Academy for Cultural Pioneering Nurse Leaders

Empowering emerging and aspiring nursing changemakers

An immersive professional development program led by experienced leaders from cross-cultural interdisciplinary backgrounds in health care and academia who are committed to empowering aspiring and emerging nurse leaders.  

July 21 – 25*, 2025
Nashville, TN

students in a relaxed classroom setting
Section Contents

Learning Paths

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Vanderbilt University Medical Center unite their life-changing Academies for Emerging and Aspiring Nurse Leaders to create one impactful week of leadership development with two distinct learning pathways: introducing the Academy for Cultural Pioneering Nurse Leaders. 

Path 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 
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Path 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 
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What Makes the Academy Different

The Academy for Cultural Pioneering Nurse Leaders has been shaped by previous cohorts of progressive nurse trailblazers grounded in practice and/or academia. 
 
A group of experienced nurses and educators facilitate this ground-breaking professional development opportunity. They draw from their own cross-cultural experiences and expertise to share specific knowledge and opportunities that will encourage and develop nurse leaders in all stages of their careers, equipping them for success. Past participants have described the academy as life-changing.
 
Today, the joint academy offers a unique opportunity for nurses to build a toolkit for success by participating in a thoughtfully prepared program that includes 
  • 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 redirect the traditional perspective in nursing that has disadvantaged some
  • want to advantage all and ensure all have fair care and opportunities
  • devalue traditional values, and rather, want to reinvent in nursing practice

These nurses may include those whose perspectives have not been historically included within the nursing profession, those who have been historically excluded from nurse leadership roles, and/or those support them.

Impact on Universities and Organizations

It’s no secret that nursing schools and health care systems want and need faculty and leaders from a variety of backgrounds and populations. To provide quality health care, it’s important that nursing staff and leadership reflect the populations that they serve. 

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 the Co-Directors

headshot of rolanda johnson
headshot of rolanda johnson
Mamie Williams, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, FNP-BC

Mamie Williams, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, FNP-BC

"Unfortunately, within nurse leadership, there is a long-standing and recognized lack of varied personnel. The lack of representation within nursing leadership has multifaceted causes. However, it is understood that a key reason that keeps nurses from ascending the leadership ladder is a lack of support for their aspirations. I remember distinctly working as a staff nurse and envisioning my future and sharing that vision with other nurses. Rather than being encouraged, I was actively discouraged. I was told by more than one nurse leader that I shouldn’t divulge my plans, and I certainly shouldn’t expect any help as I worked to attain my goals. I wish I could say that my experience was the exception, but other nurses of color have shared that they experienced similar discouragement! Sadly, I have heard far too often about similar situations from other nurses who shared how their nurse leadership journeys were without support and mentorship. This program offers nurses who are not yet in leadership roles the support of experienced and insightful nurse leaders who can help them navigate a path for achieving their goals—goals that they are willing to work so very hard to achieve.”

—Co-Director Mamie Williams, PhD, Senior Director for Nursing, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Rolanda Johnson

Rolanda Johnson, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, FADLN

"As I reflect upon the completion of my undergraduate studies, I distinctly remember being told that I was prepared to serve in leadership roles at any health care facility. Little did I know that although I had completed a leadership course and served in numerous clinical roles, my leadership skillset was in progress. Being an African American nurse in a hospital with little diversity representation at the administrative level, I felt that I was left to develop as a leader primarily independently. It would have been amazing if someone would have assisted me with transitioning to the “real world” of leadership and understanding contributing factors including empowerment, bias and stereotypes. This academy experience is designed to assist aspiring leaders with developing a realistic path to leadership while incorporating the unique nuisances of cross-culturalism and multiple identities. I perceive this experience as being potentially transformative for all who attend.”

—Co-Director Rolanda Johnson, PhD, FAAN, FADLN, Associate Dean for Culture and Connectedness and Assistant Dean for Academics, Vanderbilt School of Nursing; Joseph A. Johnson Distinguished Leadership Professor, Vanderbilt University

This unique, immersive experience is supported  and led by recognized local and national leaders with varied backgrounds in health care and higher education.

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