Kelly Walker

Kelly C. Walker, DNP, CNM, FACNM, is the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is dedicated to promoting health equity through innovative curriculum design and teaching methodologies. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of trauma-informed pedagogy, health equity, and student-centered learning. She is committed to ensuring that students not only acquire foundational knowledge but also develop integrative and humanistic skills essential for nursing and midwifery practice. Walker is an expert educator and leader in graduate nursing education, actively engaging with professional organizations to shape nursing education. She is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), a site visitor for the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and a member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioners (NONPF). Walker also served as chair of the New York State Board of Midwifery.

Prior to joining the faculty at NYU Meyers, Walker was the Assistant Dean of Evaluations and Outcomes and Clinical Associate Professor at Stony Brook University. There, she served as the interim program director of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice and Nurse-Midwifery Programs. Walker was also the Director of Evaluations and Outcomes, Director of the Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program, and the Core director at Georgetown University School of Nursing.  Walker has remained in clinical practice as a CNM, with a current focus on telehealth and postpartum care. 

Among her many honors, Walker has received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the American College of Nurse-Midwives in both 2012 and 2015, recognizing her commitment to midwifery education. In 2013 and 2014, she was awarded the Outstanding Teaching and Service Award from Stony Brook University School of Nursing for her dedication to improving nursing education. Her contributions to midwifery were further recognized in 2019 when she was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Most recently, in 2023, she was honored with the Midwifery and Women’s Health Advocate Award from Georgetown University School of Nursing.

Walker earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Russell Sage College before pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s in Midwifery from New York University. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at SUNY Stony Brook, where she also conducted post-doctoral work focused on education, evaluation, and leadership.