College of Nursing, a proud partner in the Red Cross’s nationally recognized extreme-heat initiative
On March 17, 2026, University of Arizona College of Nursing students canvassed Tucson neighborhoods, informing residents about coping with extreme heat.
The University of Arizona College of Nursing is proud to stand alongside the American Red Cross (ARC) of Arizona and New Mexico as a community partner in a nationally recognized effort to address one of the region’s most urgent public health challenges, extreme heat. Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, typically causing more fatalities annually than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined.
On April 15, the ARC of Arizona and New Mexico received the 2026 American Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence, honoring its innovative, community-led extreme heat resilience model. The award recognized the region’s efforts to prevent heat-related illness and death through education, preparedness, and volunteerism, underscoring the collective impact of collaboration among organizations.
“We are proud to partner with the local American Red Cross and to support efforts to reduce preventable heat-related illness and strengthen community resilience,” said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing. “Their recognition highlights what is possible when organizations collaborate with a shared commitment to service. We congratulate them on this honor.”
Over the past two years, the ARC initiative has mobilized volunteers, nonprofits, universities, and local organizations across Arizona and New Mexico to provide vulnerable populations with life-saving information and resources. The model emphasizes meeting people where they are through bilingual, door-to-door outreach, heat-safety education, and direct access to support services.
College of Nursing students play an active, sustained role in advancing this work through hands-on, community-based learning integrated across undergraduate and graduate programs. Each semester, Master of Science, Entry to the Profession of Nursing (MEPN) students in Tucson and Gilbert are placed with American Red Cross teams as part of their clinical experiences, where they help identify community needs, build partnerships, and support resilience initiatives. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students at both locations participate in targeted outreach, including heat-safety canvassing, smoke alarm installations, and community education. Together, students contribute to a wide range of efforts, from teaching hands-only CPR and home fire safety to engaging older adults, schoolchildren, refugee communities, and local organizations in extreme heat preparedness.
This partnership experience provides critical, real-world training that extends beyond the classroom. Students develop practical skills in population health, health communication, and community assessment by working directly with individuals and families most at risk.
Senior BSN student Molly Ashendorf, in the Population Health & Community Nursing course, said, "I learned the importance of educating community members about extreme heat and preventing health-related issues. Knocking on people's doors taught me the best way to approach them and keep them engaged. When people had questions, it was great to inform them about the many available resources."
MEPN students reflecting on their experience emphasized how it shaped their understanding of nursing practice, noting that the work helped them better understand a community’s strengths and vulnerabilities and how nurses can serve as trusted messengers who translate environmental risks into practical, lifesaving actions for the communities they serve.
Through its ARC partnership, the College of Nursing not only expands experiential learning opportunities but also advances community-based efforts to improve local public health outcomes. By volunteering in heat-relief canvassing and home-safety outreach, nursing students gain firsthand experience addressing social determinants of health and related risks. These experiences prepare them to serve as effective, community-focused nurses in an increasingly complex health care environment.
“This work underscores the critical role of collaboration in addressing today’s most pressing health challenges,” said Lauren Acosta, PhD, RN, SANE-A, CPH, chair of the Nursing and Health Education Division. “We are proud to support the Red Cross mission and help advance solutions that make a difference where it matters most.”
As the ARC of Arizona and New Mexico receives national recognition for its leadership, the College of Nursing remains committed to this vital partnership, supporting community-driven solutions that save lives today and preparing future nurses to respond to emerging public health challenges.