Christopher Nelson has been awarded a Fulbright grant, making him UW Bothell’s second awardee in the span of three weeks. With his Fulbright Study/Research Grant, Nelson will pursue a master’s degree in Denmark while conducting research on the expanded scope of nursing work in isolated Arctic settlements in Greenland.
Nelson says he is excited and honored to represent UW Bothell in Denmark and Greenland.
“I’m thrilled to have a chance to do research there that might improve healthcare in the Arctic,” he says. “Nurses are the front line of health care providers in isolated Greenlandic settlements, and I’m fascinated with the amazing work they do.”
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.
Natalia Dyba, Manager of UW Bothell’s Global Initiatives and Merit Scholarships, says prestigious awards such as the Fulbright recognize students’ accomplishments and attest to the high caliber of education offered at UW Bothell, as compared with institutions nationwide. They also recognize diverse student experiences. “In addition to having a solid academic foundation, our students stand out in national merit scholarship competitions because of the rich life experiences they incorporate into their UW Bothell education,” Dyba says. “Students come from previous careers, military service, immigrant/refugee experiences, overcoming family or health challenges, and much more.”
Nelson spent ‘many years’ as an EMT on an ambulance before deciding to help more people at a community level by becoming a registered nurse. He is the president of the Nursing Students of Washington State and was recently elected to a three-year term as the student member of the American Society for Circumpolar Health Board of Directors.
Nelson credits UW Bothell and the Nursing and Health Studies Program for supporting his efforts to become a nurse educator and researcher in global health. “The intensive training in theory, ethics, and scholarly writing that I engaged in as part of my UW Bothell bachelor’s degree gave me the foundation to dream of international study and research.”
The Key Biscayne, Fla. native says he is excited to study and conduct research in a place so very unlike the island he grew up on. Before he begins his graduate studies, Nelson will travel to Greenland to present his spring and summer quarter research findings funded by his 2013 Mary Gates Venture scholarship.
