Hampton Named Co-Director of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has appointed Kimberly Hampton, PhD, MBA, MS ’06, BSN ’02, RN, assistant professor, as co-director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

She will share responsibilities for leading the program with Nicole Smith, PhD, MS ’14, RN, CNE, CHSE, CNE-cl, assistant professor. 

UMSON’s entry BSN program is ranked No. 13 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (tied with eight other institutions) out of 686 accredited nursing schools ranked. Among public schools of nursing, UMSON is ranked No. 10 in the nation (tied with four other public nursing schools).

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hampton to the BSN leadership team,” said Katie McElroy, PhD ’16, MS ’10, BSN ’97, RN, associate professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “Her expertise in nursing administration and her passion for supporting students in their transition to practice will be instrumental as we prepare competent, compassionate graduates who are ready to lead the nursing profession forward.”

The BSN program, which enrolls 220 students each semester across UMSON’s locations in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, prepares students to excel in nursing careers across a broad spectrum of acute, chronic, and community-based settings. As co-directors, Hampton and Smith will identify priorities and guide the program’s faculty development, student inclusion and success, and development of partnerships with community stakeholders. These efforts are aimed at continuing to create meaningful and engaging opportunities for students that also contribute to improving health care quality, equity, and outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Hampton joined the School of Nursing in November 2022. She earned her PhD in Nursing Education from the Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. She is a two-time alumna, having earned her Master of Science and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UMSON. She also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business.

Hampton has more than 20 years of nursing experience with a specialization in nursing administration and leadership, quality improvement, and compliance. She has written and presented on the transition to nursing practice and on issues of nurse well-being and retention. As nursing education strives to prepare practice-ready nurses, her transition-to-practice research and expertise is an asset. 

She also serves as the program coordinator for the Nurse Retention and Nursing Education and Professional Development focus areas of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center, housed at UMSON. In this role, she plans professional development for Maryland nurses. She also is a co-principal investigator on a study investigating retention efforts of Maryland hospitals and what encourages nurses and nursing staff to stay with their organizations.

Hampton succeeds Hannah Murphy Buc, PhD, RN, assistant professor, who will be leaving her faculty position at UMSON in February for another opportunity. To provide a smooth transition, Hampton began her new role in November.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.