PhD student named AACN 2025 Future Nurse Leader scholarship recipient

Catherine Harpst, a PhD student at the University of Arizona’s (U of A) College of Nursing, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Deborah E. Trautman Future Nurse Leader Scholarship by the Foundation for Academic Nursing, a branch of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This accolade recognizes Harpst’s commitment to academic excellence and leadership and propels her toward a transformative future in nursing education and practice.

This scholarship, funded by Liaison International, is awarded to only two university students nationwide annually. It acknowledges graduate nursing students aspiring to leadership roles in academic nursing. Harpst was selected for her outstanding achievements in clinical practice and academia. She received a scholarship to support her educational journey, sponsorship to attend AACN’s student-focused conference, and a virtual leadership experience with Dr. Trautman and other prominent nursing leaders.

Harpst’s journey is characterized by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a vision to integrate academic nursing with clinical practice. Her PhD focus is on Data and Systems Science, with a minor in Instrumentation and Research Methods, highlighting her dedication to bridging the gap between research and practical application. Her dissertation explores the relationship between inhaler misuse, health literacy, and frailty in COPD patients, demonstrating her commitment to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based research.

Harpst’s influence goes beyond her graduate studies as she serves as an assistant clinical professor of nursing at Northern Arizona University (NAU) while pursuing her doctoral studies at the U of A. She has made significant contributions at NAU, including developing an exemplary informatics and regulatory compliance course for the OpusVi and NAU graduate Strategic Systems Leadership program. She has also established herself as a NAU curriculum development and clinical education leader. 

“I teach graduate students at NAU about various subjects such as informatics, safety, quality improvement, risk management, and evidence-based practice. I also enjoy spending time with BSN students during critical care clinicals,” Harpst said.

Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing, emphasizes Harpst's leadership potential. “Her commitment to fostering academic-practice partnerships and addressing the education-to-practice gap is remarkable. She is the ideal recipient of this scholarship and poised to impact nursing education substantially.”

Sheila M. Gephart, PhD, RN, FAAN, interim chair of the Advanced Nursing Practice and Science Division, commends Harpst’s ability to lead change and inspire collaboration. “Harpst has a clear plan for her dissertation work and will significantly contribute to nursing knowledge,” said Gephart. “She excels in communication and is a natural leader who is both visionary and pragmatic.”

Harpst acknowledges the support she has received throughout her PhD journey. “Dr. Gephart was my point of contact when I started the PhD program. She welcomed me and helped me believe I could follow my dream of becoming a research-intensive nursing professor,” Harpst shared. “Dr. Shea, PhD, clinical professor, assistant professor of practice, biomedical informatics, has been my advisor for the last two years. She developed an instrumentation course so I could enhance my knowledge in instrument development, which will support my dissertation work and future research program. Dr. Lowe, PhD, MSPH, assistant professor, and research scientist as well as research scientist at U of A’s Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, recently became my co-advisor and has provided expert feedback on my research proposals while inviting me to learn more about the research process by attending her research meetings.”

For Harpst, this scholarship represents a pivotal step toward her dream of becoming an executive leader in a College of Nursing. “Receiving this scholarship will help me develop innovative methods to create academic-practice partnerships and transition-to-practice programs for new graduates,” Harpst explained. She also hopes to establish a center for translational research excellence, merging her expertise in evidence-based practice with her passion for improving healthcare delivery and nursing education.

Harpst’s aspirations go beyond personal achievement; she is dedicated to advocating for systemic change to address the nursing shortage and enhance nursing education. At the upcoming AACN conference, she looks forward to learning from national leaders, engaging with policymakers, and connecting with fellow students who are passionate about transforming the future of nursing.

Harpst’s award recognizes her accomplishments and is a beacon for future nursing leadership contributions. With this scholarship, she steps closer to her vision of revolutionizing nursing education and practice, shaping a future where nurses are empowered to lead, innovate, and inspire.