Summary
Dr. Zhizhong “Z” Li is a nurse educator, certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), and board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) dedicated to advancing equity in healthcare and higher education. He currently serves as Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging at the Orvis School of Nursing (OSN), where he leads strategic efforts to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging into all facets of the school’s operations, curriculum, and culture.
Dr. Li brings 17 years of progressive leadership and trauma-critical care experience at Renown Health to his academic roles. He earned his MA, BSN, and MSN degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, and completed his Ph.D. in Nursing at the University of Arizona with a focus on human dynamics in healthcare. He also holds an Advanced Graduate (Post-Master’s) Certificate in PMHNP from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is a certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor.
At OSN, Dr. Li provides leadership in embedding inclusive excellence into faculty and staff recruitment, retention, development, and evaluation. He co-chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and serves as a strategic liaison between OSN and university-wide DEI leadership. His efforts help foster a collaborative, respectful, and equitable academic environment.
Dr. Li is also leading the development of the Student Wellness Program at OSN. In alignment with his mental health advocacy work, he co-founded the Wellbeing in Higher Education Network at the University of Nevada, Reno (WHEN@UNR)—a campus-wide initiative aligned with the international WHEN network. This group fosters trauma-informed dialogue and strategies that promote wellness, ecological belonging, and inclusive culture throughout the university.
As a faculty member, Dr. Li has taught undergraduate and graduate nursing courses, including clinical practice, leadership, and Clinical Nurse Leader theory and practicum. He is deeply committed to student mentorship and community-engaged scholarship. One of his notable projects included guiding a student initiative addressing stigma in pregnant women with opioid use disorder, which led to the formation of a regional Neonatal Guidance Committee and received national recognition from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Dr. Li serves on several university committees, including the Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies Advisory Committee. He is a founding member of the University’s Neurodiversity Alliance, where he advocates for Universal Design for Learning and inclusive academic practices for neurodiverse students. He is also a member of the Asian, Asian American, and Indigenous Pacific Island Working Group (AsPIre) and the Queer and LGBT Advocacy Board (QLAB).
His research focuses on mental health and wellness, inclusive excellence in nursing education, healthcare disparities, nursing workforce retention, stigma reduction, and cultural competence. His master’s thesis, Cultural Competence in Nursing Students and Practicing Nurses, was named one of ProQuest’s 25 Most-Accessed Dissertations and Theses in 2018. He has presented nationally on nurse leader retention, innovative teaching strategies, and the integration of DEI in nursing programs, with multiple publications to his name. Through teaching, scholarship, and institutional leadership, Dr. Li continues to build inclusive systems that support the success and well-being of students, faculty, and communities—locally and globally.
Professional experience
- University of Nevada, Reno - Assistant Dean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- University of Nevada, Reno - Undergraduate Level 1 Clinical Coordinator
- University of Nevada, Reno - Track Leader (MSN CNL program)
- University of Nevada, Reno - Assistant Professor
- Renown Health - Manager of Nursing (Trauma/Neuro/Surgical/Medical critical care)
- University of Nevada, Reno - Clinical Faculty (Trauma/Neuro/Surgical/Medical critical care)
- Renown Health - Supervisor of Clinical Nursing (Trauma/Neuro/Surgical/Medical critical care)
- Renown Health - Staff Nurse (Trauma/Neuro/Surgical/Medical critical care)
- Renown Health - Critical Care Technician (Trauma/Neuro/Surgical/Medical critical care)
Research interests
- Mental health and well-being
- Substance abuse prevention and intervention
- Suicide prevention
- Inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in healthcare systems and higher education
- Human dynamics and communication in healthcare systems and higher education
- Compassion fatigue, burnout, and turnover among healthcare professionals
- Healthcare disparities and stigmas in the LGBTQIA + population
- Healthcare management and leadership
- Health behaviors, issues, and disparities in vulnerable populations
Scholarly work
- Li, Z., & Gephart, S. (2023). Prevalence and characteristics of hospital nurse leaders' turnover intention. The Journal of Nursing Administration (JONA), 53(9). https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001314
- Li, Z., & Gephart, S. (2022, April). Prevalence and characteristics of the turnover of nurse leaders. Podium session presented at the meeting of the 2022 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Portland, WA.
- Li, Z., & Gephart, S. (2022, April). Inclusive excellence in undergraduate clinical education with teaching innovation. Podium session presented at the meeting of the 2022 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Portland, WA.
- Li, Z., Gephart, S., & Brewer, B. (2022, April). Turnover intention in acute care nurse leaders: A scoping review. Podium session presented at the meeting of the 2022 Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Portland, WA.
- Li, Z., & Brewer, B. (2021, April). Cultural competence in nursing students and practicing nurses. Virtual podium presentation. Western Institute of Nursing Conference.
- Li, Z. (2020, July). COVID-19 and the LGBTQIA+ Community. Virtual podium presentation. 2020 Sexual & Gender Minority Health Conference. Nevada Public Health Training Center.
- Li, Z. (2020, May). COVID-19 and the LGBTQIA+ Community. Webinar presentation. COVID-19 Webinar Series: Supporting LGBTQIA+ Communities. Nevada Public Health Training Center.
- Li, Z., & Holston, E. C. (2020, April). Promoting freedom of speech in the higher education environment. Podium presentation selected at the meeting of the 2020 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit, Reno, NV. (Conference canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
- Li, Z., & Combs, K. (2019, February). Addressing health disparities and stigma in pregnant women with opioid use disorder: An MSN education initiative through interdisciplinary collaboration. Poster session presented at the meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s Education Conference, Tampa, FL.
- Li, Z., Elliott, J., & VanKirk, E. (2018, May). Dedicated rapid response team (RRT) improves mortality rate. Poster session presented at the meeting of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute Conference, Boston, MA.
- Tung, W. C. & Li, Z. (2015). Pain beliefs and behaviors among Chinese. Home Health Care Management & Practice, (27) 2, 95-97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1084822314547962
Courses taught
Undergraduate courses
- NURS 318 – Nursing Care of the Individual I: Practicum
- NURS 346 – Nursing Care of the Individual II: Practicum
- NURS 454 – Nursing Care – Individual III: Practicum
- NURS 441 – Nursing Management and Leadership
- NURS 487 – Fundamentals of Global Health
Graduate courses
- NURS 744 – Leadership Development and Care Management
- NURS 747 – Care Management in a Health Care Micro-System
- NURS 759 – Planning Strategies for Care of Specialized Populations
- NURS 760 – Advanced Nursing Care for Specialized Populations Practicum
- NURS 788 – Doctorate Nursing Practice Project
Service activities
- 2025-Present Wellness in Higher Education at University of Nevada, Reno – Founding member
- 2023-Present Admission, Progression, and Student Affairs Committee - Member
- 2021-Present Neurodiversity Alliance – Founding member
- 2020-2023 Presidential Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, University of Nevada, Reno – Member
- 2018-Present Strategic Planning Committee, Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno – Co-chair
- 2016-Present Faculty Search Committee, Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno – Member
- 2018-2023 Honor Pledge Induction Ceremony Planning Committee, Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno - Member
- 2017-Present Faculty Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, University of Nevada, Reno – Member
- 2017-Present Faculty Advisory Committee, Ozmen Institute for Global Studies University of Nevada, Reno – Member
Education
- Advanced Graduate (Post-Master’s) Certificate, Nursing
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner - University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Ph.D., Nursing, Data & System Science - University of Arizona
- MSN, Nursing - University of Nevada, Reno
- BSN, Nursing - University of Nevada, Reno
- ADN, Nursing - Truckee Meadows Community College
- MA, Journalism - University of Nevada, Reno