{"id":3736,"date":"2026-06-22T11:55:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/kanata\/?p=3736"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:55:21","slug":"carletons-danielle-manley-recognized-with-ottawas-forty-under-40-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/kanata\/2026\/carletons-danielle-manley-recognized-with-ottawas-forty-under-40-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Carleton\u2019s Danielle Manley Recognized with Ottawa\u2019s Forty Under 40 Award"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Carleton\u2019s Danielle Manley Recognized with Ottawa\u2019s Forty Under 40 Award\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Just three years after arriving at Carleton University to lead the development of a new nursing program, Danielle Manley has been recognized as one of Ottawa\u2019s top emerging leaders for helping reshape the future of nursing education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 18, the associate professor in the Faculty of Science<\/a> and director of the School of Nursing<\/a> was honoured with a Forty Under 40 Award<\/a> from the Ottawa Business Journal<\/a> and Ottawa Board of Trade<\/a> during a special gala held at Casino Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, recognizing her contributions to healthcare innovation, nursing education, and workforce development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Widely regarded as Ottawa\u2019s premier recognition for young business and community leaders, the Forty Under 40 Awards celebrate individuals under the age of 40 who exemplify professional achievement, leadership, and a commitment to building a stronger community. The annual program shines a spotlight on the next generation of visionaries, innovators, and changemakers who are helping shape the future of the National Capital Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Manley, the recognition came as a surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI truly had not considered I would be a competitive candidate,\u201d she said. \u201cWith my role in academia and health care, the work I do doesn\u2019t neatly fit the traditional business or private-sector model.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Carleton University School of Nursing director Danielle Manley<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The impact of her work, however, is difficult to ignore. Since joining Carleton in 2023, Manley has led the creation and launch of the university\u2019s Bachelor of Science in Nursing<\/a> program\u2014the first new standalone university nursing program approved in Canada in more than 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developed in partnership with Queensway Carleton Hospital<\/a>, the program welcomed its inaugural cohort of 91 students in September 2025 and was designed to address healthcare workforce shortages while preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is one of only two nursing programs in North America to integrate artificial intelligence, data science, and informatics directly into its curriculum. It also incorporates extensive simulation-based learning, early clinical placements, and Registered Nurse prescribing, making Carleton the first program in the world where all graduates will qualify as RN Prescribers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen looking ahead in healthcare, the writing was and still is on the wall that AI is changing how we work,\u201d said Manley. \u201cCreating a concentration in AI and Data Science looks to bridge the gap between clinicians and technicians. There are tremendous opportunities when healthcare professionals understand both worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Danielle Manley (right) with her Forty Under 40 Award, presented by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade on June 18 at Casino Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition to leading the development of the nursing program, Manley was instrumental in the creation of the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre<\/a> at Carleton\u2019s Kanata campus, home of the university\u2019s nursing program. Opened in January 2026, the multi-million-dollar facility features high-fidelity simulation environments, augmented and virtual reality technologies, and hybrid learning spaces designed to prepare students for the realities of modern healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat Danielle has accomplished in a remarkably short period of time is extraordinary,\u201d said Travis Flieler, Director of Operations for CU@Kanata. \u201cBeyond launching a new nursing program, she has helped advance healthcare education and training in Kanata through the creation of a state-of-the-art clinical simulation facility, giving students access to the technologies and hands-on learning experiences shaping the future of healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Manley, the most rewarding aspect of building the program has been seeing its impact on students and patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a nurse, my core values have always been rooted in patient-centred care,\u201d she said. \u201cAs an educator, I have now added the student to the centre of this model. I believe we have built, and continue to build, a program that has maintained the integrity of patient and student centredness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program\u2019s distinctive approach reflects Manley\u2019s belief that nursing education must evolve alongside healthcare itself. Rather than relying primarily on traditional lecture-based instruction, the curriculum emphasizes experiential learning through simulation, clinical placements, and hands-on application. Students begin clinical placements in their first semester, providing an early opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That desire to bridge gaps\u2014between healthcare and technology, education and practice, and different sectors of the healthcare system\u2014has been a defining theme throughout her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve come to realize that innovation and collaboration are often stifled because there is a lack of understanding between groups,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of my work has focused on increasing awareness and understanding so teams can work together more effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Maria DeRosa, Dean of Carleton\u2019s Faculty of Science, that collaborative mindset has been central to Manley\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDanielle has demonstrated extraordinary vision and leadership in building Carleton\u2019s School of Nursing from the ground up,\u201d said DeRosa. \u201cHer ability to bring together healthcare partners, educators, students, and community stakeholders around a shared vision has positioned Carleton to make a meaningful contribution to the future of healthcare in Ontario and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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