Dr. Denise Dawkins is an Associate Professor at the Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the inaugural class of the California State University Northern California Consortium in 2012. Additionally, she is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), a credential that demonstrates her expertise in healthcare simulation, and a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), a role that prepares nurses for leadership positions in healthcare. These certifications underscore her commitment to advancing nursing education and patient care.

Dr. Dawkins’ educational approach revolves around empowering students to think critically, develop into compassionate nurse leaders, and champion health equity. Dr. Dawkins is deeply committed to advancing health equity and has made scholarly contributions in peer-reviewed journals regarding the social determinants of health and structural inequities in healthcare. She teaches across all levels of nursing education, spanning undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs. Her teaching methodologies encompass experiential learning, case-based studies, and real-world applications, such as Zoom escape rooms, standardized patient scenarios featuring real patient actors, and reflective debriefing practices. Notably, Dr. Dawkins often collaborates with DNP and undergraduate students as a co-author, fostering a culture of research and mentorship. She also teaches the course in diversity in the San José State DNP program and serves as a DNP advisor and chair.

As a team member, Dr. Dawkins helped to develope and implement the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) ADN to BSN at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose State University. Dr. Dawkins' exceptional commitment to excellence in nursing education is evident in her successful program development. Her dedication to equitable access to quality nursing education is exemplary, as evidenced by high persistence rates and exemplary NCLEX-RN passing scores for CEP students. The program's success is a testament to Dr. Dawkins' leadership and is now setting a new standard for collaboration in nursing education.