Dr. Lori McElroy is an Associate Professor in the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus. Dr. McElroy’s nursing career has focused primarily on pediatric critical care, home care, hospice, and nursing administration. She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is an accomplished nursing educator and academic leader with 23 years of experience in nursing education and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, student success, and program innovation. Since joining the College of Nursing in 2007, she has taught across the full spectrum of undergraduate nursing education, including LPN, traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN programs, serving as lead faculty, co-lead faculty, and course instructor in all undergraduate nursing courses. Over the past five years, her contributions have expanded into graduate nursing education, including teaching and mentoring in both DNP and PhD programs.
Education:
Dr. Lori McElroy (aka Dr. Mac) is an Oklahoma native. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master's in Nursing Education from the University of Oklahoma, College of Nursing, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership from American Sentinel University.
Board Certification(s):
- Registered Nurse
- Certified Nurse Educator
- Certified Traum-Informed Educator
Clinical/Research Interests:
Dr. McElroy’s research interests include fostering nursing students’ success through support with trauma-informed approaches, safe learning environments, positive student progression, and transition to practice.
Select Honors and Accomplishments:
- 2026 University of Oklahoma Distiguished Teaching Award
- 2024 OUHSC, CON Service Award 2024
- National RN to BSN Faculty Forum Council President’s Special Recognition Award 2022
- 2022 OUHSC, CON Mentoring and Leadership Award 2022
- AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing –Novice Faculty Excellence in Didactic Teaching Award, 2012