Daniel J. Pesut, PhD, RN, FAAN is a nurse educator, academic, researcher, consultant, and coach. He is Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, School of Nursing and Emeritus Katherine R. and C. Walton Lillehei Chair in Nursing Leadership at University of Minnesota. He served as the Director of the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership from 2012 until his retirement in 2021. He has held academic and administrative positions at the University of Michigan, University of South Carolina, and Indiana University where he served as a department chair and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Director of the PhD program and is an Emeritus Professor of Indiana University School of Nursing Department of Community and Health Systems.

Dr. Pesut earned a PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX and BS degree in Nursing from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. He completed post graduate training in Integral Studies and alternative dispute resolution. He is a graduate of the Harvard Institute Higher Education Management Development Certificate program. He is a certified Hudson Institute coach and member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the Association of Professional Futurists. While on active duty in the US Army Nurse Corps (1975-1978) he created the first Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist position at the US Army institute of Surgical Research (USAIR) Brooke Army Medical Center Burn Unit. He is past President (2003-2005) of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. His Presidential Call to Action was “Create the Future through Renewal.” He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. He is the recipient of several  awards including the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Edith Moore Copeland Founder’s Award for Creativity, and distinguished alumni awards for visionary leadership. He is an Honorary Member of the Global Academy of Holistic Nursing. He has served on the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Scholars program and the Harold Amos Medical Scientist program. He is a subject matter expert with Jonas Philanthropies. He is best known for co- creating the Outcome Present State Test (OPT) Reflective model of clinical reasoning and his work in futures thinking and foresight leadership. The Sigma Theta Tau International Daniel J Pesut Spirit of Renewal Award honors his leadership and legacy contributions to the nursing profession.