Biography
Kathy Dolan-Cox, MSN, RN, CNE, holds a Lecturer II position at the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing. Prior to joining UNM in January 2021, she was an adjunct instructor at Central New Mexico Community College. Kathy has taught in nursing education since 2015 and holds a national certification as a Certified Nurse Educator. Kathy worked as a registered nurse at UNM Hospital in Adult Medical-Surgical Sub Acute Care, Neurosurgical Intensive Care, and Outpatient Internal/Family Medicine.
Kathy received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Utah in 2008 and a Master of Science in Nursing from UNM in 2011. Kathy's research and scholarly interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and community and preventive healthcare. Kathy received the Daisy Award in 2012 and the CNO award Nurse as Scientist in 2011.
Personal Statement
I believe that every student has the ability to succeed in nursing school, and my role as an educator is to guide and mentor them through this journey. I do this by fostering a collaborative and individualized approach to teaching. I aim to empower students to achieve their full potential. I prioritize creating a safe, inclusive environment where students feel psychologically, emotionally, and physically secure. This encourages open dialogue and allows students to share their thoughts and questions without fearing judgement. Clear communication of professional expectations and course requirements establishes this foundation, and I revisit ground rules throughout the semester to address challenging or sensitive topics.
I strive to create a learning environment that celebrates differences and addresses the factors that can attribute to bias. I foster a bias-free space by learning students’ names and pronouns. I ensure that course materials support a bias free environment. Together, we explore historical and current structural racism, medical stereotypes and biases, negative social determinants of health, and vulnerable populations. This collaborative approach empowers students to make meaningful changes that improve patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
My teaching style is grounded by the adult learning theory. I use the students’ motivation and past experiences to facilitate learning new concepts. I design interactive, engaging learning activities to reinforce learning. By incorporating the principles of spacing and interleaving, I ensure that students revisit and connect concepts throughout the semester for better retention. I hold students taking my courses at a high standard. I am transparent about my expectations as well as what tools to utilize to meet course requirements. I am successful as an educator when everyone in the class is participating, students are asking questions, each student finds success for their needs, student evaluations that share beneficial strategies and constructive suggestions to improve the course, and NCLEX pass rates that reflect effective learning.
Teaching inspires me because of its transformative impact on individuals, families, and communities. I thrive on developing organized course materials, creating interactive activities, and crafting assessments that align with course outcomes. Teaching is more than what is done during class time. I actively monitor students’ progress, identify challenges early, and provide individual support to ensure their success.
Learning is a lifelong adventure for students as well as instructors. I have developed as an educator each semester from my students and the experiences that occurred. I continuously seek opportunities to grow as an educator. My professional development includes earning a Certified Nursing Educator Certificate, attending workshops on best practices, and presenting on implicit bias. Programs such as the UNM Health Sciences Center Certificate in Clinical Ethics and the AACN Diversity Leadership Institute have deepened my understanding of inclusive teaching and leadership. The most important aspect that has developed my teaching abilities is dedicating time to utilizing new activities and tweaking them after implementing them.
As a nursing instructor, my goal is to create a safe, organized, and interactive learning environment that fosters student success and prepares them for meaningful careers in nursing. Education is a lifelong journey, and I am committed to evolving alongside my students to make a lasting impact on the profession.
Areas of Specialty
Acute Care | Health Equity | Nurse Education
Education
MSN, University of New Mexico, 2011 (Community Nursing)
BSN, University of Utah, 2008 (Nursing)
BS, Weber State University, 2004 (Criminal Justice)
Certifications
RN: Registered Nurse
CNE: Certified Nurse Educator
Achievements & Awards
Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society Member
Daisy Award 2012
CNO award nurse as scientist 2011
Gender
Female
Languages
- English
Research and Scholarship
Since working at UNM I have participated in several individual scholarship projects on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The impact of these activities are increasing student success, satisfaction, and faculty relationships.
Upcoming -
-June 3/4 2025
Pre-conference poster on peer mentorship at AACN Diversity Leadership Institute at the Access, Connection, Engagement symposium
Competed -
-February 9 2024
Hot Topic Presentation at the UNM HSC Education day titled "What is Not Said in the Classroom: Implicit Bias in Teaching"
-July 22 2023
Podium presentation at the NM Emergency Nurses Association Conference titled "What We Don't Say: Implicit Bias in Healthcare"
-January 20 2023
Oral presentation at the Spring 2023 Clinical Educator Workshop titled "Implicit Bias in Clinical"