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Three George Mason University School of Nursing faculty have been recognized at this year’s Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF) Leadership Excellence Awards Ceremony for trailblazing excellence in leadership, advocacy, patient care, and nursing practice. Rebecca Sutter and Erin Maughan won Leadership Excellence awards in the categories of Nurse Manager/Director and Public Health Nurse, respectively. Bethany Cieslowski was named a finalist for the Leadership Excellence Award in the Nurse Educator category.
“Drs. Sutter, Maughan, and Cieslowski exemplify the transformative power of nursing leadership. Their work extends far beyond the classroom—shaping health policy, advancing innovative care models, and redefining how we prepare the next generation of nurses. From expanding access to care for vulnerable populations to pioneering immersive technologies and strengthening school health systems, their contributions are creating lasting change in communities and the profession. It’s inspiring to see their dedication recognized at the state level,” said Terri Rebmann, Divisional Dean of the School of Nursing.
Sutter, a professor in the School of Nursing and director of Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics, serves as the director of a network of eight academic nurse-managed community clinics, where her expertise in community health care access and navigation ensures that evidence-based treatment is available for at-risk populations. She has developed, implemented, and evaluated The Bridge Care Model, a unique model that uses a systems approach to improve care and promote collaboration between public health, public safety, and health.
Maughan is an associate professor with over 22 years of experience working as a frontline school nurse, a state school and adolescent school nurse consultant, and researcher. In 2024, with a grant from the Virginia Department of Education, Maughan established the School Nursing Leadership Academy, which is dedicated to training school nursing administrators to lead school health programs at the district, regional, and state levels. She is a leading expert on school nursing infrastructure and policy, and strategic coordination of school and public health nurses.
Cieslowski, chief innovation officer at the College of Public Health, has pioneered the use of immersive technology and virtual reality (VR) in health care education in the college’s Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation. The Lab is the nation’s first Society for Simulation in Healthcare-accredited Lab at a public health college. As a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator, Cieslowski leads nursing students through VR-delivered realistic clinical scenarios such as inserting IV lines and communicating with patients. Her research on extended reality is changing the ways health care professionals are trained and how educators facilitate learning.
Rebmann and nursing colleagues within the college were in attendance to celebrate Cieslowski, Maughan, and Sutter.
Congratulations to all nursing leaders honored at the 2025 VNF Leadership Excellence Awards Ceremony!