Faculty

Stephen Heglund has been a member of the faculty for over 20 years. During this time, he has served as the inaugural Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs (2022-24) and as the Director of Post-Licensure BSN Programs at the UCF College of Nursing where he oversaw more than 1,400 distance-learning students from 2007 until 2022. An active distance-learning facilitator during his two decades, Heglund serves as a distance-learning innovator, resource, and mentor to faculty who are new to teaching in an online environment. In cooperation with the Center for Distributed Learning, he has delivered UCF’s award winning distance faculty development course, IDL6543, many times. He is an award-winning faculty advisor who has presented on the topics of innovative advising across time and distance as well as transforming traditional experiential learning in nursing to meet the needs of both the distance learner and the expectations of today’s healthcare arena. He currently offers his expertise in curriculum and distance education as an Essentials Coach for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and as an accreditation Site Evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). A fifth-generation Florida native and four-time UCF alumnus, Heglund has served his community as an RN and Nurse Practitioner in the areas of AIDS care, critical care, emergency care, and urgent care for nearly 30 years.

Education

• PhD, University of Central Florida
• MSN, University of Central Florida
• BSN, University of Central Florida
• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education, University of Central Florida

Selected Editorial Activities

• Manuscript reviewer, Health Care Management Review

Selected Award & Honors

• Outstanding Knight Nurse – Education, UCF College of Nursing Alumni, 2022
• Teaching Incentive Program Award, University of Central Florida, 2021
• Excellence in Faculty Advising Award, University of Central Florida, 2009 and 2018
• State of Florida Outstanding Faculty Academic Advising Award, Florida Academic Advising Association, 2017
• Multiple “Quality” and “High Quality” Online Course Design Designations, University of Central Florida
• Clinical Excellence Award, Laraja Foundation, 2000
• Faculty Liaison, UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter

Selected Professional Activities

• Essentials Coach, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• Accreditation Site Evaluator, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)