Valerie Garr is an Adjunct Assistant Professor who teaches and guest lectures in various health sciences courses.  Her work prepares nursing students with the global skills necessary to care for different patient populations within complex health systems. Additionally, she provides faculty and staff with evidence-based resources to enhance teaching, curriculum development, advising, and service.

Valerie also coordinates the College of Nursing’s Supplemental Instruction and NEST Tutoring Program, offering academic support to UI nursing interest students and first-year BSN students enrolled in high-risk core science foundation courses. She oversees the BSN Admissions Essay Workshop, assisting second-semester nursing interest majors applying through the UI BSN standard admissions process.

Val has been employed by the University of Iowa for 35 years and has previously worked in the UI Office of Student Financial Aid; UI Office of Support Service Programs; Opportunity at Iowa-Office of the Provost; and UI Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She also served as a member of the health sciences grant team to make the UI a Summer Health Professions Education Program campus; she served on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) SBIRT-TIPS (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) Educational Grant Advisory Committee; she has previously served on the UI Women in Science and Engineering Advisory Board , Women’s Resource & Action Center Advisory Board, UI Council on the Status of Women Steering Committee, Iowa Women’s Foundation Grant Review Team, UI Council on STEM, and she is a former Vice President of the UI African American Council. 

Val’s awards include: 

• April 2021: UI Hancher-Finkbine Medallion 
• April 2019: College of Nursing Staff Excellence Award 
• April 2018: Iowa Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award 
• May 2016: UI Distinguished Catalyst Award, the first woman to be awarded this distinction 
• April 2005: UI Staff Council for Excellence in Service Award 
• May 2003: Distinguished Educator Award, UI Graduation Celebration
• April 2003: W.H. Knight Award of Distinction, UI College of Law- Black Law Student Association 
• April 2003: Afro Heart Award, Afro-American Cultural Center