Ali Gordon, MSN, RN, CEN, is the proud recipient of the Nurses Educational Funds (NEF) Georgette Viellion Scholarship, awarded in support of her commitment to advancing nursing education. Currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Colorado College of Nursing, Ali is studying Caring Science with a research focus on humanizing nursing work and supporting nurse flourishing. She chose the University of Colorado for her doctoral studies because of its renowned expertise in Caring Science, strong foundation in qualitative research methodologies, and the exceptional mentorship offered by its faculty.
Ali earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California in 2007 and began her nursing career in the Alameda County Medical Center Emergency Department, serving some of the most vulnerable patients in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2017, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University, solidifying her transition into academic nursing.
In addition to her work as a nurse, Ali has pursued parallel interests as a writer and educator, weaving her passion for narrative and meaning-making into her professional roles. Her decision to become a nurse was inspired by the unique integration of science and compassion, a blend that continues to fuel her purpose and practice.
Ali’s journey to doctoral study was deeply personal. Ten years into her nursing career, her first child was born with an unexpected terminal diagnosis. The presence and compassion of the nurses who supported her family during those sacred days profoundly shaped her understanding of nursing’s potential to heal, witness, and dignify life’s most difficult moments. That experience awakened a commitment to elevate nursing as both art and science—and to ensure that nurses themselves are sustained and valued in their work.
Ali currently serves as a full-time Assistant Professor at the Loretto Heights School of Nursing at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where she teaches and mentors undergraduate nursing students. She is also engaged in scholarship and advocacy efforts to improve the well-being of nurses and humanize the healthcare system. Her work reflects a deep commitment to Caring Science, educational equity, and creating conditions where both patients and nurses can flourish.
Her PhD will open new pathways for her to lead systemic change in nursing education and healthcare environments, preparing her to be a thought leader, researcher, and advocate for practices that honor the wholeness of those who give and receive care.
Receiving the NEF Georgette Viellion Scholarship is both an honor and an affirmation of Alexandra's work. This support brings her closer to completing her dissertation and achieving her goal of being a voice for compassion, dignity, and transformation in nursing. It represents an investment not just in her, but in the future of a profession she loves deeply.
(2018-2019 Winner)
Colleen McGauley is the recipient of a “Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Scholarship” for the 2018-2019 academic year. She received her bachelors in nursing and minor in Hispanic Studies from Boston College in 20... read more.
NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, single, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing.
NEF’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from nursing, education, technology, and business communities. Members donate their time and talent to the advancement of the nursing profession. NEF operates with exceptionally low overhead. NEF employs only one individual who serves in several capacities. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status; thus, your contributions are fully tax-deductible.
Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Scholarship for Leadership 