Dr. Renee Twibell, a Ball State University alumna and associate professor emerita in the University’s School of Nursing, has been selected to receive the 2026 Pioneering Spirit Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
The national award, one of AACN’s Visionary Leadership Awards, recognizes significant contributions that influence progressive and critical care nursing and reflect AACN’s mission, vision, and values. Dr. Twibell will be honored during AACN’s 2026 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, held May 17-20 in San Diego.
Dr. Twibell serves as nurse scientist for IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and as current faculty in Ball State’s School of Nursing, where she teaches undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students. Her career has bridged clinical practice, nursing education, and research, with a focus on advancing nursing science and improving patient care.
“This honor is deeply meaningful because it reflects the work of so many people,” Dr. Twibell said. “My career has been built through collaboration—with nurses, students, colleagues, mentors, and clinical partners who have worked together to create new knowledge and improve healthcare. Ball State’s School of Nursing has been my professional home for decades, and I am grateful for the University’s lasting support of nursing education, nursing science, and the teams I have been privileged to work alongside.”
Dr. Twibell earned her master’s degree in nursing education from Ball State and has credited the University with preparing her for a fulfilling career as a nurse, educator, researcher, and scientist. During her graduate studies, she worked closely with Dr. Marilyn Ryan, then-chair of the graduate program, who helped her blend clinical inquiry with academic scholarship.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Twibell has published more than 40 refereed articles, completed 30 research studies, and delivered nearly 300 professional presentations. She has presented more than 70 times at AACN’s National Teaching Institute over the past 20 consecutive years, often mentoring and co-presenting with nurse colleagues.
Her research includes the development of instruments that advance the science of nursing, including tools to measure nurses’ perceptions of family presence during resuscitation and patients’ perceptions of their personal risk of falling. Several instruments she helped design and test have been used in research studies on four continents.
“Renee’s selection for the AACN Pioneering Spirit Award is an extraordinary honor and a fitting recognition of her impact on nursing education, research, and practice,” said Dr. Scott Rutledge, dean of Ball State’s College of Health. “Across her career, she has influenced generations of nurses—as students, colleagues, collaborators, and practitioners. Ball State is proud to celebrate this well-deserved national recognition.”
Dr. Karrie Osborne, director of Ball State’s School of Nursing and assistant professor of nursing, said Dr. Twibell’s impact is evident in both her scholarship and her mentorship.
“Dr. Twibell’s work has always been grounded in nursing practice, which is what makes her scholarship and leadership so meaningful,” Dr. Osborne said. “She has a remarkable gift for mentoring others, encouraging collaboration, and creating opportunities for students and colleagues to grow. This award reflects her dedication to nursing practice, education, research, and the many people she has lifted up throughout her career.”
Dr. Twibell has received multiple state and national honors for leadership, mentoring, research, and education, including being named Indiana Nurse Educator of the Year in The Indianapolis Star’s Salute to Nurses. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Ball State’s School of Nursing.
“I taught my first class at Ball State 45 years ago,” Dr. Twibell said. “The School of Nursing has been central to the academic-clinical research this award recognizes. This honor includes Ball State, and I am deeply grateful to the school, college, and University for investing in faculty, students, and the development of nursing scientists.”
For more information about Ball State’s School of Nursing, visit the
school’s website, email
nursing@bsu.edu, or call 765-285-5571.