Ashley Turner PhD, ANP-BC, RN, BSN
(She/Her)
Assistant Teaching Professor
- College of Nursing
Email Address:[email protected]
Mailing Address:
- CU Anschutz
Education II North
13120 East 19th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
Ashley Turner, PhD, ANP-BC, BSN, RN, is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado College of Nursing. She is an Adult Nurse Practitioner and nurse researcher whose work sits at the intersection of clinical practice, behavioral science, and health equity. A graduate of the University of Colorado PhD program, her doctoral research explored Motivation for Physical Activity in Adults Receiving Care from a Federally Qualified Health Center, using an innovative mixed methods–grounded theory design to illuminate what drives engagement in health behaviors among adults facing socioeconomic barriers.
Blending academic inquiry with hands-on experience, she has spent nearly two decades delivering compassionate, evidence-based care. Since 2016, she has served as an Adult Nurse Practitioner at Denver Health, where she partners with patients to manage chronic disease and promote wellness. Her earlier work in New York City and Boston as a nurse in the emergency department and a nurse practitioner at homeless shelters deeply shaped her commitment to equitable care. She is an active member of professional and community organizations to which she brings intellectual curiosity, empathy, and leadership to her mission of advancing health through research, education, and service. A dynamic educator and mentor, she utilizes her skills and experiences to support future generations of nurses.
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- PhD - University of Colorado
- MS - New York University (NYU)
- BSN - Georgetown University
- Board Certified Adult Primary Nurse Practitioner (ANCC)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
Awards
- 2025 - PhD Distinguished Dissertation Award, University of Colorado
- 2025 - Commencement Student Speaker, University of Colorado
- 2024 - Doris Kemp Smith Award/Dissertation Grant, University of Colorado
- 2022 - Karina Wen-Hui Chu Nursing Scholarship, University of Colorado
- 2021 - Karina Wen-Hui Chu Nursing Scholarship, University of Colorado
- 2021 - Doctoral Teaching Fellowship, University of Colorado
- 2020 - First Year New Student PhD Award ($2,000), University of Colorado
- 2013 - Compassionate Care Award, Boston Healthcare of the Homeless Program