Dr. Candy Wilson is a tenured Professor, Schmidt Family Distinguished Professor, and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. She has dedicated her career to advancing the health and readiness of military women as a women’s health nurse practitioner and clinical scientist. Guided by her mission—“Lead with purpose, persevere through challenge, and let impact speak louder than titles”—Dr. Wilson continues to shape policy, drive innovation, and elevate academic and clinical excellence in nursing education.
A 30-year military Veteran, Colonel (retired) Wilson has led nearly two decades of research, securing over $22 million in federal funding and authoring 60 peer-reviewed publications. Her work has informed policy at the Department of Defense (War), and U.S. Congress. She continues to serve on the VA Women’s Health Research Network Expert & Stakeholder Forum and reviews proposals for the VA Office of Research and Development funding opportunities. She is currently overseeing three of her own DoD-funded studies.
Dr. Wilson is also deeply committed to academic excellence and student mentorship. She actively guides doctoral and undergraduate students, resulting in multiple award-winning projects. This past year, her three mentees have earned honors such as Undergraduate Researcher of the Year, and Best Poster awards. Through her mentorship, Dr. Wilson cultivates critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and leadership in future nurse scholars.