Equipping current nursing education and interprofessional leaders to lead in preparing future care providers to confidently and competently promote social change and advance health equity.

OVERVIEW

The National League for Nursing (NLN) and the Walden University College of Nursing believe that leadership is essential to creating sustainable comprehensive strategies that impact social determinants of health (SDH) and social change. The Social Determinants of Health and Social Change Leadership Academy will equip nurse educators and interprofessional colleagues  to lead in preparing future care providers with knowledge, skills, tools, and evidence-based resources to confidently and competently promote social change and advance health equity.

The goals of the Social Determinants of Health and Social Change Leadership Academy are to:

Incorporate social determinants of health into practice, programs and/or curricula across undergraduate and graduate studies

Cultivate appropriate leadership competencies to integrate social change into programs

Engage in research and other scholarly activities related to social determinants of health and social change with broad dissemination

Become a leader and catalyst of social change

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for the 2026 Leadership Academy will be accepted from April 30, 2025, through September 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.


Applicants must have have a strong commitment to addressing the social determinants of health and social change with demonstrated teaching, service, policy, and or research and other scholarships.

Application Period

OPEN: Apr 30, 2025, 09:00 AM (EDT)

CLOSES: Sept 30, 2025, 05:00 PM (EDT)

Tuition

$4,000 NLN Members

$4,500 Non-Members

Become a catalyst for social change today.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY BENEFITS

  • Participate in an intensive leadership retreat
  • Access exclusive webinars
  • Join monthly group calls with participants
  • Conduct Leadership projects related to issues of social determinants of health and social change will be conducted by the participants
  • Engage in networking with colleagues


APPLY TO THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Testimonials


  • Participating in the NLN Social Determinants of Health and Social Change Leadership Academy deepened my understanding of how to integrate equity-focused frameworks into nursing education and inspired meaningful curriculum transformation. The experience strengthened my leadership capacity to champion structural competence and advocate for lasting change in both academic and clinical settings. - Past Participant

 

  • The NLN/Walden Social Determinants of Health and Social Change Leadership Academy provided an opportunity to expand perspectives and connections on what it is to lead with others from a wide range of backgrounds. Working collaboratively with stellar humans to name and address the underlying issues driving health inequity has been a fantastic contribution to both my personal growth and work life. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to elevate the work of transforming our society to affect positive change. - Past Participant