UWindsor’s Dr. Debbie Rickeard Honoured with CASN Excellence in Nursing Education Award in November (SUBMITTED BY DEBBIE RICKEARD/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
Dr. Debbie Rickeard, a trailblazing nurse educator whose student-first approach and leadership in simulation-based learning have shaped nursing education at the University of Windsor and beyond, has earned national recognition for excellence in her field.
Rickeard received the Excellence in Nursing Education Award from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) for permanent, tenure-track, tenured and term faculty – one of the most distinguished honours in Canadian nursing education.
The award celebrates exceptional leadership, creativity and dedication among educators across Canada’s nursing schools. Winners were recognized at the 2025 CASN Council Meeting in Ottawa on Nov. 17 and 18.
“Dr. Rickeard’s sustained excellence in teaching, mentorship, innovation and leadership has made a remarkable impact on nursing education in Canada,” CASN said in its announcement. “She exemplifies what this award represents.”
A UWindsor alumna with more than 47 years in health care and academia, Rickeard said receiving the award stands among the most meaningful milestones of her career.
“It reflects not only my personal commitment to teaching but also the collective efforts of learners, colleagues and mentors who’ve shaped my journey,” she said.
Rickeard has been a driving force behind integrating simulation and virtual reality into UWindsor’s curriculum, tools she says have “transformed the way students prepare for real-world nursing by creating safe, immersive spaces where they can build confidence before entering high-stakes environments.”
One of her proudest achievements has been opening a new simulation lab that gives nursing students safe, hands-on learning experiences.
Combined with a strong focus on reflection and clinical reasoning, this approach has helped UWindsor students achieve first-time NCLEX registration exam pass rates above 90 per cent.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in empathy, inclusion and student-centred learning.
She encourages educators to listen to learners and create environments where they feel safe to ask questions and make mistakes.
“Seeing learners grow in confidence and competence – and knowing we’ve created the conditions for their success – has been incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Rickeard’s award celebrates a career defined by dedication, innovation and mentorship – a legacy that continues to shape the next generation of nurses at UWindsor.