Dr. Kimberly Dunker is the director of the MSN/DNP program at Loma Linda University. She is certified as a nurse educator and clinical nurse educator. She has experience in a variety of critical care nursing specialties, including adult, Surgical, Oncology, Neurology, and Cardiac Care. She is a highly experienced educator and campus leader who has championed student success and faculty development through her roles as a theory and clinical educator.

Dr. Dunker has multiple publications on various topics. Her DNP Doctoral research focused on the thesis of “Empowerment of Nursing Faculty,” and her PhD Dissertation is entitled: An Exploration of the Clinical Senior Nursing Students Preceptor Relationship. She is an experienced instructor in almost every curricular area of Nursing. Her leadership focuses on faculty development and authentic transformational leadership of both faculty and students.

Ronald Vance, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, is an Associate Professor of Nursing whose work centers on nursing leadership and the scholarship of teaching and learning. His teaching and research explore how innovative strategies—such as AI-enabled active learning and community-based experiences—enhance professional identity, clinical judgment, and interprofessional collaboration among nursing students. Dr. Vance has led curriculum redesign initiatives aligned with the AACN Essentials and developed immersive learning experiences, including the Marine Corps Marathon medical volunteer pilot. His scholarship reflects a deep commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses to lead with compassion, adaptability, and excellence in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Christopher (Chris) M. Smith, PhD, MSN, RN, GCQM, is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, College of Health & Human Services, School of Nursing. Dr. Smith earned a PhD in Nursing Science from East Carolina University. He also earned a post-master's certificate in Quantitative Methods for Social and Behavioral Sciences in ECU's Department of Psychology, where he cultivated interests in psychometrics and latent variable modeling. Dr. Smith's primary research is in cardiometabolic health in rural populations, with a focused interest in metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms that drive cardiovascular and blood pressure outcomes. Most recently, he received the 2024 Emerging Leader in Science award from Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences.

Dr. Andrew J. Richards is a professor in the School of Nursing at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. He hosts the Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast, a monthly podcast featuring casual conversations with nurses who share their experiences with scholarship. He is interviewed in this episode by his son, Flynn.

Dr. Carolyn J. Godfrey is a professor of nursing at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park (MO), where she has spent the past 21 years teaching maternal–newborn nursing. With a career that began in labor and delivery, she went on to earn her PhD in Nursing Education and has since been recognized with awards such as Teacher of the Year, the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, and the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Heroes Award. Dr. Godfrey is passionate about the art of scholarship in nursing education, mentoring both students and new faculty. She is also the founder of OB Clarity with Dr. Godfrey, where she shares her expertise and encouragement through teaching, mentoring, and a podcast created to support nursing student success.

Joseph Wright, MSN, RN, CMSRN, is a nurse educator at Tulsa Community College. He helped establish the first official American Association for Men in Nursing chapter in Oklahoma and encourages his students to engage in scholarship and advocacy.

Jeffrey Williams, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CCRN, CNE, has been an RN for 32 years and an APRN for 24 years. He teaches in the undergraduate nursing program and the DNP program at Texas Woman's University, in Dallas, Texas.

Alphonzo Baker Sr, DNP, MSN, RN, PAPA, FASPAN, is an experienced nurse leader with over 27 years of experience in psychiatry, critical care, surgical, and peri-anesthesia nursing. He is the current president of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. In 2024, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (FASPAN).