Dr. Cynthia D. Booher, PhD, RN, is the Dean of Nursing at Charter College and an experienced nurse educator and academic leader committed to advancing nursing education, student success, and the preparation of a practice-ready nursing workforce. Her leadership encompasses associate degree and practical nursing education, with expertise in program development and expansion, curriculum design, regulatory and accreditation compliance, clinical education, faculty development, student retention, and NCLEX readiness.

As Dean of Nursing, Dr. Booher provides strategic and academic leadership for nursing education initiatives focused on strengthening educational quality and improving student and graduate outcomes. Her work has included the development and implementation of innovative approaches to clinical judgment, simulation, assessment, remediation, and NCLEX preparation. She has led curriculum and programmatic initiatives incorporating the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM), evidence-based teaching strategies, adaptive learning technologies, and data-informed approaches to student success.

Dr. Booher has extensive experience working within the regulatory and accreditation environment of nursing education. Her leadership includes programmatic accreditation and approval activities, development of new nursing programs, curriculum revision, clinical partnership development, and initiatives designed to expand access to nursing education while addressing regional and national nursing workforce needs. She is particularly passionate about developing sustainable pathways into nursing and preparing graduates who possess the clinical judgment, professional identity, and competencies necessary to provide safe, high-quality care.

Collaboration and workforce development are central to Dr. Booher’s leadership philosophy. She has worked to develop partnerships among nursing education programs, healthcare organizations, clinical agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders to expand clinical opportunities, strengthen the transition from education to practice, and respond to evolving workforce needs. She is also committed to faculty mentorship and the development of future nursing education leaders.

Dr. Booher is actively engaged in professional nursing leadership beyond her institution. She serves in a leadership role with the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing (ISPIN) and participates in professional initiatives focused on strengthening nursing education, leadership, and professional identity. Her scholarly and professional interests include associate degree nursing education, clinical judgment, nursing workforce development, student persistence and success, accreditation and regulatory compliance, faculty development, professional identity in nursing, and innovative approaches to preparing students for contemporary nursing practice.

As an OADN Fellow, Dr. Booher is committed to advancing the mission of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing and elevating the essential role of associate degree nursing programs in developing a diverse, highly skilled, and practice-ready nursing workforce. Her work reflects a continuing commitment to strengthening pathways into the nursing profession, supporting nursing faculty and academic leaders, and ensuring that nursing education evolves to meet the needs of students, healthcare organizations, communities, and the profession.