UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Leslie Treas spent most of her nursing career working as a nurse practitioner in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), caring for vulnerable newborns and supporting their families through difficult times. However, a new journey would soon unfold, driven by a passion for nursing education shared with her husband, Randy.
Treas’ career path first began at Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing (then the School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Development), graduating with a bachelor of science in nursing in 1983. She began her nursing career in NICU units, developing deep connections to her small patients and their families. Here, she said, challenging moments underscored her desire not only to deepen her knowledge but to do more to improve the care of patients and their families.
“It was a very fulfilling, meaningful career where I deeply believed my care for critically ill newborns was important work,” Treas said. “It was a motivator for me to go back to school to conduct clinical research and share significant findings with others."
Treas transitioned back to higher education, earning both a master’s degree in nursing with a focus in maternal-child health and a doctor of philosophy in psychology and research in education from the University of Kansas. Treas also earned nurse practitioner certifications in both pediatric and neonatal care.
After 19 years in clinical settings, she said, Treas shifted her focus: Partnering with Randy, the pair identified gaps in how nurses were taught and assessed, and the couple set out to reshape the national standards for nursing education and licensure.
“We had some ideas about how it could be done in a more meaningful and memorable way for the students,” Treas said. “What do they need? How do they learn? What engages their attention? What makes content memorable? It’s the content they can relate to.”
Treas soon became the founder and (now former) vice president of Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) — reimaging the way generations of nurses would learn, evaluate, think and ultimately care for patients.
Utilizing her doctoral degree in educational research, Treas and the ATI team developed a series of assessment tools and remediate materials to build competencies and integrate a comprehensive, customized program based on areas of content weakness.
Furthering her impact, she went on to co-author multiple award-winning nursing textbooks, including “Fundamentals of Nursing: Theory, Concepts & Applications” and “Basic Nursing: Thinking, Doing & Caring,” which are now in their 4th and 5th editions. Treas also presented at major conferences, including Sigma Theta Tau, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and National Association of Neonatal Nurses, on topics ranging from NICU care to NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) readiness strategies.
In recognition of her transformative contributions to nursing, Treas received the college’s 2025 Alumni Achievement Award — the college’s most distinguished alumni honor. The award, formerly called the Novosel Award and named for alumna Shirley Novosel, a pioneering force in nursing care and education, is presented to an alumnus who has profoundly impacted the field of nursing through visionary leadership, innovation, mentorship and service.
The award was given to Treas for her commitment to the values that define Penn State nurses: integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community.
“I am humbled, overwhelmed, proud, and excited … It’s a really big deal, and I am so grateful for that recognition,” said Treas.
Treas has also served her community for over a decade as a first responder for a local volunteer fire department, and provided leadership and care for youth in Rwanda with her church.