UNC Charlotte Nursing Faculty Selected for Community Innovation Incubator Project

The School of Nursing is pleased to announce that Judith Cornelius, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAAN and Julie Gibbons, PhD, MSN, MPH have been selected to participate in the University’s esteemed Community Innovation Incubator (CII) initiative, led by urbanCORE. The CII brings together community partners, residents, students and interdisciplinary faculty to co-design and implement sustainable, community-owned solutions in Charlotte’s identified Opportunity Corridors.

Through this program, faculty from the School of Nursing will collaborate with community organizations in one of Charlotte’s prioritized corridors to address a specific health-related need that has been identified by residents themselves. The incubator process unfolds in phases: first defining the community goal, then assembling a working group, designing the plan, and finally delivering a set of actionable recommendations.

This opportunity aligns strongly with the School of Nursing’s mission and values. Our vision emphasizes community engagement, innovation, and scholarship to meet the evolving health-care needs of across various demographics. By participating in the CII, nursing faculty contribute not only their clinical and public health expertise, but also mentor students who will gain hands-on experience in community-engaged research and service.

HOW THE SCHOOL OF NURSING IS ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

The selected faculty team will convene local community stakeholders and residents in the coming months to refine the project’s goal and outline the work plan. Formal design and planning phases will follow, leading to a final set of recommendations and an action plan that the community partners can implement beyond the incubator timeline.