Dr. Debra Kelly has been named Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at LCON

Dr. Debra Kelly has been named Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, effective July 1.

Dr. Kelly brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role, having served as the associate dean for academic affairs undergraduate education since 2020 at the University of Florida College of Nursing, which boasts the number 1 nursing program in Florida with an impressive NCLEX pass rate of 97.7%. In this capacity, she successfully managed a cohort of 500 students across three tracks at both the Gainesville and Jacksonville campuses.

With a PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University and recognition as a fellow of the Academy of Nursing, Dr. Kelly has demonstrated her commitment to excellence in education and research. Her teaching experience spans multiple modalities, including online instruction and face-to-face didactic education in undergraduate and DNP programs. She has extensive expertise in chairing DNP and PhD projects and dissertation committees and has played a pivotal role in curriculum transformation for undergraduate and PhD programs.

As a certified nurse educator (CNE), Dr. Kelly has excelled in developing and implementing innovative teaching strategies to cater to diverse student bodies at various educational levels. Her accreditation expertise extends to the CCNE and SACS levels.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Kelly has garnered significant recognition for her research endeavors. She has received funding and awards from the National Institutes of Health National Institute for Nursing Research for projects examining biobehavioral mechanisms related to cancer-related symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, and pain. Her leadership roles within the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy, as well as her collaboration with multi-disciplinary scientific teams, have resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications in esteemed journals.

LCON is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kelly to the team and looks forward to her valuable contributions to our academic community. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Kelly as she assumes her new role.