Jean Giddens is Dean and Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing in Richmond Virginia, a position she has held since July 2013. Prior to her position at VCU, she held various leadership positions at the University of New Mexico College of Nursing. Dr. Giddens has had significant national influence on nursing education through her involvement with the revision of the AACN Essentials, academic progression in nursing, curriculum expertise, as a consultant, and as an author of multiple journal articles, nursing textbooks, and electronic media. Dr. Giddens received a BSN degree from the University of Kansas, MSN degree from University of Texas, El Paso, and a PhD degree from Colorado State University. She is also an alumna of the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow program, 2011 Cohort.