Ivy Tech Madison Distinguished Alumni Selected for U.S. Fulbright Specialist Roster

Following recommendation by the program’s Peer Review Panel.

Ivy Tech Community College Madison alumnus and 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Cory Stephens, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, NI-BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, has been selected for the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Specialist Roster following recommendation by the program’s Peer Review Panel.

Dr. Stephens, valedictorian of Southwestern High School’s Class of 2005, began his higher education and nursing journey at Ivy Tech Madison. While at Ivy Tech, Stephens served as president of the Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Psi Lambda Chapter and held a Federal Work-Study position in the college’s testing center and IT help desk, providing early opportunities to develop leadership, service, and technology experience. Dr. Stephens graduated in 2014 with an Associate of Science in Nursing.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Specialist Program connects highly accomplished U.S. academics and professionals with institutions abroad for short-term projects focused on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and international collaboration. Stephens will remain on the roster for three years and is eligible to be matched with projects in more than 150 countries worldwide. The broader Fulbright Program counts 63 Nobel laureates and 98 Pulitzer Prizes among its alumni.

“Beginning my nursing education at Ivy Tech fundamentally shaped the trajectory of my career,” Stephens said. “Community colleges create pathways to opportunities that can extend far beyond where a student begins. To now join the Fulbright Specialist Roster and potentially share expertise internationally makes that journey especially meaningful.”

“We are honored to have such outstanding alumni. We hope all of our alumni will continue to share their accomplishments, pursue new opportunities, and show what is possible with an Ivy Tech education,” said Dr. Amanda Harsin, Ivy Tech Madison Chancellor.

After Ivy Tech, Stephens continued his nursing education at Indiana University and later earned graduate nursing degrees from Walden University and University of Maryland. He is now an assistant professor of nursing informatics at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Ivy Tech recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2022 for his professional accomplishments and contributions to nursing, education, informatics, and healthcare technology.