Dr. Barbara Nichols, DNSc (hon), MS, RN, FAAN
Trailblazing Nurse Leader Barbara Nichols to Retire as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Center for Nursing
Madison, WI – June 13, 2025 – The Wisconsin Center for Nursing (WCN) announces the retirement of Dr. Barbara Nichols, DNSc (hon), MS, RN, FAAN, effective June 30, 2025, after nearly a decade of transformational leadership as Executive Director.
Since joining WCN in 2015, first as Diversity Coordinator and then as Executive Director, Dr. Nichols has brought leadership to the mission of ensuring a sufficient, diverse, and well-prepared nursing workforce for Wisconsin. Her exceptional ability to integrate leadership, policy, and diversity into the work of the Center has left an indelible mark on the nursing profession both statewide and nationally.
Among her many contributions, Dr. Nichols oversaw the development and publication of Wisconsin’s RN and LPN workforce surveys, essential tools that guide policy, education, and workforce planning. Her national service as a Diversity Consultant to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s implementation of The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report exemplifies her enduring influence.
A nationally recognized nursing leader, Dr. Nichols previously served as CEO of CGFNS International, held consulting roles with multiple federal agencies, and made history as the first African American president of both the American Nurses Association and the Wisconsin Nurses Association. In 2022, she was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame—a fitting capstone to her remarkable legacy.
“Barbara’s leadership has not only supported the mission of the Wisconsin Center for Nursing, but it has also elevated the entire nursing profession across the state and nation,” said Dr. Kerri Kliminski, WCN Board President. “Her work has touched generations of nurses, and her legacy will inspire future leaders for years to come. We extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations on her well-earned retirement.”
About the Wisconsin Center for Nursing
The Wisconsin Center for Nursing is committed to strengthening Wisconsin’s nursing workforce through research, collaboration, and advocacy. Learn more at www.wicenterfornursing.org.