Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN), a nursing school offering a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, has been named a 2026 National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence in the category of Promoting the Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty. The national designation recognizes AZCN's commitment to developing nursing faculty and advancing teaching excellence to prepare the next generation of nurses.
AZCN is one of 20 nursing schools and programs nationwide selected for a 2026 NLN Centers of Excellence designation. Formal recognition will take place during the Honors Convocation at the 2026 NLN Education Summit in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25, 2026.
"Great nursing education starts with great educators, which is why we intentionally invest in opportunities for our faculty to learn, strengthen their teaching practice, and continue growing as educators," said Dr. Jason Dunne, Chief Academic Officer of AZCN. "Our annual Educator Conference is one example, bringing faculty together from across the College to share ideas, learn from one another and other experts, and explore approaches that can create even more meaningful learning experiences for our students."
"Being named an NLN Center of Excellence is a meaningful recognition of our commitment to academic excellence," said Jason Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of AZCN. "Investing in exceptional nurse educators is essential to preparing the next generation of nurses, and we are incredibly proud of the faculty and academic leaders who make our mission possible."
"Earning the NLN Center of Excellence designation reflects the hard work and commitment by these nursing schools and programs to sustain innovation and excellence in every aspect of the academic experience, from classroom to clinic to campus life. We applaud the 2026 NLN Centers of Excellence and thank them for demonstrating values and actions that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary in nursing education," said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.