Professional Overview

Dr. Debra Kelly became the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Loewenberg College of Nursing in July 2024. She joins the team with a distinguished career in academic leadership and nursing education. Prior to her current role, Dr. Kelly served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in Undergraduate Education at the University of Florida College of Nursing, where she managed 500 students across multiple tracks at the Gainesville and Jacksonville campuses. Under her leadership, the program achieved a 97.7% NCLEX pass rate, solidifying its position as the top nursing program in Florida.

Dr. Kelly holds a PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University and is recognized as a fellow of the Academy of Nursing. As a certified nurse educator (CNE), she has extensive experience in both online and face-to-face teaching for undergraduate and DNP programs. Her contributions to academic leadership include chairing numerous DNP and PhD projects, spearheading curriculum innovations, and advancing accreditation standards at the CCNE and SACS levels.

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Kelly is a respected researcher with a focus on biobehavioral mechanisms related to cancer-related symptoms. She has secured over $8 million in external funding, including grants from the National Institutes of Health, and has published 57 peer-reviewed articles in leading multidisciplinary journals.