Dr. Katherine Marie Conover focuses on the power of nursing assessment to gather data and the effects of resiliency on lifelong well-being. She loves to facilitate students to push past their comfort levels in simulation to help them reach their fullest potential. She is dedicated to helping students grow into the role of a baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse. In 2022, she was recognized for her exemplary work as a faculty member of nursing with the DAISY Award. In 2010, she was recognized as the first recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing. She has earned Certified Nurse Educator (2021) and Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (2022). She was the first project manager of the SP Program at the Curry College Nursing Simulation Program. When she isn’t teaching, you’ll find her crafting objects of utility and beauty. Stop by her office, and she will offer you tea and conversation.

Nomination Quotes:

"Dr. Conover is truly one of the most intelligent professors I have ever met. She is passionate about nursing and wants her students to be successful, which she shows in the classroom. She makes class a safe and fun environment, and I hope every nursing major at Curry has an opportunity to have a class with her."

"Dr. Conover is highly knowledgeable in what she teaches and subjects beyond. She is consistently proving to us how much she truly wants to see her students succeed. She always comes to class more than prepared to teach and knows exactly how to ground the material and make it easier to understand. She always makes herself available to help us with any subject, whether it be what she is teaching us currently or something else she is adept at. It's obvious she loves teaching, and she was born to be in the nursing field, as evidenced by her compassion, patience, integrity, etc. Any day I've come to her class feeling like I don't have what it takes to make it as a nurse, she reminds me that I have only just begun, and it's not expected that I'll know everything right away. I truly don't believe I have ever had a professor as kind and genuine as Dr. Conover. She doesn't just care about testing and grades, but cares about the student as a whole. If I could take every future class with her, I would."

"Dr. Conover has served as a collaborative resource for both students and faculty in our growing simulation program. She exemplifies patience and respect while sharing her interests and expertise as she has collaboratively engaged faculty in the development of their own simulation skill and knowledge, and is responsible for the standardized patient program. She has tirelessly given her time to students, colleagues, and others who seek to learn more about best practices and all aspects of simulation-based experiences."

"She goes above and beyond to help her students be successful. Her dedication and commitment are truly genuine."

"Dove (Dr. Conover) is always looking for ways to improve the learning experience for all Nursing students. She developed training manuals to help all new faculty deliver a consistent, yet great learning environment within the Simulation lab. She initiates an Open lab for the students so they can work on their skills, as well as talks to the students with respect and treats them all the same, no matter what level of expertise. She gets so excited when setting up a simulation that she makes it as real as possible. She literally made a fake mastectomy out of leather and made the stitches look so real. She exemplifies what a true Professor in simulation should be."

Demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and nursing that inspires and motivates students.