Audria Denker, DNP, RN, FAADN, ANEF

As the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Galen College of Nursing, Dr. Audria Denker leads institutional efforts focused on leadership and organizational development, learning and professional development, student experience, and healthcare relationships.

Dr. Denker has served in various roles since joining Galen College in 2005, most recently serving as Executive VP of Nursing (EVP). While serving in that position, Dr. Denker was responsible for day-to-day program operations, staffing and workload, clinical operations, simulation, and student support. During her tenure as EVP, all prelicensure RN programs obtained ACEN accreditation, and all program pass rates exceeded state and national averages.

Dr. Denker gained extensive clinical-practice knowledge at Pikeville Medical Center following her graduation from Pikeville College (now University of Pikeville). She also attained a wealth of healthcare-management experience during 14 years as a pediatric-oncology nurse manager at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, and an additional two years’ human resources experience as Nurse retention manager for the Norton Healthcare system.

In her spare time, Dr. Denker is an active leader in numerous civic and charitable organizations. In 2000, she was appointed to the Hemophilia Advisory Committee for Kentucky’s Commission for Children with Special Healthcare Needs. In 2009, she was named chair of the committee, a position she still holds. She was also appointed to the Kentucky Board of Nursing in 2018 and currently serves as the President of the Board. Dr. Denker is also the Southeast Director for the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN), on the NCLEX committee for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and the Public Policy Committee for the National League of Nursing.

She recently received accolades for her work with associate degree nursing programs by being named a Fellow in the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing (FAADN). She was also named to Academy of Nursing Education Fellows (ANEF) for her contributions to solving the nursing shortages in Eastern Kentucky.

Dr. Denker received the Associate of Science Degree in Nursing from Pikeville (Kentucky) College (now University of Pikeville), and the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Bellarmine University in Louisville.