Carolyn Dickens, Associate Dean for Practice at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing, a large academic institution with six campuses across the state, leads initiatives that expand healthcare access and improve outcomes for underserved populations. As a scholar, policy leader, and expert nurse practitioner, she brings a systems-thinking approach to advancing health equity through interprofessional collaboration, academic-practice partnerships, and innovative nurse-led models of care. Dr. Dickens has held leadership roles within the University of Illinois (UI) Health and the Erie Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, impacting thousands of patients statewide. She successfully led the policy and implementation efforts of Full Practice Authority (FPA) for APRNs at UI Health and Erie, which now serve as national models. Her work emphasizes cost-effective, high-quality care through strategic innovation, policy reform, and education of the next generation of nurses. She contributes to national committees and boards focused on interprofessional practice and care for underserved communities. Whether clarifying APRN scope of practice or scaling transformative care models, she applies visionary leadership and coalition-building to shape policies that elevate the nursing profession and improve health systems. Dr. Dickens educational background includes a BSN from the University of Iowa, a MSN from Johns Hopkins University and a MBA and PhD from the University of Illinois Chicago.