Executive DNP Program Collaborations Create Educational Opportunities for Students
Top Image: At the annual AONL Conference in Boston, Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, ANEF, FAAN, hosted the Nurse Executives in Residence and Alumni Breakfast to discuss and plan activities for the year ahead. Davis, center, is pictured with Nurse Executives in Residence (from left) Bradley Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN; Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN; Robyn Begley, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN; and Susan Grant, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.
(August 5, 2025) — Nurse leaders pursuing the Executive Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Health Systems Leadership and Policy at Georgetown University’s Berkley School of Nursing benefit from the program’s collaborations with professional nursing organizations including the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).
In June, two students in the executive DNP program joined four executive DNP faculty members in participating in the AONL Advocacy Academy, a program that educates nurse leaders on the legislative process and teaches them skills to build relationships with policymakers.
As part of their training during the AONL Advocacy Academy, the students learned how association policy platforms are developed from Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of AONL and CEO of the DAISY Foundation, and Stacey Chappel, AONL senior director for advocacy and external communications.
The session was arranged by Zimmermann, who is one of several prominent AONL leaders in Georgetown’s inaugural Nurse Executives in Residence, a program launched in January. Through the Nurse Executives in Residence program, DNP-prepared nurse executives share their expertise with students through lectures, exclusive talks for the broader DNP learning community and focused mentoring for exceptional executive DNP students.
“We are proud to welcome the addition of national thought leaders in nursing executive leadership and governance as Georgetown Nurse Executives in residence,” said Roberta Waite, EdD, RN, PMHCNS, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN, dean of Georgetown’s Berkley School of Nursing. “Our unique program facilitates exclusive access to some of the foremost nursing leaders for our Executive DNP students, creating the opportunity to learn directly from executives who have made significant contributions to the nursing profession and to health care delivery.”
Recently, the Berkley School of Nursing partnered with AONL and the American Nurses Association (ANA) for a webinar with Healing Politics. More than 500 people from around the country, including nursing students, faculty members and alumni, registered for the webinar, titled “A Nursing Workforce Debate: Exploring Solutions for a Complex Crisis,” featuring Claire Zangerle, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, chief executive officer of AONL.
A scene from the Georgetown and Healing Politics National Webinar; pictured are (top l) Lisa Summers, DrPH, MSN, CNM, co-founder and president of Healing Politics, (bottom l) Claire Zangerle, (top r) Stephan Davis, (bottom r) Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL.
The collaboration with AONL has been spearheaded by Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, ANEF, FAAN, executive director of leadership, policy and DNP education at the Berkley School of Nursing.
Davis was recently appointed to serve on the national faculty for AONL’s Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) board certification review course. A renowned expert in nursing, health care leadership and executive development, Davis has led board certification review preparation courses with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) for five years. He is the only full-time academic educator and leader from any school of nursing in the country serving in these capacities with ACHE and AONL.
Davis says the relationship with national organizations is central to developing opportunities for graduates of the DNP program.
“We will continue work that advances our vision to be the ‘program of choice for nurses who aspire to lead transformational change in practice, health systems and shaping health policy,” Davis said.
Stephan Davis addressed attendees of the Nurse Executives in Residence and Alumni Breakfast at the AONL Conference in Boston.