Nursing professor named chair-elect for national board

Nursing professor named chair-elect for national board

Cynthia McCurren Courtesy GVSU

A local nursing professor is set to take the top role on a national board.

Cynthia McCurren, dean and professor of Grand Valley State University's Kirkhof College of Nursing, will serve as chair-elect for two years and then as board chair in 2022-24 for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

McCurren has served on the AACN board for four years and said she looks forward to the opportunity to advance the goals of the organization, including strengthening partnerships between nursing education and practice. She is the co-chair of AACN's essentials task force, helping to re-envision the educational preparation of undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

"Leaders from nursing education and practice make up the task force and represent a diversity of thought, experience and perspective,” McCurren said. “Together, we are working on how best to deliver education, prepare students for transformative leadership and ensure health equity.”

McCurren joined GVSU as dean in 2007 following teaching and leadership roles at the University of Louisville.

She also serves on the board of the Michigan Organization of Nursing Leaders, is past president of the Michigan Association of Colleges of Nursing and was an appointed member of the Michigan Task Force for Nursing Education/Michigan Nursing Education Council.

She is a board member for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health and is on the quality and safety committee for the Spectrum Health board.