AONL Pamela Austin Thompson Emerging Leader Award
The AONL Pamela Austin Thompson Emerging Leader Award recognizes an engaged AONL member who exhibits significant potential as a future healthcare leader and demonstrates exemplary leadership within their organization, community and the nursing profession. The award is named for AONL CEO Emeritus Pamela Austin Thompson, who played a pivotal role in AONL’s development of leadership programs for emerging nurse leaders, all aimed at preparing the next generation of nurse leaders to meet future practice needs.
The AONL Awards Taskforce selects the recipient of the Pamela Austin Thompson Emerging Leader Award annually. The taskforce scores each nomination application—with consideration to conflict of interest—using the scale and criteria noted below. The nominee’s record should reflect exemplary early-career leadership, service to AONL and significant potential as a future healthcare leader and role model to other emerging leaders.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a full AONL member in good standing.
- Has five years of experience or less as a nurse in a formal leadership position (e.g., nurse manager, director or equivalent leader of others) and has demonstrated exemplary leadership within their organization, community and the nursing profession.
- Exhibits significant potential as a future healthcare leader and role model to other emerging leaders.
- Participates in an AONL education program, annual conference, advocacy efforts or committee/taskforce.
- Demonstrates interest in assisting AONL in achieving its objectives, mission, vision and strategic plan.
- Current members of the AONL Board of Directors and AONL staff are not eligible.
Nomination Process
Any AONL member may nominate a candidate for the award by submitting a nomination form and supporting documentation for the submission criteria. Required materials include:
- Nomination form, which has a series of questions requiring a narrative and evidence to support the nominee’s exemplary leadership within their organization, community and the nursing profession as well as service to AONL.
- One letter of recommendation from a CEO, supervisor or peer that demonstrates the nominee’s leadership and potential as a future healthcare leader.
Selection Process
The AONL Awards taskforce scores applications across seven objectives. Each objective is scored on a scale of 0-10, for a maximum score of 70 points.
Dates and Deadlines for AONL & AONL Foundation Awards
SUBMISSION DEADLINE November 6, 2026
NOMINEES NOTIFIED January 2027
AWARD PRESENTATION AONL Annual Conference, April 12-17, 2027; Phoenix