Q&A with Emefa Awo Adawudu, Recipient of the 2025 NLN Foundation Nursing Education Faculty Scholarship
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Emefa Awo Adawudu, MSN, RN, a PhD student at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, has been named a 2025 National League for Nursing Foundation (NLN) Nursing Education scholarship recipient. The competitive annual program awarded $125,000 to 19 advanced degree nursing students for the upcoming academic year, with Emefa receiving $8,000. Scholarship winners were honored at the 2025 NLN Education Summit in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 18.
NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone said in a press release that, “with the cost of professional education continuing to rise and new caps on federal student borrowing putting graduate education out of reach for many, the National League for Nursing considers it an urgent priority to provide meaningful financial relief to those who want to pursue graduate nursing education and join the ranks of nurse faculty."
Earlier this summer, Emefa also received a one-year fellowship at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Her research centers on exploring how psychosocial factors, social determinants of health, and self management behaviors affect diabetes outcomes of persons with type 2 diabetes and overall health of their primary support persons.
We spoke with Emefa, an international student from Ghana, about the impact of this honor, her nursing journey, and her aspirations.
Get to Know PhD Student Emefa Awo Adawudu
Question: What impact will this scholarship have on your nursing career?
Emega Awo Adawudu: Financially, this scholarship will ease the burden of living and research-related expenses, allowing me to dedicate time to my dissertation, teaching, and mentoring students. Professionally, it provides access to NLN educational resources, opportunities, and networks, enabling me to contribute to the next generation of nurses through teaching, mentorship, and community-engaged research.
Q: What inspired you to study nursing?
EA: My inspiration to study nursing began as a teenager when a young relative was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I became actively involved in his care, reminding him to take his medications, accompanying him to medical appointments, and encouraging gradual lifestyle changes. This experience ignited a profound desire within me to care for others, not only during acute illness but also in ways that address their holistic needs— physical, emotional, and social. This early exposure to compassionate, person-centered care ignited my passion for nursing and continues to shape my commitment to improving the health and quality of life of individuals and families.
"Through the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, I have benefited from inspiring mentorship, meaningful collaborations, and invaluable research opportunities that have prepared me to lead independent research initiatives and pursue a lifelong career as a nursing educator and scholar."
—Emefa Awo Adawudu, PhD student
Q: How your UMass Nursing education has impacted your nursing journey?
EA: My education at UMass Amherst has been transformative. The UMass Nursing program has provided me with exceptional academic and professional support to strengthen my teaching and research skills through a dedicated graduate assistantship as an international student. Through the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, I have benefited from inspiring mentorship, meaningful collaborations, and invaluable research opportunities that have prepared me to lead independent research initiatives and pursue a lifelong career as a nursing educator and scholar.
I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support received from the faculty and staff at Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. In particular, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to my advisors, Dr. Allison Vorderstrasse and Dr. Memnun Seven, for their consistent mentorship, encouragement, and invaluable guidance throughout my PhD journey and during my application for this scholarship. Their support has been instrumental in my academic and professional development.
Q: What advice would you give to students thinking about studying nursing?
EA: Nursing is one of the few professions that allows you to care for people as whole beings, addressing their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. It is a deeply rewarding career that offers countless opportunities to connect with individuals and families meaningfully. For students considering nursing, I encourage you to approach it with compassion, curiosity, and commitment. The field offers limitless pathways for growth, whether in clinical practice, education, research, or leadership, each providing the chance to make a lasting difference in people’s lives and communities.
Q: What are your future aspirations?
EA: I aspire to become a nursing professor who prioritizes student-centered teaching and integrates innovative didactic and simulation-based learning approaches to prepare the next generation of nurses for the evolving healthcare landscape. Beyond academia, I also hope to venture into the healthcare business, providing access, quality, and culturally responsive care, particularly to older adults. Through education and innovation, I aim to contribute to a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system.