Dean of Nursing
Kristin B. Ashford, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN
Bio
Frontier Nursing University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kristin B. Ashford, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN, as Dean of Nursing, effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Ashford brings more than 20 years of experience as a women’s health nurse practitioner, educator, researcher, and academic leader. She previously served as Professor, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Health Policy, and held the Endowed Good Samaritan Chair for Community Nursing at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing.
A nationally and internationally recognized expert in perinatal health, Dr. Ashford’s research focuses on improving outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women affected by substance use. She has secured over $10 million in research funding and authored more than 60 publications. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and 2021–2022 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Medicine, she is deeply committed to translating research into practice and informing health policy.
Dr. Ashford is passionate about advancing nursing education and mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders. She is inspired by Frontier’s mission to improve access to quality, compassionate care in underserved communities and looks forward to supporting students in becoming agents of change in healthcare.