The University of Arizona has appointed Cindy J. Rishel, PhD, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, as interim dean of the College of Nursing. A longtime faculty member, award-winning educator, architect of the college's Executive Health Systems Leadership DNP program, and alumna of the college, Rishel brings more than five decades of nursing and leadership experience to the role.

Ying Chen, a PhD student at the College of Nursing, is advancing research on remotely delivered Tai Chi and Qigong interventions for older adults and breast cancer survivors under the mentorship of professor Ruth Taylor-Piliae. Their research, presented at Harvard Medical School’s Science of Tai Chi & Qigong conference, found that virtual Tai Chi programs are highly feasible, well accepted, and can help overcome barriers such as transportation, mobility, and geographic distance. Both Chen and Taylor-Piliae hope to expand access to evidence-based Tai Chi and Qigong programs in healthcare and community settings worldwide.

From future nurses taking their first steps into practice to doctoral graduates advancing the science of nursing, the College of Nursing celebrated 267 new graduates on May 14. Their journeys have been shaped by determination, resilience, and a commitment to improving health care in communities across Arizona and beyond. Meet the newest generation of nurse leaders, clinicians, scholars, and changemakers.

Two University of Arizona College of Nursing alumni, Jennifer Mensik Kennedy and Valerie J. Fuller, are serving as presidents of the nation’s two leading nursing organizations, the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Their leadership reflects the college’s longstanding commitment to preparing nurse scholars and advocates who influence healthcare policy and improve patient outcomes nationwide. As they help shape the future of nursing, Kennedy and Fuller exemplify the far-reaching impact of University of Arizona nursing alumni across the profession.

From May 18–20, the College of Nursing hosted its spring Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Clinical Immersion, bringing students to campus for three days of hands-on learning and specialty-focused training. Through faculty-led workshops, simulations and clinical exercises, graduate students strengthened essential practice skills and gained valuable experience applying their knowledge in real-world care settings.

What began as an undergraduate research opportunity became a deeply meaningful experience for neuroscience student Ava Gardner, who is helping explore new ways to improve the lives of older adults living with dementia and chronic pain. Working alongside clinical research coordinator Jason Hoang in the College of Nursing’s Brain Digital Technology Lab, the pair is studying an innovative, non-drug approach that combines brain stimulation with chair yoga to improve pain, mobility, and well-being. Their work highlights how student researchers are contributing to accessible, patient-centered solutions for some of health care’s most vulnerable populations.

Forty-six exceptional College of Nursing students were inducted into the Beta Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing during a virtual ceremony on May 13, 2026. Celebrating academic excellence, leadership, and service, the event marked a pivotal milestone in their professional journey. These future nurse leaders now join a global network committed to transforming healthcare through compassion, scholarship, and innovation.

College of Nursing faculty member Sarah Locke, DNP, MBA, FNP-BC, RNC-OB, NE-BC, has been selected for the prestigious AACN Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing (ELAN) fellowship, a competitive national program that prepares emerging leaders in nursing education. Locke’s selection recognizes her leadership in advancing the college’s DNP program and in driving curriculum innovation, while creating new opportunities to strengthen student and faculty success.

Three College of Nursing faculty members were named among Tucson’s 2026 Fab 50 Nurses, honoring their compassion, leadership, and impact on the future of health care. Selected by their peers during National Nurses Week, the honorees include Julianne Davis, Pamela Fick, and Janine Hinton, whose work is shaping patient care, nursing education, and community health across Arizona.

Chiyoung Lee, PhD, RN, has secured research funding to advance innovative, non-drug approaches for managing chronic knee osteoarthritis pain. Her work combines brain stimulation, neuroimaging, and rehabilitation to better understand pain mechanisms and improve recovery outcomes for older adults. These projects lay the foundation for future large-scale clinical trials aimed at expanding access to effective, non-pharmacological pain treatments.