INDIANAPOLIS – Rebecca Bartlett Ellis, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor at the Indiana University School of Nursing, has been named Nursing Educator of the Year by the Indiana Nurses Foundation. This prestigious award recognizes Ellis’ outstanding contributions to nursing education, including her efforts in advancing curriculum innovation, faculty mentorship, and student achievement across the state.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Ellis for being named Nursing Educator of the Year,” said Janet S. Carpenter, PhD, RN, FAAN, interim dean of the IU School of Nursing. “This recognition speaks to the deep compassion, dedication, and excellence she brings to nursing education. Dr. Ellis exemplifies the values of our school, and we are grateful for her leadership and mentorship within our community.”
In her former role as executive associate dean for academic affairs, Ellis’ work significantly improved nursing education and research across the school’s core campuses of Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis. Over the past few years, she has driven initiatives that increased first-year enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program by 50% at the Indianapolis campus and by 20% in Bloomington. Her instrumental role in implementing a $16 million gift from IU Health has strengthened infrastructure and established new admission pathways, ensuring a diverse and highly skilled nursing workforce to meet Indiana’s healthcare needs.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award from the Indiana Nurses Foundation,” said Ellis, who is currently serving as the interim vice chancellor for enrollment management at Indiana University Indianapolis. “This recognition reflects the collective work of our faculty, staff, and students who inspire me every day to push boundaries, reimagine nursing education, and create pathways that strengthen Indiana’s nursing workforce.”
As a dedicated researcher and tenured professor, Ellis fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration and integrates innovative solutions into nursing education. She developed the Patient-Centered Design Framework and the groundbreaking “Harm Prevention Partners Program,” which leverages technology and student engagement to enhance patient outcomes. She also created a transformative academic-practice model that bridges education and clinical care by empowering students to apply real-time interventions using novel smartphone tools and data dashboards.
“Recognizing the accomplishments of nurse educators like Rebecca Ellis is vital because they are the backbone of the nursing profession’s future,” said Katie Feley, chief executive officer of the Indiana State Nurses Association and executive director of INF.
The INF was established in 1976 as the charitable corporation of the Indiana State Nurses Association. The organization’s annual Nurses of Influence awards recognize Indiana’s most influential nurses in three categories: Emerging Nurse Leader, Nursing Educator, and Top Nurse of Influence.
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Founded in 1914, Indiana University School of Nursing is one of the largest nursing programs in Indiana that offers programs from the BSN through the doctorate. The school is composed of campuses in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis.