UNC School of Nursing faculty selected for 2025 NLN LEAD Program
January 2, 2025
Congratulations to Brandi Apple, PhD, RN, CNOR, CNE, Elizabeth Stone, PhD, MSN, CHSE, FAEN, and Nancy Jo Thompson, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, for being selected to participate in the 2025 National League for Nursing (NLN) LEAD Program! The program, designed to cultivate leadership skills in nursing educators and practitioners, is a yearlong initiative that begins with a kickoff retreat in Washington, D.C., in February 2025.
Each of the three faculty members, part of the prelicensure leadership team, was independently nominated by Dean Howard and underwent a highly competitive application process before being chosen for the program’s 2025 cohort. The NLN LEAD Program is part of the NLN Center for Transformational Leadership and supports emerging nursing leaders in their professional development.
“As new leaders who were all promoted from within to guide one of the top prelicensure nursing programs in the country, Brandi, Nancy and I are eager to enhance our leadership skills and apply what we learn to benefit our program, our students, and our school,” said Stone. “Together, as participants in the NLN LEAD program, we will learn key leadership skills specific to academia and implement leadership projects that will not only shape our professional paths but also contribute to the continued excellence of Carolina Nursing.”
“I am thrilled to be selected for the National League for Nursing LEAD program, one of the most respected leadership initiatives in nursing education,” says Thompson. “Programs like NLN LEAD, embedded in educational excellence, foster innovation and empower rising leaders to trailblaze new paths. By embracing our core values, I am excited to support UNC’s School of Nursing in driving meaningful change and inspiring the next generation of nurses.”
The LEAD Program provides participants with individual and group coaching, webinars, leadership training, and opportunities to explore leadership theories and strategies. The initiative also includes in-person events such as an orientation retreat at NLN headquarters, a leadership-intensive retreat in June, and participation in the NLN Education Summit in Orlando, Fla., in September.
The program, established in 2011, focuses on equipping participants with the tools needed to advance in leadership roles while fostering sustainable improvements within their institutions. It is open to nurses in education and practice who have recently transitioned into leadership roles or are aspiring to take on leadership responsibilities.
“I am honored to be accepted into the NLN LEAD program, an incredible opportunity to enhance my leadership skills and advance my ability to create meaningful change in nursing education,” said Apple. “Through this program, I aim to refine my strategies for building high-performing teams and implement a leadership project that fosters innovation and collaboration within the school of nursing, ultimately supporting the next generation of nurses.”
For more information about the NLN LEAD Program, visit the NLN website.
