Summary
Dr. Shannon Burleson is an Assistant Professor at the 91ԭƬ Orvis School of Nursing. As a first-generation college graduate, she brings a strong commitment to educational access, student success and mentorship. Her academic and clinical background spans critical care nursing, nursing education, mental health and equine-assisted services. Drawing on her experience as a critical care and flight nurse, educator and nonprofit leader, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective to advancing evidence-based approaches that promote health and well-being.
Dr. Burleson's program of research focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating integrative health interventions to promote resilience, mental health and well-being among populations experiencing stress, adversity and health disparities. Her scholarship emphasizes resilience-focused equine-assisted learning and other experiential interventions, with applications in healthcare education, workforce well-being, Native American student success and perinatal mental health. She developed the Resilience Equine-Assisted Learning (REAL) program, a manualized intervention evaluated through randomized controlled and multisite studies.
Dr. Burleson is the founder of the Equine Collaboration for Research, Education and Wellness (ECREW), an interdisciplinary and international network advancing research, education and implementation of evidence-based equine-assisted services. She also founded Sage Patch Ranch, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to equine-assisted psychotherapy, learning and wellness. Through these initiatives, she fosters partnerships among academic institutions, healthcare professionals and community organizations to strengthen research capacity, expand access to integrative interventions and translate evidence into practice.
As an educator and mentor, Dr. Burleson is committed to fostering inclusive learning environments and preparing nurses to integrate evidence-based practice, research, technology and clinical reasoning into patient-centered care. She teaches undergraduate and graduate nursing courses, mentors Doctor of Nursing Practice students and develops innovative educational approaches incorporating experiential learning, online pedagogy, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. She also co-founded the Nursing Education Research Lab at the Orvis School of Nursing, supporting faculty scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration and research mentorship. Across her research, teaching and service, she is dedicated to advancing nursing science and improving individual and community well-being.
Research interests
- Integrative health and experiential interventions
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning
- Mental health, resilience, and psychological well-being
- Stress and burnout prevention
- Perinatal mental health and pregnancy loss
- Trauma-informed and equity-informed care
- Intervention development and implementation science
- Health disparities and access to supportive services
- Nursing education and evidence-based practice
- Program evaluation and mixed methods research
Professional experience
- Assistant Professor, Orvis School of Nursing, 91ԭƬ (2020–Present)
- Founder and Director, Equine Collaboration for Research, Education, and Wellness (ECREW) (2026–Present)
- Founder and Co-Director, Nursing Education Research Lab, 91ԭƬ (2025–Present)
- Founder and Executive Director, Sage Patch Ranch, Inc. (2018–Present)
- Clinical Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Orvis School of Nursing, 91ԭƬ (2017–2020)
- Chest Pain Coordinator, Northern Nevada Medical Center (2017–2019)
- Flight Nurse, Care Flight (2017-2018)
- Flight Nurse, CALSTAR (2016–2017)
- Registered Nurse, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Stanford Hospital (2013–2016)
Selected honors and awards
- Outstanding Scholarship Award, Orvis School of Nursing, 91ԭƬ (2026)
- Purdue University Global Chapter Inductee, National Society of Leadership and Success (2026)
- Best Oral Presentation Award, Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association Research Conference (2024)
- Third Place, Virtual Poster Presentation, Mae Orvis Health Care Symposium, 91ԭƬ (2024)
- University of Arizona College of Nursing Alumni Council Award (2023)
- Student and Alumni Honor Society Inductee, College of Nursing, University of Arizona (2023)
- Graduate Program Preceptor Award, Orvis School of Nursing, 91ԭƬ (2023)
- United States Navy Dedication to Nursing Graduate Student Award, 91ԭƬ (2019)
- Summa Cum Laude, Samuel Merritt University (2012)
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Inductee (2012)
Selected publications
- Burleson, S., Pestaner, M., Boren, C., Wang, L., Lally, S., & Meola, C. (In press). Implementation and evaluation of the manualized Resilience Equine-Assisted Learning (REAL) program: A multisite quasi-experimental study with undergraduate nursing students. Nurse Educator.
- Burleson, S., Boren, C., Thomas, L., & Tobey, A. (In press). Barriers and facilitators for Native American nursing students: A consensual qualitative research study. Nursing Education Perspectives.
- Burleson, S., Boren, C., Tobey, A., & Thomas, L. (2026). : A PRISMA-guided scoping review. Nurse Education in Practice.
- Burleson, S., Morrison, E., Taylor-Piliae, R., & Rainbow, J. (2026). Resilience equine-assisted learning with undergraduate nursing students: A feasibility randomized controlled trial. Journal of Experiential Education.
- Burleson, S., Shindell, D. L., & Ferdowsali, J. (2025). . Nurse Educator.
- Burleson, S., & Thomas, L. (2024). : A program review. Nurse Educator.
- Burleson, S., Thomas, L., & DeBoor, S. (2022). : A scoping review. Nurse Educator.
Education
- Post-Master's Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Purdue Global (In Progress)
- PhD, Nursing, University of Arizona, 2023
- MSN, Nursing Education, 91ԭƬ, 2019
- BSN, Samuel Merritt University, 2012
- BS, Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2008