Stephanie Uhr

What year did you start working at NIU?
2014

Where is your hometown? and where do you live now?
I grew up in Schaumburg, Illinois, but now live in Gilberts, Illinois.

Where did you attend college and what degree(s) have you earned?
I have a B.S. in nursing and an M.S. with a concentration in nursing education from NIU, as well as a Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

In which department(s) do you teach?
School of Nursing

Were you a first-generation college student? If so, what advice would you offer to current first generation students?
Yes, I was a first-generation college student. The best advice I can give is to reach out to the resources available on campus, especially to other students. That can be tricky for some who do not know many people on campus. However, getting involved with student-led organizations and searching out what NIU offers can expand your friend group immensely. Sometimes, you do not realize what help you need until you get advice from others.

What do you like about working at NIU?
The campus environment and the people. There is a fantastic mix of people from various backgrounds who all work or attend NIU. It's wonderful to be part of a diverse campus and learn from others' experiences and perspectives. I believe it allows each person to grow into a kinder individual. In addition, I am so proud to teach at the university I attended. NIU gave me a great start to my career, and being a part of the NIU community again is very fulfilling.

What advice would you give to students currently attending NIU?
To take advantage of the resources available here at NIU. I have worked with the wonderful people at the University Writing Center, Founders Memorial Library, the University Honors Program and more. Also, the campus is beautiful, so take a moment to go out and enjoy nature or grab a bite to eat at the food trucks on Wednesdays.

Tell us about a research or engaged learning project you have led.
I came away from my Ph.D. program with a refined appreciation for research and a heightened desire to improve people's lives. That led me to create NIU's Reproductive, Maternal and Infant Healthy Equity (RMIHE) research group. Along with my brilliant CHHS colleagues, Dr. Shondra Clay and Dr. Julie Patterson, we continue to explore ways to improve maternity care and decrease health disparities. I also continue to work on my research on lactation, which stems from my 20-plus-year career as a maternity nurse and lactation consultant. The NIU Research and Artistry Opportunity Grant funded my most recent project.

What do you enjoy most about mentoring students?
For me, it is all about helping students be successful, whether in class, professionally or even personally. In return, I am honored to be part of their journey. Mentoring is one of the most fulfilling parts of my job. I enjoy watching them grow into amazing nurses and making an impact on the patients they serve. In the process, I have also gotten to know many wonderful human beings, some of whom I am lucky to consider friends and colleagues now.

What do you hope students take away from their college experience?
I want every student to take away new knowledge and fond memories from their time at NIU. However, more importantly, I would like each student to grow personally and professionally in their chosen career path. I also believe that being in NIU's diverse and inclusive environment will expand their understanding of people's perspectives. For those looking to be in professions that provide care to others, it is vital to provide equitable care and compassion to everyone.

What is your favorite memory of NIU?
I have so many, both as a student and an educator. As a student, I enjoyed the close-knit relationships I developed in the nursing program. We all went through the challenging program and succeeded, but we also had time for fun. I was a member of Mortar Board and the Student Nurses Organization (SNO) as an undergrad. Those organizations promoted academic performance and community involvement. My time as a member of SNO and the leadership roles I held on the executive board were so much fun and made me a better person. SNO allowed me to get to know others outside my nursing class cohort. Lastly, I loved going to local events like Corn Fest and football games with friends or enjoying the local spots. I fondly remember Amnesia, Otto's, MaCabe's and Molly's. Some of those local bars are still around. Lastly, I can't forget about Ollie's; I still go there today! As an educator, just being back in a place with such great memories is fantastic. But every day I make new memories with my students and co-workers.

What’s one thing about NIU that’s surprised you?
Coming from a more suburban hometown, the "aroma of farming" sometimes took me by surprise on random days when I left my apartment when I lived on campus or when I walked out after class from the nursing building.

