Jennifer Gray

Jennifer Gray, Ph.D., is the Dean of the College of Sciences and Education at Oklahoma Christian University (OC) and holds the rank of Professor of Nursing. She has over four decades of experience in nursing, research, and education, with a focus on global health, HIV/AIDS care, and evidence-based practice. Her career includes roles as Associate Dean at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), where she developed courses and led international outreach programs in Uganda. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2013) and a Professor Emeritus of the UTA System (2015). Her research spans nursing education, healthcare disparities, and international collaboration, with notable work in Africa. She co-authors influential nursing research textbooks, including Burns & Grove’s The Practice of Nursing Research.

Education: BSN from the University of Central Oklahoma (1977), Master’s and Ph.D. from UTA (1989–1993). She has pioneered nurse-led interventions in hypertension, HIV/AIDS, and maternal health in Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Her leadership emphasizes innovation in education and maintaining OC’s mission-driven values. She also advocates for healthcare workforce development and healthy work environments in acute care settings.

Awards include her American Academy of Nursing Fellowship and recognition for her textbook contributions. She has supervised numerous research initiatives and serves in her church community. Her work bridges academic rigor with practical, community-focused healthcare solutions.