BSN to PhD
Jerry Armah
Faculty Mentor: Angela Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Ailya Bai
Faculty Mentor: Angela Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Caroline Deaterly, BSN, RN
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
Area of Research: Women’s health, reproductive-age women with HIV, cervical cancer screening, substance use, mental health
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Pre-Doctoral Fellow in Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium T32 Program, University of Florida Graduate Research Assistantship
Honors/Awards: University of Florida College of Nursing Accelerated BSN Research Award, Bright Student to Faculty Scholarship
Keliy Fordham, BSN, RN
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
Area of Research: Neonatal and preterm infant health outcomes; neonatal nurse well-being
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, APRN, NNP-BC, FAAN
Honors/Awards: Ruth Hay and Hans Schrader Nursing Scholarship/Fellowship Fund and the Walter and Louise Sutcliffe Scholarship Fund
Gina Gehling, BSN, RN, PCCN
Hometown: Bentonville, Arkansas
Area of Research: Identification of potential biomarkers associated with breast cancer-related treatment effects
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer R. Dungan, PhD, MSN, RN
Affiliations: Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Sigma Theta Tau, Southern Nursing Research Society, International Association for the Study of Pain
Honors/Awards: Thomas H. Maren Scholarship for Doctoral Nursing Students (2021-2022, 2022-2023), North Florida Doctoral Consortium, College of Nursing Endowed Scholarship, Nursing Grinter Award
Christina Grinstead, BSN, RN
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Area of Research: Nutrition in pancreatic cancer
Faculty Mentor: Saunjoo Yoon, PhD, RN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Southern Nursing Research Society, Oncology Nursing Society
Honors and Awards: Brightest Students to Faculty Scholarship
Larissa Iapicca, BSN, RN-BC
Hometown: Micanopy, Florida
Area of Research: Breastfeeding and congenital heart disease
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN
Honors and Awards: Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholar
Simone Jackson, BSN, RN
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Area of Research: Alternative therapies for pain control
Faculty Mentor: Staja Booker, PhD, RN
Affiliations: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Honors and Awards: Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Nursing Scholarship
Elham Samami Kojidi
Faculty Mentor: Debra Lyon, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN & Debra Kelly, PhD, RN, OCN, CNE, FAAN
Affiliations: International Association of Clinical Research Nursing
Honors and Awards: Latin American/Caribbean (LAC) Award; College of Nursing Endowed Scholarship Award
Rigan Louis, FNP
Hometown: Léogâne, Haiti
Area of Research: Infectious disease, health promotion, vulnerable populations
Faculty Mentor: Michael Weaver, PhD, RN, FAAN
Affiliations: International Association of Clinical Research Nursing
Honors and Awards: Latin American/Caribbean (LAC) Award; College of Nursing Endowed Scholarship Award
Janet Northcote, BSN, RN, CCRN
Hometown: Miami, FL
Area of Research: AI technology for predictive translational research in the NICU
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN and Marion Bendixen, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC
Affiliations: Standing Treasurer for the Alpha Theta Chapter at UF, American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Honors and Awards: DeLuca Nursing Scholarship, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society
Alexandria Owens, BSN, RN, CCRN
Hometown: Auburn, AL
Area of Research: Pediatric environmental health, congenital heart disease, PFAS
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau, American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Honors and Awards: Rose Rivers Chrysalis Award for Evolving Nursing Research, UF Health Shands Nightingale Nurse of the Year – Pediatric Cardiac ICU, North Florida Doctoral Consortium & Emanuel and Raidie P. Merdinger Scholarship Fund
Urszula Alina Snigurska, BSN, RN
Hometown: Racibórz, Poland
Area of Research: Aging, biomedical informatics
Faculty Mentor: Ann Horgas, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN and Robert J. Lucero, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN
Affiliations: Graduate Nursing Student Academy; American Medical Informatics Association, United World Colleges, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Honors and Awards: Ruth Hay and Hans Schrader Nursing Scholarship/Fellowship Fund
MSN to PhD
Rachael Ajiboye
Faculty Mentor: Diana Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN
Fatmah Alamoudi, MSN, RN, BSN
- Hometown: United States of America, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Area of Research: Factors associated with survivorship in patients with pancreatic cancer
- Faculty Mentor: Saunjoo Yoon, PhD, RN
- Affiliations: Golden Key International Honor Society and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
- Honors and Awards: Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission (SACM), Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences (PSMCHS)
Kholod Al Hassan
Faculty Mentor: Diana Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN and Laurie Duckworth, PhD, APRN, FNP-C , FAAN
Khadeeja Alnefaie
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Dungan, PhD, MSN & Michael Weaver, PhD, RN, FAAN
Shuruq Alsayed, BSN, MSN-FNP, RN
- Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Area of Research: Mental health and well-being, psychosocial and psychiatric; autism
- Name of Faculty Mentor: Angela Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
- Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, The American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- Honors and Awards: Highest Mark New Graduate Development Program, Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission
Sarah Alzahid AGACNP, RN-BC
Hometown: Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Area of Research: Advanced nursing practice workforce
Faculty Mentor: Angela Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau Chapter Rho, Emergency Nurses Associations, Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners
Honors/Awards: Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University – College of Nursing
Hussah Bubshait MSN, RN
Hometown: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Area of Research: Breastfeeding, kangaroo care and neonatal disorders
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Honors and Awards: Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia
Alexandria Carey, MSN, MBA-HC, RN, CEN, CPEN, CNE
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Area of Research: Emergency medicine, nursing education, pain management
Faculty Mentor: Angela Starkweather, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau, Emergency Nurses Association
Honors/Awards: Cum Laude, National Nightingale Award (for excellence in nursing education), Leader of the Quarter, Certified Nurse Educator, Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Emergency Pediatric Nurse
Fabiana Cristina dos Santos, MSN, RN
Hometown: Sertaozinho, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Area of Research: Nursing Informatics and Palliative Care
Faculty Mentor: Gail Keenan, PhD, RN, FAAN & Tamara Macieira, PhD, RN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing: Rho Upsilon Chapter
Honors and Awards: Outstanding academic performance, leadership, and participation in research projects award from the Rho Upsilon Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Lois Malasanos Fellowship Fund Award, Walter and Louise Sutcliffe Scholarship Fund Award.
Elizabeth (Mendy) Dunn, MSN, RN, ACRP-CP, NE-BC
Hometown: Milton, FL
Area of Research: Informatics and health systems research
Faculty Mentor: Jane Carrington, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAMIA
Affiliations: American Nurses Association, Florida Nurses Association, Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, Emergency Nurses Association, International Association of Clinical Research Nursing
Honors/Awards: DeLuca Scholar
Lisa Johnson (Gawronski), MSN, APRN
Hometown: Merritt Island, Florida
Area of Research: Pediatric obesity, nursing informatics, digital health technology
Faculty Mentor: Gail Keenan, PhD, RN, FAAN
Affiliations: Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA)-AACN; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
Honors and Awards: University of Florida College of Nursing Graduate Assistantship Award
Olatunde Madandola MPH, BSN, RN
- Hometown: Nigeria
- Area of Research: Nursing Informatics
- Faculty Mentors: Gail Keenan, PhD, RN, FAAN, & Ragnhildur Bjarnadottir, PhD, MPH
- Affiliations: Golden Key International Honor Society
- Honors and Awards: Grinter Award, and Emanuel and Raidie P. Merdinger Scholarship Fund Award
Dennine McCadden, MSN-ED, RN
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Area of Research: Pain and the Aging Adult with Dementia
Faculty Mentor: Ann Horgas, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau, AORN, FNA
Honors and Awards: Grinter Award, College of Nursing Scholarship
Angela Monk, BSN, MPH, RN, IBCLC
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Area of research: Neonatal nutrition and human lactation
Faculty mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN
Honors and Awards: Arlene P McKitrick Grad Scholarship
Tarah Nelson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Area of Research: Type 2 diabetes in American Indian populations
Faculty Mentor: Lisa Scarton, PhD, RN
Affiliations: Southern Nursing Research Society
Honors and Awards: Graduate School Fellowship, College of Nursing Scholarship
Blessing Okorie
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN
Isaac Payton, MSN, MBA, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Hometown: Plum Branch, South Carolina
Area of Research: LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Disparities
Faculty Mentor: Debra Lyon, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau; Zeta Pi Chapter
Honors and Awards: McKnight Fellowship
Jennifer Pruitt, RN,MSN, CNM, ARNP
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Area of Research: Neonatal hypoglycemia, preterm infants and glucose gel
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP, NNP-BC, FAAN
Affiliations: UF Health Shands, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Honors and Awards: Research Fellowship – UF Health, North Florida Doctoral Consortium Scholarship, Brightest Students to Faculty
Magali Rezende de Carvalho, MSN, APRN, CWOCN
Hometown: Itauna, Brazil
Area of Research: Complex wounds
Faculty Mentor: Debra Lyon, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Affiliations: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society; Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurses Society; Northeast Florida Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners
Honors and Awards: UF College of Nursing Graduate Assistantship Award, F. Eugene Tubbs Critical Burn Nursing Scholarship, Walter and Louise Sutcliffe Scholarship Foundation
Jianli Wu, RN, MSN
Hometown: China
Area of Research: Pain Management
Faculty Mentor: Ann L Horgas, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN and Staja Booker, PhD, RN
Honors and Awards: Emanuel and Raidie P. Merdinger Scholarship
Hyehwan Yang
Faculty Mentor: Ragnhildur Bjarnadottir, PhD, MPH