Two Nursing Faculty Honored by Arkansas Center for Nursing for Leadership, Legacy

Two nursing educators from the College of Education and Health Professions' Eleanor Mann School of Nursing were recently honored by the Arkansas Center for Nursing for their outstanding contributions to the profession.

Professor of nursing Thomas Kippenbrock was honored with a 2026 Arkansas Nursing Legacy Award, and Allison Davis received a 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40 Award. The Arkansas Center for Nursing Leadership and Legacy Awards event was held on April 20.

Kippenbrock, a long-time professor of nursing at the U of A, was one of only three Arkansas Nursing Legacy Award recipients this year. He was recognized for his service, leadership and commitment to caring for Arkansans, shaping the nursing profession and creating a legacy for future generations.

"Receiving this honor is deeply meaningful as it reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing fairness, excellence and access within the nursing profession," Kippenbrock said. "It also represents the collective efforts of colleagues, students and mentors who have shared in this work and helped shape its impact."

Kippenbrock earned a master's degree in nursing and a doctorate in higher education from Indiana University, where he served as assistant chair of nursing administration and teacher education. He also served as associate dean and interim director of the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and as assistant dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. As chair of the Nursing Department at Arkansas State University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, he helped launch the state's first nurse anesthetist program. Kippenbrock joined the U of A faculty in 2003 as the director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing.

Before working in academia, he served as a surgical and medical intensive care unit charge nurse and clinical research nurse coordinator at university and public hospitals in Indiana.

During his time at the U of A, Kippenbrock played an instrumental role in creating a chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing. His research focuses include men's health, men in the nursing profession and advanced practice nurses in rural areas, particularly in the Mississippi Delta and Southern states. He previously received the Luther Christman Award and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the profession's highest honors.

"I am most proud of my contributions to the development of a more representative and accessible nursing workforce through research, mentorship and organizational leadership," Kippenbrock said. "The expansion of opportunities for underrepresented groups in nursing and leadership is an outcome that continues to have a lasting impact."

Davis is an adjunct clinical instructor for critical care at EMSON. She is a registered nurse and is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice in the nursing school. Davis said she was honored to be among the outstanding group of nursing leaders to receive the 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40 Award this year.

"It is incredibly meaningful to see our efforts in advancing the profession, supporting future nurses and shaping the future of nursing being recognized, appreciated and encouraged," she added.

Davis has 10 years of nursing experience and specializes in cardiothoracic pediatric intensive care. She has served as a flight nurse, cardiovascular intensive care nurse and pediatric intensive care nurse. Davis said each of these experiences has shaped her into the nurse leader she is today.

"These opportunities have helped me become a well-rounded and informed professional, strengthening my ability to listen to colleagues, build meaningful connections and better understand and respond to the needs of both peers and patients," she said.

The 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40 Award is given to nurses selected through a competitive nomination and blind panel review process. The award seeks to honor those committed to excellence, service, community outreach, leadership and contributions to advancing the nursing profession. Davis hopes this award will inspire her nursing students to pursue their goals and recognize the meaningful impact they can have as nurses.

"I look forward to building on this recognition by continuing to advocate for the profession, using this honor as an opportunity to connect with fellow nurses and professional organizations to collaborate and drive effective, meaningful change," she added.

The Arkansas Center for Nursing is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the state's nursing workforce through research, data analysis, academic progression promotion, leadership development and policy advocacy to improve health care. Each year, the organization recognizes outstanding nurses and nurse educators who demonstrate dedication to the profession through its leadership and legacy awards.