What fulfills you personally and professionally?
In two words, my students. I have often been asked if I miss my time as a bedside nurse. While I miss being at a mother's bedside when she gives birth or helping a new family care for their infant, there is something so rewarding about experiencing students' excitement about their journey to become nurses. Seeing students progress from their first semester of nursing school, being unsure and new to most ideas and tasks, to just a few semesters later being a part of the nursing Pinning Ceremony and seeing the nurses they have become is just incredible.

Which of NIU’s core values align with your own?
All of NIU's core values align with my own, which is a significant reason why I completed two degrees at NIU and chose to come back here to work. As a nurse educator, I am always curious and creative when planning my classroom activities and envisioning new directions for my research ideas. Equity and inclusion are vital in any profession that cares for others, whether in health care or educational environments. If every human being was kind, we would live in a much better world. As a nurse, I have been taught to provide care with ethics and integrity, and those values continue in my classroom and my personal and professional life. I promote service and stewardship by mentoring students and taking an active leadership role in the nursing program to ensure we meet our students' needs and maintain our accreditation standards.

Have you contributed to any NIU Foundation fundraising campaigns such as the Day of Giving or Huskies United? If yes, why did you decided to support NIU?
Yes, many times in the past. I try to give back and provide support to NIU and the students the university serves.

Do you keep in touch with any NIU alums? If so, are there any doing something interesting and exciting that we should know about? Please share some information with us and we’ll consider them for a future feature. 
I do keep in touch with many NIU alums. I will be sure to share any updates.

Who has influenced your professional path?
Numerous people have impacted my professional path over the years, but my love of teaching has led me back to the classroom. I have to say that my time in the Student Nurses Organization (SNO) as an undergrad was meaningful. My time there promoted my leadership skills and ability to be successful. My desire to keep learning and improving patient care has always propelled me to ask questions and seek out what could be improved. Earning my master’s and doctoral degrees has made me a better nurse and human being. Now, my students continue to inspire me to be better, to learn more knowledge to pass on to them in the classroom, and to model the type of nurse I hope they become, compassionate and accepting of others. 

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you currently doing it? If not, what changed your path?
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a nurse, at least back in middle school. So, I am living my dream. But what helped me stay in my profession is the constant desire to learn more and improve my care. Taking on new roles in maternal and infant care, from my specialty at the bedside to my doctorate in nursing and now as an educator, has allowed me not to get "burnt out" and leave the profession.

Are you participating in or have you participated in any NIU shared governance or professional development groups? If so, how has your participation enhanced your experience as an employee?
Since being a graduate student at NIU, I have been involved in the shared governance committees. I am the chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum and Evaluation Committee for the School of Nursing. I am a member of various other committees and regularly attend meetings for the General Faculty Council, Faculty Advisor Committee/Program Evaluation Committee and the Simulation Sub-committee. The professional development groups such as Strategic Transdisciplinary Artistry, Research and Scholarship (STARS) Academy and my research group, Reproductive, Maternal and Infant Healthy Equity (RMIHE), have significantly improved my knowledge and collaboration with others and enhanced my career.

Are you a member of or hold a position within a professional or community organization? If so, what organization? What is the purpose of that organization and how does being part of this organization benefit you in your role at NIU?
I am a member of multiple professional organizations and the treasurer of the Beta Omega chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. Here at NIU, I am the faculty advisor for the Student Nurses Organization (SNO). I love my role and how it allows me to interact with the nursing students. SNO is focused on academic achievement, community involvement and supporting NIU nursing students. The monthly meetings and events bring a sense of community to a challenging academic program. Being part of it as a faculty member is fantastic; it is full circle from when I was in SNO as a student.

What community organizations are you involved in?
Unfortunately, due to my hectic work schedule, I do not participate much in my community. However, I do consider the time I devote on campus and to the NIU community to be my community work. I hope to start to volunteer more in the future, especially with animals.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I love to hang out at home with my family and my dog. Often, I combine my love of the outdoors (not winter though) and reading by going out on my deck with a good book on a beautiful day. Each morning, I enjoy walking my dog around my neighborhood and the solitude it provides. Other things I do for fun include traveling, going to the movies and Great America. I love roller coasters!