Nancy Boury, Ph.D., earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Wartburg College. She then earned a master’s degree in medical microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular and developmental biology from Iowa State University. She has taught at Iowa State University since the fall of 1998 and served as the microbiology program advisor from 1999-2015 before joining the department of plant pathology and microbiology in 2016 as an assistant professor, promoted to associate professor in 2022.  Boury’s research program is focused on the continuous improvement cycle of student learning by refining learning objectives, assessments and student activities. This includes creating teaching case studies, using game-based learning, developing concept inventories to reliably measure student learning, and mentoring other instructors on active learning strategies. 
Boury was recognized for her contributions in education with the 2022 ASM Carski Award for Undergraduate Education.