Michele Upvall, PhD, RN, CNE, professor at College of Nursing, has received a 2016-2017 Fulbright Scholar award.
Upvall, an expert in global health and Fulbright Specialist, traveled to Thailand to develop standards for quality research at Khon Kaen University. The standards will be incorporated into courses for master’s degree and PhD nursing students. She also worked closely with faculty members to incorporate research competencies into curricula for undergraduate and graduate nursing students.
“The nursing program at Khon Kaen University recently expanded its programs to international students and, similar to UCF, is active in developing partnerships with other institutions,” said Upvall. One of Khon Kaen University’s recent partnerships is with Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Vietnam, where Upvall has worked with Health Volunteers Overseas providing support to nursing faculty and teaching research workshops.
Co-editor of Global Health Nursing: Building and Sustaining Partnerships, Upvall has created nursing education programs that have made an impact throughout the world. She was involved in the creation of the first bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) program on American Indian lands, and in Pakistan developed the first master’s degree in nursing (MSN) program and first fully integrated BSN program allowing both male and female students to attend classes together. She is also currently facilitating the development of a RN to BSN program in Lebanon.
Upvall has been a graduate nursing professor and coordinator of the Nurse Educator MSN and certificate programs at UCF since 2015. She is also a member of the Nursing Education Steering Committee and project director for Bhutan for Health Volunteers Overseas, and was recently elected to the Nominating Committee at the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
“I am honored to be named a Fulbright Scholar. Working with colleagues in the global nursing community is a tremendous opportunity to learn as well as share my knowledge,” said Upvall. “Together our efforts can further the development of nursing and strengthen health care across the globe.”
Administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, the Fulbright Specialist program promotes linkages between U.S. scholars and professionals and their counterparts at host institutions overseas. The program focuses on building educational capacity and developing longer term educational relationships.