Geraldine “Polly” Bednash, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Since 1989, she has lead the education, research, public policy, and outreach work for the organization recognized as the voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. Dr. Bednash serves as the chair of the Nursing Alliance for Quality Care, is a member of the Sullivan Alliance to Transform the Health Professions, and is on the board of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine. Her publications and research cover a range of critical issues in nursing education, research, practice, and policy.