Nursing Innovation Expert Rebecca Love Joins Villanova Nursing as Inaugural Howley Family Visiting Professor in Healthcare

Innovation leader and nurse executive Rebecca Love, MSN, BS, RN, FIEL

The Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing announces Rebecca Love, MSN, RN, BS, FIEL as its inaugural Howley Family Visiting Professor in Healthcare. She is an esteemed nurse executive, renowned speaker, and a prominent figure in the nursing profession. Rebecca is a regular contributor on the Forbes Business Council, has been featured in BBC, Fortune, Becker's, Forbes, STAT, Chief Healthcare Executive Magazine and ABC news. She made history as the first nurse to be featured on Ted.com (How nurses can help drive health care innovation), is recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Voices and was nominated as one of Modern Healthcare’s most influential people in health care. She is also the author of two international best-selling books on Nurse Innovation and is a national and international expert on the nursing workforce.

This professorship was made possible thanks to the generosity of Francine and Michael Howley P ’18, ’20, ’23. He is a member of the Dean’s Board of Consultors.

“I am grateful to the Howley Family for this pivotal gift and am delighted that Rebecca will be joining us this year to help us meet our strategic plan goal of cultivating innovation in all we do. Nurses are natural innovators and we are going to nurture that innate skill to expand knowledge and partnerships to improve nursing education, practice, research and leadership in this area,” says Donna S. Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor.

With a pioneering spirit, Rebecca served as the inaugural Director of Nurse Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Northeastern School of Nursing in the United States. Her groundbreaking initiative empowered nurses to embrace their roles as innovators and entrepreneurs, leading to transformative change within the nursing profession. 

Rebecca's visionary leadership gave birth to the Nurse Hackathon, a movement that has sparked innovation and driven significant advancements in nursing. In early 2019, Rebecca co-founded and is now President Emeritus of SONSIEL: The Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & Leaders. This non-profit organization quickly gained recognition as a United Nations Affiliate Member, showcasing the global impact of Rebecca's work. 

Since she became President Emeritus of SONSIEL, Rebecca went on to found The Commission for Nurse Reimbursement, New York City, NY in January 2023. The Commission for Nursing Reimbursement launched in response to the nationwide concerns of nursing staffing shortages and will be working to change the way that Medicare and insurance providers reimburse health care systems for the valuable care that nurses do.

As an experienced nurse entrepreneur, Rebecca established HireNurses.com in 2013, a groundbreaking online platform connecting nurses with career opportunities. In 2018, HireNurses.com was successfully acquired by Ryalto, LTD UK, where Rebecca assumed the role of Managing Director of US Markets until its acquisition in 2019. Rebecca recently served as the Chief Clinical Officer at IntelyCare, Inc., where she shaped the future of nursing by empowering health care professionals and fostering collaborative communities. 

Rebecca's educational background includes a Master of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations/Spanish from Boston University. She actively contributes to the nursing and health care community by serving on the board of NextGen Ventures, Health Science Entrepreneurs at Northeastern University, and the Host Committee for the Massachusetts ACLU. 

Passionate about empowering nurses and driving transformative change in health care, Rebecca is dedicated to creating innovative solutions, fostering collaboration, and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit within the nursing profession. Her unwavering commitment to advancing nursing practice has made a lasting impact on the industry and continues to inspire nurses worldwide.