As the healthcare landscape undergoes rapid transformation, Boise State University’s School of Nursing is strategically positioning itself for the future by appointing a leader whose career is a testament to innovation, community integration, and educational excellence. Kelley Connor, a veteran professor and nationally recognized expert in nursing education, is set to assume the role of divisional dean in January 2026, marking a pivotal moment for the institution. Her appointment represents the culmination of a career deeply embedded within the university and the broader Idaho healthcare community. Connor’s vision for the school is built on a foundation of strengthening strategic partnerships, pioneering the use of advanced educational technology, and empowering the next generation of nurses to find and amplify their professional voices, ensuring that Boise State graduates are not just practitioners, but influential leaders prepared to shape the future of patient care.
A Leader Forged by Experience and Community
Kelley Connor’s journey to the deanship is a natural progression in a long and distinguished career at Boise State University, where she has been a professor since 2006. Her leadership has been characterized by a steady ascent through progressively responsible roles, grounded in a multifaceted professional background that includes extensive research, innovative program design, and direct clinical practice. For many years, she skillfully balanced a dual career, working concurrently as a registered nurse in various Idaho healthcare institutions while advancing her academic responsibilities. This unique blend of practical, on-the-ground experience and theoretical academic insight provides her with a holistic perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the nursing profession. Her deep understanding of both the clinical and educational spheres makes her uniquely qualified to lead a program that prides itself on preparing graduates for real-world excellence. This foundation ensures that the curriculum and training at Boise State remain relevant, responsive, and rigorous.
Her connection to the university is not merely professional but is woven into the fabric of her personal life, affording her a distinct, multi-generational viewpoint on the institution’s impact. Connor is the matriarch of what she describes as a “Bronco family of educators,” a testament to the university’s central role in her family’s story. Her husband is an alumnus who pursued his education at Boise State as an adult student and now contributes to the local community as a high school teacher in the Treasure Valley. Her own children utilized the Boise State Children’s Center, and one of her daughters is currently a member of the Bronco class of 2026, preparing for a career as a history teacher. This intricate network of personal experiences—as a faculty member, a university parent, and the spouse of an alumnus—deeply informs her appreciation for how a Boise State education can serve as a foundational pillar for future generations, fostering a legacy of service and learning that extends far beyond the campus grounds.
The Power of an Integrated Healthcare Ecosystem
A cornerstone of Connor’s leadership philosophy is her profound belief in the power of relationships and collaborative partnerships. She envisions the School of Nursing not as an isolated academic entity but as an integral component of a larger regional “ecosystem,” where the success of the school is intrinsically linked to the health and vitality of the surrounding community. She emphasizes that the school’s healthcare partners are more than just affiliates; they are “an extension of ourselves.” Connor explicitly credits these community partners for their critical role in providing the essential clinical and training placements required to support the school’s growing student body. This symbiotic relationship ensures that students receive diverse, high-quality hands-on experience while simultaneously contributing to the local healthcare workforce. Under her leadership, the school is poised to deepen these collaborations, fostering a seamless integration between academic learning and professional practice that benefits students, partners, and patients alike.
This collaborative spirit is further exemplified by the strong and enduring connection the school maintains with its extensive alumni network. The profound loyalty of its graduates was recently showcased during a celebration marking the program’s 70th anniversary, which drew alumni from across seven decades. Many of these graduates are now prominent local nurses, healthcare executives, and dedicated community supporters who remain deeply invested in the school’s future. This engagement has a tangible and significant impact on the regional economy and healthcare infrastructure. More than 90 percent of the school’s graduates receive local job offers, creating a powerful “ripple effect” as they establish families, strengthen the community, and contribute to the local workforce. This high retention rate not only addresses critical nursing shortages but also reinforces the school’s role as a vital engine for community development and stability, solidifying its legacy as a cornerstone of the region’s health.
