Before stepping into leadership and academia, Dr. Shanna Chapman spent years working directly in patient care. That experience continues to shape how she approaches teaching today.
Now serving as Lead Faculty for Nursing at Colorado Technical University, Dr. Chapman brings nearly three decades of experience across clinical practice, education, leadership and health policy into the classroom. She remains clinically active as a family nurse practitioner, grounding her academic work in the realities of healthcare as it continues to evolve.
For Dr. Chapman, the focus is not on titles or credentials. It is on connection between research and practice, and between faculty and students.
Making Research Real
When she talks with students, Dr. Chapman keeps things practical and grounded.
Her work centers on helping nursing students understand how research may connect to everyday care. Rather than treating evidence as something separate from clinical work, she emphasizes how it can guide decisions, support quality care and influence broader healthcare systems.
She also brings a strong interest in health policy into her teaching, which can help students consider how care extends beyond individual patients and into larger systems.
Another area she is especially passionate about is the impact of adverse childhood experiences and how they may shape long-term health. For Dr. Chapman, understanding a patient’s experiences can be an important part of understanding their care.
This perspective can encourage a more holistic approach, one that considers the full picture of a person’s health.
Redefining What Nursing Looks Like
Dr. Chapman also challenges common assumptions about the profession.
Nursing, particularly at advanced levels, can be misunderstood as task oriented or limited to bedside care. In practice, it is a field that can include leadership, research, education and policy.
Through her work, she helps students explore how nurses may contribute to shaping healthcare systems that could improve quality and how applying evidence can be meaningful.
This broader view can highlight the depth and scope of the field.
A Connected Learning Experience
At CTU’s College of Nursing, Dr. Chapman is part of a faculty community that brings together academic rigor and intentional connection. With programs offered at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, there are options for candidates regardless of their academic goals.
Faculty draw from clinical practice, research and leadership experience to support students in a broader context. At the same time, the program emphasizes consistent engagement, helping students feel supported and connected throughout their academic journey.
For Dr. Chapman, that balance is essential.
Beyond the Classroom
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Chapman’s focus shifts to her family.
As a grandmother, she values time spent staying present and connected, a perspective that carries into how she approaches both teaching and leadership.
In a detail that often surprises her students, her family is also helping care for a young kangaroo. It is an unexpected part of her life that brings curiosity and conversation into the classroom.
A Perspective Shaped by Experience
Across every part of her career, Dr. Chapman’s work reflects a consistent theme of bridging knowledge and practice.
Whether through clinical work, leadership roles or time in the classroom, her focus remains on helping others think critically, engage deeply and approach care with a broader understanding of what it means to support patients and communities.
For those exploring the field of nursing, that perspective can offer a clearer view of how the curriculum can connect to real-world care and evolving healthcare systems. Learn more about the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level nursing program options at CTU and how faculty experience can shape the educational environment.
Colorado Technical University cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states.
REQ2222086 5/2026