Assistant Dean of Simulation
Education
Biography
Dr. Heather S. Cole is the Assistant Dean of Simulation at The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Capstone College of Nursing in 2013, her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Education from the University of North Alabama in 2019, and her PhD in Nursing Science from The University of Alabama–University of Alabama in Huntsville Joint Doctoral Nursing Science Program in 2023.
Dr. Cole’s program of research and scholarship focuses on advancing nursing education through innovative, technology-enhanced, and competency-based learning strategies. Her interests include artificial intelligence in nursing education and simulation, immersive virtual reality, competency-based assessment, and interprofessional partnerships.
As a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator, Dr. Cole provides strategic leadership for simulation-based education across undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. She designs, implements, evaluates, and supports simulation experiences ranging from foundational clinical encounters to immersive virtual reality, artificial intelligence–supported learning, standardized patient encounters, and large-scale disaster simulations. Her teaching experience includes health assessment, nursing informatics, fundamentals of nursing practice, and adult health nursing.
Dr. Cole’s clinical background includes wound and ostomy care, and geriatric long-term acute care. She is actively involved in professional nursing and simulation organizations serving as President of the Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and Secretary of the SEC Simulation Collaborative. She also has the honor of serving as a registered nurse for The University of Alabama Million Dollar Band.