Revolutionizing Education Through Technology
Kelley Connor is distinguished as a nationally recognized advocate and expert in the integration of technology into nursing education. Her pioneering journey in this field began years ago when she first identified the immense potential of simulation as a powerful and effective teaching tool. She initially applied this technology to orient new nurses and provide critical practice opportunities for experienced clinicians during her time as a perinatal clinical educator. At Boise State, she was instrumental in developing the nursing school’s simulation program from the ground up, establishing it as a center for excellence and innovation. Her significant leadership and contributions in this domain were formally recognized in 2023 when she was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious Academy of Nursing Education, an honor that specifically cited her impactful role as the director of simulation-based education and research. Her foresight has positioned Boise State at the leading edge of modern nursing pedagogy.
Her expertise has since expanded far beyond physical manikins to encompass a wide array of cutting-edge educational technologies designed to create immersive and effective learning environments. Connor has been an active participant in developing sophisticated virtual student experiences, utilizing platforms such as virtual reality (VR), educational gaming, and mobile health applications to supplement traditional instruction. Her innovative research mirrors this technological focus; she has utilized game-based learning to improve breastfeeding outcomes for pregnant women and centered her doctoral dissertation on the use of mobile health apps as patient education tools. Her extensive record of publications and presentations, covering the key areas of simulation, educational technology, and her clinical specialty of maternity nursing, further solidifies her reputation as a thought leader who is actively shaping the future of how nurses learn and prepare for their complex roles in the healthcare system.
Cultivating the Professional Voice of Nursing
Looking forward, Connor’s vision is sharply focused on preparing students for the dynamic and constantly evolving landscape of the modern healthcare industry. She recognizes that new nursing roles are continuously emerging, citing the eICU as a prime example of a setting that demands entirely new skill sets and competencies. In response, she champions a curriculum that is both responsive to current industry needs and proactive in anticipating future trends, ensuring that Boise State graduates are equipped to excel not only in today’s environment but also in the healthcare systems of tomorrow. A cornerstone of her educational philosophy is the empowerment of students. She is a fervent proponent of the idea that nursing, long described as a “sleeping giant,” must awaken and effectively utilize its collective voice to advocate for patients, influence policy, and advance the profession as a whole. This forward-thinking approach is about creating practitioners who are also leaders and change agents.
To translate this vision into reality, Boise State has developed innovative courses and certifications—carefully designed with accessibility for both online and rural students in mind—that focus on critical topics such as vulnerable populations, solution design, policy, power, and voice. These programs are explicitly crafted to equip students with the conceptual framework and practical confidence needed to become effective leaders and advocates in their fields. A prime example of this philosophy in action is the school’s initiative to send students to annual nursing student policy summits in Washington, D.C. Connor describes this experience as transformative for young students, providing them with a firsthand understanding of how policy is shaped and how their voices can make a difference. This commitment to leadership development is central to her belief that it is essential to “help students learn how to use their voice for the people they care for and for the profession,” ensuring a legacy of empowered and impactful nursing professionals.
A Legacy in Motion
The appointment of Kelley Connor as divisional dean was seen as a full-circle moment, a culmination of two decades of unwavering dedication. She reflected on her initial arrival at Boise State, which had been driven by a simple passion for teaching and the welcoming culture she found on campus. Over the years, that initial spark blossomed into a deep and extensive network of connections, transforming former students into professional colleagues and respected leaders throughout the region. Her new role allowed her to bring the full weight of her experiences—as an educator, a researcher, a technological innovator, a clinician, and a family member deeply rooted in the university community—to the helm of a thriving program. The School of Nursing was on a significant growth trajectory, with its pre-license program expanding to accommodate 500 students, complemented by hundreds more in its RN-to-BSN and graduate programs. Under her guidance, the school was poised to build upon its 70-year legacy of excellence by continuing to innovate its educational methods, deepen its community partnerships, and, most importantly, empower its graduates to become the future leaders and influential voices of the nursing profession.
