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Pamela Gehrke, EdD, RN

Associate Professor, School of Nursing

Pam Gehrke

Pamela Gehrke is one of Boise State University’s eight Idaho Professors of the Year recognized by the Carnegie Foundation. She is an Associate Professor of Nursing who has taught since 1987. She particularly enjoys helping students incorporate political and policy skills into their nursing identities. Gehrke teaches graduate and undergraduate students courses on population assessment, public and community health, and policy, power and voice in nursing.

Gehrke’s research focuses on civic engagement, political advocacy and nursing. Currently, she is completing grounded theory research on how undergraduate students learn about political and policy advocacy. Past research is in public health, childhood immunizations, and the use of cooperative learning in nursing education. Her clinical expertise is in public health including school, rural, and faith community nursing.

Gehrke was an early adopter of online learning at the university and has the distinction of having taught the first online course offered in both the SON and COHS. She presents widely on creative teaching, engaged learning, and distance education in nursing education. She also presents on political and policy advocacy in nursing and strategies to increase nursing’s involvement in civic and political processes.

Gehrke holds an EdD in Curriculum, Instruction and Foundational Studies from Boise State University. She has a Master of Science degree in Community Health Nursing from the University of Portland with additional emphasis in Nursing Education. Her Bachelor of Science degree from is from Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University) in Ashland, Oregon.

Selected Honors & Awards

  • “Most Influential” Teacher, 2012 Graduating Class Award, Boise State University. 2012.
  • Nursing Excellence Award, Nurse Educator, Distinguished Career, March of Dimes. November 2010.
  • Golden Apple Award for Teaching, Boise State University, ASBSU. 2009.
  • Honored Faculty by Boise State Top Ten Student, Julie Carr, Boise State University. 2008.
  • Honored Faculty, Student Writing Contest Winner, Phi Kappa Phi, Boise State University. 2008.
  • Excellence in Faculty Teaching Award, College of Health Sciences, Boise State University. 2007.
  • Honored Faculty, Student Writing Contest Winner, Phi Kappa Phi, Boise State University. 2007.
  • Idaho Professor of the Year, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). October 1999.
  • Creative Achievement Award, Public Health Nursing Section, American Public Health Association. November 1998.

Contact Information

Office: NNHS 427
Phone: (208) 426-1651
Email: PGehrke@boisestate.edu
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