March is Women’s History Month, and in this story, we highlight an amazing woman doing amazing things at Davenport.

 

Not many young children know what they want to be when they grow up, and if they think they do, it often doesn’t come to fruition. This was not the case for Amy Stahley, dean of Davenport University’s College of Health Professions. At just five years old, she knew without a doubt that she wanted to be a nurse.  

Stahley said she really doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be a nurse. It all started with home visits from her family’s doctor when she was just five years old. She remembers being completely captivated by the contents of the doctor’s medical bag and wasn’t shy about asking him to explain what each item was and how it was used.

“I can still picture it: stethoscope, reflex hammer, syringes and medications,” recalls Stahley. “I was a little kid asking all sorts of questions about everything in his bag, and he always took the time to answer me.”

While the doctor satisfied Stahley’s curiosity about the medical gadgets, it was his nurse, Marie, who really got her attention.

“Marie knew everything about the patients, their families and what needed to happen next,” said Stahley. “She had this quiet confidence and command that I admired even at a young age. Looking back, she was my first real example of what it meant to be a nurse; she was knowledgeable, trusted and essential.”

Stahley never forgot about Marie or that “ah-ha” moment. She said nursing always felt right, except for a brief period of time in her senior year of high school when she considered becoming a mortician. She even went so far as to apply and be accepted to mortuary school. However, after honest conversations with her parents and some soul searching, she realized her heart was already set on becoming a nurse. “I realized that nursing wasn’t just an interest; it was who I was meant to be,” she said.

Stahley’s childhood dream of becoming a nurse became a reality at Ball State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing and a Master of Science in nursing with a focus in nursing education.

“My experience at Ball State not only grounded me clinically but also sparked my passion for teaching and developing future nurses,” Stahley said. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in nursing education at Nova Southeastern University. “Earning my doctorate allowed me to deepen my impact, not just at the bedside, but in shaping nursing education and supporting the next generation of nurses,” she said.

Shortly after earning her BSN, Stahley began working in the operating room at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as a circulating nurse and scrub nurse. Three years later, her career veered slightly when she joined a neurosurgical practice, also in Fort Wayne. 

When she moved to Grand Rapids with her husband, she continued working in neurosurgery at Great Lakes Neurosurgical Associates. In both neurosurgical settings, Stahley’s role evolved into that of a physician extender. Her days mirrored the surgeon’s schedule and responsibilities. She assisted in surgeries, made patient rounds, managed orders and consultations and responded to emergency calls. “I was also responsible for patient and family education, and at times, had the difficult responsibility of delivering hard news,” she said. “Much of my role involved listening, supporting and walking alongside patients and their families during very challenging moments. Both physicians I worked with valued the role of nursing deeply and saw me as an extension of the high level of care they expected to provide.”

After 26 years in clinical nursing, Stahley felt a pull to make a different kind of impact, one that extended beyond direct patient care. She had already begun to explore teaching by leading clinical rotations and teaching medical terminology at Grand Rapids Community College when a friend and mentor encouraged her to consider adjunct opportunities at Davenport.

In 2010, she did just that. “Interestingly, just two weeks into my role as an adjunct faculty member at Davenport, there were some unexpected changes, and I was asked to step in and take on the clinical coordinator role for the W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus.

Since joining Davenport, Stahley has transitioned through several additional roles, including clinical and simulation coordinator, department chair, associate dean for nursing, and her current role as dean. “I started out taking a small step into academia, and it quickly became my passion, and Davenport provided the opportunity to grow that passion into a meaningful and fulfilling career,” she said.

In her time at Davenport, Stahley said the nursing program has experienced significant growth, including expanded student capacity and strengthened partnerships with health care organizations. The university has also launched advanced Master of Science in Nursing tracks, such as family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and, most recently, clinical nurse leader. “What truly defines our evolution is our ability to remain nimble. Health care is constantly changing, and we have intentionally adapted our curriculum and experiences year to year to meet those needs,” she explained. “That responsiveness has allowed us to stay innovative and ensure our graduates are prepared for the realities of today’s health care environment.”

As far as what motivates her, Stahley said it is the entire College of Health Professions staff. “There is something incredibly meaningful about supporting faculty in their professional development and watching their confidence, expertise and impact expand over time. She described Davenport’s College of Health Professions faculty as transformational, noting that their impact extends far beyond the classroom. “They don’t just teach content, they instill confidence and influence the kind of care our graduates provide,” she said.

Stahley is equally proud of Davenport’s nursing students and graduates. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing our students achieve their goals. Watching them cross the stage at graduation, knowing the dedication and perseverance it took to get there, is truly special,” she said.

What sets Davenport’s nursing program apart, she said, is its intentional focus on preparing students not just to graduate, but to succeed in practice from day one. “We are deeply committed to aligning our curriculum with the realities of today’s health care environment, ensuring our students are both clinically competent and practice-ready,” she said. “It’s that balance of hands-on learning, innovation, and personalized support that develops knowledgeable, confident and compassionate nurses.”

Tracy Alberta, MSN program director and department chair, said Stahley saw potential in her before she saw it in herself. “She hired me without a lengthy leadership resume and, in return, offered her trust, mentorship and belief that I could grow into the role. Six years later, I understand that this is simply who Amy is. She doesn’t just develop students; she develops the people around her. She leads by lifting others up, and our entire university is stronger because of it.”

When it comes to the most memorable moments of her career, Stahley has two. She looks back fondly on her time caring for her neurosurgical patients from start to finish. She was there when they arrived in the emergency room with significant trauma or serious medical conditions, followed them into surgery and through their entire postoperative journey. “Watching them go through the ups and downs, and ultimately watching them recover to the point where they could return home or transition to rehab was very rewarding,” she said. “Even more meaningful was seeing them again in the office as healthy, whole individuals. Being part of that full continuum of care was incredibly powerful and deeply fulfilling.”

In academia, her standout moment came not as a teacher but as a patient. During a personal health crisis, she was cared for by a critical care nurse who had once been one of her students. “To witness her expertise, confidence and compassion, and to know I had played a small role in her journey, was both humbling and profoundly rewarding. It reminded me of the lasting impact we have as educators and the legacy we help build through our students,” she said.

Gilda Gely, provost, said there is a steadiness in Stahley that becomes most visible in the moments that matter most. “I have seen her navigate difficult situations, and what stands out is not urgency or authority, but presence,” said Gely. “She listens fully and leads with clarity and strength, holding firm when needed while ensuring that people walk away feeling respected and understood. In a role that often demands hard decisions, Amy brings a rare balance, one that leaves a lasting impression long after the conversation ends.”

As Stahley’s career shows, the nursing profession offers incredible diversity, and that’s what Stahley loves most about it. With so many different specialties and roles, nurses have ample opportunities to grow, evolve and find their unique place within the field. “When it comes to being a nurse, what matters most to me is the opportunity to care for others,” she said. “Nursing is about providing compassion and support to people during their most vulnerable moments. It’s also about helping individuals who are striving to become a healthier, better version of themselves. Being involved in that journey, whether through healing, education or encouragement, is what makes the profession so meaningful to me.”