Dr. Anne Gassmann Rosenfeld, PhD, RN, CNS, FAHA, FAAN, is the 2026 Alumni of the Year. Her career is marked by groundbreaking research, national leadership, and an enduring commitment to mentoring the next generation of nurse scientists.
A 1976 graduate of the College of Nursing’s master’s program, Rosenfeld exemplifies the spirit of a Wildcat Nurse. Over more than four decades, she has transformed cardiovascular nursing and advanced the science of women’s heart health through research, advocacy, education, and service at the profession’s highest levels.
Rosenfeld is internationally recognized for her pioneering work on treatment-seeking delay among women during heart attacks. Through NIH-funded research, she helped fundamentally change how clinicians understand symptom recognition and response in women experiencing acute coronary events. That work has shaped national policy and saved lives. Her scholarship continues to influence practice through landmark contributions, including the American Heart Association’s statement Preventing and Experiencing Ischemic Heart Disease as a Woman: State of the Science.
Her research excellence has been widely recognized. Rosenfeld is a Fellow of the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Nursing, and the Western Academy of Nursing. Her work has earned multiple national awards from the American Heart Association for clinical and research impact.
Beyond her scholarly achievements, Rosenfeld has been a transformative leader at the University of Arizona. After beginning her faculty career in the College of Nursing in the late 1970s, she returned in 2012 as Associate Dean for Research and PhD Program Director, roles she held during a pivotal period of growth. In these roles, she strengthened the college’s research infrastructure, recruited and mentored research-intensive faculty, expanded grant development support, and elevated the college’s national research profile.
Rosenfeld’s dedication to mentorship is among her most enduring legacies. She has guided countless PhD, DNP, master’s, and undergraduate students in developing research skills, securing competitive fellowships, presenting at national conferences, and launching academic careers. She also played a critical role in expanding access and opportunity through programs such as the Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need (GAANN) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Program, thereby diversifying and strengthening the nursing science workforce.
Her service extends well beyond the university. Rosenfeld has served as president and chief science officer of the American Heart Association’s Pacific Mountain Affiliate, advised the National Institute of Nursing Research as a member of its Advisory Council, and contributed to agenda-setting initiatives that continue to shape national research priorities in nursing and women’s health.
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to scholarship, leadership, and service, Rosenfeld was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement in 2017, an honor reserved for faculty whose impact has been both sustained and exceptional.
Rosenfeld was honored in a university ceremony on February 13, 2026, for her achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism, and service to students, the college, and the university.