Rhonda Lanning receives Fulbright Specialist Award

A woman with long wavy brown hair, wearing glasses and a blue sweater, smiles outdoors with a blurred natural background.

The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has granted Rhonda K. Lanning, DNP, CNM, IBCLC, LCCE, RN, clinical professor in the School of Nursing, a Fulbright Specialist Award. Lanning will be hosted by Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL).

Lanning will focus on maternal-newborn nursing, innovative approaches to educating health professionals, and midwifery and doula care. She will provide workshops, classes, and lectures based on her expertise and looks forward to learning from her colleagues as she travels throughout several regions of Norway.

“I am so grateful to have been selected for this incredible honor! It is thrilling to have the opportunity to create meaningful partnerships with colleagues in Norway who share my passion for education, midwifery, and doula care. I want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Marcia Van Riper, Fulbright Specialist/Scholar Coordinator, who provided phenomenal guidance as I navigated the application process and to Dr. Ashley Leak Bryant, Senior Associate Dean, Office of Strategy and Global Affairs, for her ongoing support of my efforts to engage with global partners.”

Recipients of Fulbright specialist and scholar awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as a record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. “Dr. Lanning’s national and international expertise as a Certified Nurse Midwife and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant is commendable. She has more than 30 years of dedication to reproductive health care, including practice, service and teaching. This is a unique opportunity for Dr. Lanning to share her knowledge with Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) students and faculty as a 2025 Fulbright Specialist. I am certain Dr. Lanning will continue to strengthen and expand global engagement with HVL supporting the commitment to academic excellence and collaboration!”, stated by Bryant.

According to Dr. Van Riper, “Rhonda is exceptionally deserving of this opportunity. She is an outstanding teacher and clinician who consistently demonstrates excellence in her work. Moreover, she has proven to be a resilient and effective leader, especially during challenging times. Rhonda is a remarkable role model, mentor, and advocate for both her students and colleagues. She will be an excellent Fulbright Specialist.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. These award recipients exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges.

For more information, please visit the Fulbright Scholar and Specialist Program websites. You can also reach out to Professor Marcia Van Riper, recipient of Scholar and Specialist awards and Fulbright Specialist/Scholar Coordinator.