June 1, 2012

In January, the College of Nursing and Health Professions implemented the Macy Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program (MULFP,) a program developed by tenured Associate Professor Roberta Waite, PhD, who additionally serves as the Assistant Dean of Academic Integration and Evaluation of Community Programs.

MULFP is a voluntary program for undergraduate nursing students that includes six courses completed during a one and a half year period. It is designed to enhance students’ communication abilities, interpersonal skills, cultural competency, self-awareness and leadership skills.

An important part of the program is the focus on interprofessionalism; it exposes students to collaborative work with diverse groups of professionals from various healthcare disciplines. Part of the MULFP experience takes place within a community-based nurse-managed healthcare center where the nursing students work alongside many other kinds of health professionals.

Each of the participants completes an individual professional development plan (IPDP) as part of the program. From beginning to end, five assessments show Waite which specific skills and behaviors need the most work so that she can direct her focus accordingly.

Sixteen nursing students of the Class of ‘13 currently participate in MULFP: Mary Accardo, Gabriella Jackson, Tionna Flowers, Diane Werner, Lauren Schoppet, Katelyn Harkins, Ruth Henriquez, Amanda Holmnquist, Leah Noble, Victoria Fiorenza, Jessica McLaughlin, Dawn Cooney, Kevin Semless, Jaimie Burger, Ashleigh Williams and Jocelyn Veas.