2000: The John A. Hartford Foundation established the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program in partnership with the American Academy of Nursing.
2009: Current and past Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program awardees formed an alumni organization.
2012: The Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program moves to the Gerontological Society of America organization, evolving into the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence.
2013: The Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Alumni formally established the Hartford Gerontological Nursing Leaders (HGNL) Organization to impact gerontological science, practice, education, and policy.
2015: Hartford Gerontological Nursing Leaders (HGNL) voted to merge with the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence, completed during the academic year 2015 – 2016.