Dr. Cody Bruce is an Associate Professor and RN-BSN Program Coordinator at the University of North Texas Health College of Nursing, bringing more than 19 years of clinical nursing experience and 15 years of nursing education to his role. One of only ten nurses from Indigenous communities in the United States to hold a doctoral degree in academia, Dr. Bruce is a pioneering voice in culturally responsive nursing education and Indigenous healthcare workforce development.

His scholarly work centers on nursing student retention, with a particular focus on supporting American Indian/Alaska Native students through innovative, equity-driven approaches. He serves as Co-Investigator on HRSA grants totaling over $4 million dedicated to expanding Indigenous healthcare representation, and has developed a Technology-Enhanced Belonging Framework featuring digital cultural mentorship and virtual belonging communities. His research has been presented at national conferences, including AACN Transform 2025.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Bruce serves on the board of the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association (NANAINA) and is a recognized Fluxx Nurse Educator of the Year in Texas for 2025. He has also received the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students’ Faculty Achievement Award and the DAISY Award for Excellence in Nursing Education.

Deeply rooted in his community, Dr. Bruce is a member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb, where he serves as Tribal Genealogist and Federal Recognition Committee member. Since 2000, he has served as Town Historian for Zwolle, Louisiana, and is the founder of the Natives of Zwolle & Ebarb Historical & Genealogical Society, preserving the cultural heritage of his community for future generations.