Vanderbilt University, a world-class research university with a park-like campus nestled in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee.
About Nashville
The nickname Music City U.S.A., encompasses many kinds of music, ranging from the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers to the nation’s longest running radio show, The Grand Ole Opry. You can see and hear live music day and night in Nashville. The city boasts hundreds of music venues including arenas, concert halls, small clubs and even street corners.
Professional sports, great outdoor activities and a delicious reputation as a foodie destination combine to make Nashville a popular place to visit. It’s also increasingly being selected by a variety of businesses for major facilities or headquarters, including Oracle, Amazon, Mitsubishi, Facebook and Asurion.
Accommodations
With more than 500 health care related firms, Music City is a major health care hub; health care contributes approximately $47.6 billion of economic impact in the Nashville area each year. Globally, the city’s health care companies generate more than $92 billion in revenue and more than 570,000 jobs
See visitmusiccity.com for more information on Nashville's history and nowplayingnashville.com for more Nashville events.
Ready to Apply?
Apply to join the next cohort.