College of Nursing’s Ruth Taylor-Piliae receives mentoring award
Ruth Taylor-Piliae, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, FWAN
Ruth Taylor-Piliae, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, FWAN, a tenured professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, received the 2026 Western Institute of Nursing’s Anna M. Shannon Mentorship Award at the institute's annual conference April 22.
The academy recognizes and honors nurses who have been actively engaged in the institute and have demonstrated excellence in all aspects of nursing, from research to practice and education. The mentorship award is named for the former dean and professor emeritus of the Montana State University College of Nursing, who was known for her efforts to support and promote the professional growth of nurses in the West.
“I am truly honored and deeply humbled to receive the Anna M. Shannon Mentorship Award from the Western Institute of Nursing,” Taylor-Piliae said. “To be recognized by my peers for living the values of this profession — through guidance, vision and investment in others — is an honor I will carry with me throughout my career.”
Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the U of A College of Nursing, said Taylor-Piliae, who came to the university in 2007, has made an extraordinary impact on students, colleagues and the broader nursing research community.
“Dr. Taylor-Piliae exemplifies the spirit of mentorship that strengthens our profession,” Ahn said. “Through her dedication to developing emerging nurse scientists and supporting colleagues, she has helped shape the next generation of nursing leaders while advancing the mission of our college and the broader field of nursing research.”
In the nomination letter for her colleague, Helena Morrison, PhD, RN, an associate professor at the U of A College of Nursing, said Taylor-Piliae was instrumental not only to her development but also taught Morrison how to mentor students.
“She demonstrated how to balance rigorous academic standards with compassionate support, recognizing when students need additional guidance while maintaining high expectations for scholarly excellence,” Morrison wrote in her letter.
Taylor-Piliae was inducted into the Western Academy of Nurses in 2024 and received the Regional Geriatric Nursing Research Award: Senior Researcher in 2023. She’s been a member of the Western Institute of Nursing for more than 20 years.
New and emerging nursing knowledge is shared at the Western Institute of Nursing’s annual conference. The institute is one of four regional nursing research organizations in the United States. Its members include researchers, clinicians, educators, students, academic institutions and health care organizations.