Ragan Johnson, assistant professor, recently completed the inaugural cohort of American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)'s Diversity Leadership Institute. 

The central focus of the Diversity Leadership Institute is to provide an overview of the evolution of diversity and inclusion and the role of diversity officers in academic nursing and nursing practice. It frames diversity within the context of higher education and academic nursing while presenting high-involvement diversity practices in teams and leaders.

The goal is to enhance professional knowledge and experience in order to stimulate strategic thinking and advance outcomes at participants' home institutions. This program will increase self-awareness while building skills and capacity to engage with discussions and issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. This program requires participants to develop a diversity plan designed to drive excellence specifically tailored to their organization. Upon completion of the program, participants will present their plan describing how they will apply their work in their respective organizations. At the conclusion of this program, a certificate will be awarded.

Call for applications for the 2022 cohort will open July 2021.