Duea Wins Daisy Award

The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington is proud to announce that this year's DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Educators goes to Dr. Stephanie Duea, PhD, RN, FNAP.  

After receiving her BSN from Western Carolina University, Dr. Duea completed an MA and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Auburn University. She is currently a tenured associate professor and a key leader in both advanced practice education, faculty mentorship, and community healthcare service at the School of Nursing. 

Dr. Duea's presence in the classroom, within the DNP program, and throughout the broader School of Nursing community reflects a deep and authentic commitment not only to teaching but also to shaping compassionate, capable nurse leaders who understand their profound influence on patients, families, healthcare systems, and communities. Central to Dr. Duea’s impact is her unwavering dedication to mentorship grounded in genuine care for each student’s professional development and personal growth. She creates learning environments characterized by energy, curiosity, and intellectual engagement. Through this rigorous and supportive process, she helps students transform their ideas into meaningful, practice-changing outcomes. More importantly, she teaches them how to think critically, lead ethically, advocate effectively, and practice with integrity. 

Dr. Duea’s impact on her students can be summed up in this one statement: “At commencement, she placed my doctoral hood—an act that symbolized far more than academic achievement. In that moment, she was my mentor, my advocate, and a steady presence who helped make one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my life possible. Even today, she remains a trusted colleague and advisor, supporting ongoing scholarship and dialogue related to rural health, moral injury among nurse leaders, and system-level transformations.” 

In conclusion, it is Dr. Duea’s sustained contributions, transformative community engagement, and extraordinary support of students that make her profoundly deserving of this honor.