The UNC School of Nursing is proud to announce that Marcia Van Riper, PhD, RN, FAAN, has been awarded the Fulbright Specialist Program award. Dr. Van Riper will be embarking on a project at the University of Iceland, where she will bring her extensive expertise in public and global health to bear on critical educational and research initiatives.
Dr. Van Riper’s work at the University of Iceland will focus on exchanging knowledge and establishing collaborative partnerships that benefit participants, institutions, and communities both in the U.S. and Iceland. Her project will involve a variety of educational and training activities within the realm of public and global health, with a particular emphasis on family experiences of genetic conditions such as Down syndrome.
Senior Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Strategy, Ashley Leak Bryant, PhD, RN, OCN, FAAN, expressed her enthusiasm for Dr. Van Riper, stating, “The SON is very fortunate to have Dr. Van Riper’s extensive global Fulbright experiences and exemplary research expertise in family experiences of being tested and living with a genetic condition such as Down syndrome! We are certain the University of Iceland will benefit from her family research expertise!”
Dr. Van Riper is one of over 400 U.S. citizens selected to participate in the Fulbright Specialist Program each year. These recipients are chosen based on their academic and professional achievements, demonstrated leadership in their field, and potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and other countries. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided opportunities for more than 400,000 participants to exchange ideas, conduct research, and contribute to solving global challenges.
For more information on the Fulbright Program, please visit Fulbright Program.