The University of West Georgia welcomes Dr. Michelle Byrne as a new professor of nursing. Dr. Byrne joins the university after directing the Master of Science in Nursing Education Program at University of North Georgia. Dr. Byrne says the new Ed.D. in Nursing Education provided a major incentive for her transfer.
“UWG’s nursing school’s caring curriculum is also congruent with my philosophical beliefs of teaching in academia,” said Dr. Byrne. "My expertise is in the role development of nurse educators, and I look forward to helping develop nurse leaders and faculty for the future."
Dr. Byrne's prior research examined and exposed racial bias in nursing fundamental textbooks. The Byrne Guide for Cultural Inclusion was created to assist faculty in raising their awareness of omissions and stereotypes in their teaching materials. She has demonstrated leadership with curricular and instructional innovation in nursing education and integrates concepts of information literacy and models of cultural competence in assisting faculty in reducing bias in their teaching practices. Her clinical experience was in perioperative nursing and she has published extensively and served on the AORN Journal Editorial Board. She has also served as National President for Competency & Credentialing Institute and is currently on the CNE Commission for National League for Nursing.
Dr. Byrne is a strong advocate for continuing competency in nursing. She says she enjoys teaching workshops that address clinical and academic educator competencies, as well as diversity issues.
Dr. Byrne received her Ph.D. in Nursing Education from Georgia State University and her Master of Science degree in Nursing-Medical/Surgical Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is also a Certified Nurse Educator and Certified Perioperative Nurse with over 30 years of experience in the nursing field.
