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Kathleen Long, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., dean of the University of Florida College of Nursing, was recently selected as the 2008 recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Sister Bernadette Armiger Award. This award recognizes a nursing leader who has made significant contributions to AACN and its goals, as well as to nursing education and the advancement of the profession.

Nominated by peer deans from across the country, including the deans of the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing, Long was presented with the award at AACN's fall semiannual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Long has served several terms on the board of directors of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and was AACN's president from 2002 to 2004. She was a member of the AACN task force that authored "Nursing Education's Agenda for the 21st Century." During her presidency at AACN, she led the organization in initiating significant nursing education changes, including development of the Clinical Nurse Leader and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.

Long has been nursing dean since 1995 and has won national recognition as a leading thinker about the future of the nursing profession in a rapidly changing health-care landscape especially threatened by a shortage of nurses.

She has been an invited member of several national task forces focused on interdisciplinary education, health professions shortage issues and patient safety.

Long received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the Catholic University of America and her master of science in nursing in child psychiatric /nursing education at Wayne State University. She earned her doctoral degree in behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University. She served as dean of the Montana State University College of Nursing prior to coming to UF. In addition to her nursing dean role, Long currently serves as an associate provost at the University of Florida.