BYU College of Nursing welcomes Stephanie Dunn DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE
From her childhood on a ranch to her educational background in human biology and healthcare informatics, new BYU College of Nursing Professor Stephanie Dunn brings a unique perspective to class.
Hailing from rural Colorado, Professor Dunn grew up on a sheep ranch. Tending to the livestock with her father left a big impression on her, one that has gone on to define part of who she is. One glance at her office in the Kimball Tower reveals myriad pieces of ranch-themed decor.
“I love sheep,” Professor Dunn enthused. “I especially love [ranching] because it ties in with the Gospel…when I’m reading scriptures about The Good Shepherd, I feel like I have firsthand experience.”
Not only did growing up with sheep shape her view of the world, but it also had a marked influence on her decision to go into medicine. She recalls how her father would butcher the sheep they raised, and while others may blanch at the thought, she enjoyed learning about the various functions of the sheep organs. “I was always so fascinated with how organs work and how circulation works,” she said.
Living in a small Colorado town (there were 63 graduates in her high school class) also gave Professor Dunn an appreciation for rural health. “They don't have the same access that we take for granted living here in the city," she said.
Originally, Professor Dunn planned to attend medical school instead of nursing school. Financial circumstances were complicated at the time, so she chose to study biology in order to be more efficient with her credits while at BYU. After graduating, however, she began to ponder on what she actually wanted to do.
While working as a patient care technician in a Colorado ICU, she rubbed shoulders with many nurses that made an impact on her as they worked with patients day after day.
“I had a few incredible mentors that were all just these amazing nurses, and I realized that is what I wanted to be doing…I just saw the difference they were making in peoples’ lives, and I wanted that piece of it.”
Given her already-strong background in biology and medicine, she flew through a one-year nursing program at Regis University in Denver.
“They required a lot of religion prerequisites to get into their school, and luckily, I had that all covered,” she said with a smile.
Professor Dunn made it clear that ‘lifelong learning’ is very important to her. She continued taking classes after finishing her BSN at Regis, earning a master’s degree in Healthcare Informatics over the course of five years.
She didn’t stop there—that momentum led her to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at the University of Utah and to becoming a certified pediatric nurse practitioner.
When asked why she pursued education so extensively, she said, “I love the process of learning and watching people grow and develop in their profession.”
Professor Dunn is going to carry that high regard for learning directly into her classes, and she hopes her road to nursing can inspire students who may be discouraged about finding the aspect of nursing that speaks to them.
“There are just so many opportunities in nursing that, if you don’t like one, you’re guaranteed to find something you do like.”
Professor Dunn is finding ways to learn within the academic setting as well. She has been published twice, an accomplishment her younger self never anticipated.
Her first publication, titled “Nursing student needs assessment and preferences for faculty-led mentoring,” was published in August 2025. Her second publication was accepted by American Nurse last year and is expected to be assigned to an issue within the next year.
This semester, she is teaching NURS 320: Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice & Informatics, NURS 342: Clinical Practicum for Nursing Care of Adults with Acute and Chronic Illnesses, as well as NURS 403: Global and Population Health Nursing.
Professor Dunn looks forward to learning alongside each student she mentors.