Greetings from the KU School of Nursing! 

I am proud to present the newest issue of KU Nursing. Every story in this issue details countless hours of hard work, dedication and determination from members of our school. 

We have fully reimagined and redeveloped our educational programs and services from scratch. That is not hyperbole: We have undergone a LOT of change. 

For example, every single aspect of KU’s nursing education portfolio —from bachelor’s to doctorate — has been redesigned and will launch this fall. We started the process with a data-informed lens and determined what our state and nursing community needed from our graduates. I set high expectations and empowered our faculty and staff with the freedom to create together as they — our team of experts — envisioned. It has been remarkable to watch them flourish. 

This freedom and trust have resulted in new curriculua in our programs that is learner-centered, collaborative and ensures our future students are better prepared to meet the demands of a healthcare system that is ever changing. Our re-envisioned programs will support ambitious student growth efforts that will ultimately benefit everyone in Kansas. 

You’ll also meet several students throughout this issue. Some are Conway Scholars, the first of many bachelor’s-level students who have earned prestigious scholarships from the Bedford Falls Foundation, as well as three students who hail from Chicago and chose our Salina campus, sight unseen, but fully supported and energized by the rural diversity.

And finally, we profile Kristi Williams, Ph.D., RN, FAAN and her extensive research legacy focused on how nurses and caregivers communicate with the elderly and dementia patients. Her work with the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is an exemplar of how KU nurse researchers support the wider KU research community and Kansans. 

I hope you enjoy this issue of KU Nursing and learn more about our mission to lead education, practice and research that empowers nurses to strengthen the health of Kansas communities and beyond. 

Jean Foret Giddens, Ph.D., FAAN  Dean
University of Kansas School of Nursing 

p.s. We’ll be inviting you to a town hall at the start of the Fall 2026 semester where my team will speak about our curriculum changes and answer your questions. Don’t miss it!