Transforming the Future of Nursing Education Through Innovation: Dr. Sheri Howard
At the Loewenberg College of Nursing, innovation and excellence are shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. Among the faculty leading this transformation is Dr. Sheri Howard, a nationally recognized scholar and educator whose work in simulation, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the future of nursing education.
A tenured faculty member and recently promoted Associate Professor, Dr. Howard has dedicated her career to advancing technology innovation and transforming education through technology-enhanced learning. Her research focuses on integrating emerging technologies into healthcare education to improve teaching, learning, clinical preparedness, and patient outcomes for students, faculty, patients, and healthcare professionals alike.
With a vision centered on reimagining how nurses learn and practice, Dr. Howard has built a distinguished program of scholarship focused on simulation-based education, VR learning environments, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in healthcare training. Her work reflects a growing movement within nursing education to leverage immersive and innovative technologies to better prepare students for the complexities of modern healthcare.
Dr. Howard’s expertise in simulation education is nationally recognized. She holds the prestigious Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) credential through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, demonstrating advanced knowledge and leadership in simulation pedagogy, educational innovation, and technology-rich learning environments.
As a leader in healthcare technology innovation, Dr. Howard is frequently invited to present and share her expertise at national and international conferences. Her work continues to influence faculty development initiatives and technology-enhanced education strategies across nursing and healthcare disciplines.
Dr. Jill Dapremont recently highlighted Dr. Howard’s exceptional scholarly accomplishments throughout 2025. Among her most notable achievements was earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor at LCON, an important milestone that reflects years of impactful teaching, scholarship, and service to the College and profession.
Her scholarly productivity throughout the year was especially impressive, including three peer-reviewed publications, one in the Journal of Nursing Education and two in Computers, Informatics, Nursing, as well as an additional non-refereed publication. These publications further established Dr. Howard as a leading voice in the intersection of nursing education and technology innovation.
Dr. Howard also maintained a strong national presence through presentations at three nursing conferences, where she shared research and best practices related to technology-enhanced learning and simulation education.
Her research efforts continue to receive substantial support through both internal and external funding opportunities. In 2025, she secured two University of Memphis Communities of Research Scholars (CoRS) grants totaling $15,000 for the 2026–2027 cycle. Additionally, she obtained four externally funded projects, with several continuing through 2027, further underscoring the relevance and impact of her research agenda.
Dr. Howard has been a dedicated member of the Loewenberg College of Nursing since 2011 and transitioned to the tenure track in 2018. Over the years, she has steadily built a nationally recognized body of work focused on advancing educational innovation within healthcare. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored with the 2025 Outstanding Research & Scholarship Award from the College.
Her active involvement with the Southern Nursing Research Society further strengthens her national scholarly presence and commitment to advancing nursing science and education.
Through her leadership, innovation, and commitment to educational excellence, Dr. Sheri Howard continues to shape the future of nursing education. By integrating simulation, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence into healthcare learning environments, she is helping prepare a new generation of nurses to provide safe, compassionate, and high-quality care in an increasingly technology-driven world.