Dr. Stella O. “UJUNNE” Akpuaka – Board Chairperson

Dr. Stella O. Akpuaka is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner licensed to practice in the states of Maryland and Washington, DC. She has more than twenty-six years of clinical nurse practice experience and has trained undergraduate and graduate nursing students for over one decade. Dr. S. O. Akpuaka is a Tenured Associate Professor in the Division of Nursing, Allied Health, Life and Physical Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia. In addition to her role as an educator, she was one of the successful UDC Research Infrastructure in Minority Institutions (RIMI) scholars.

Her research activity on Prostate cancer prevention & early screening with Nigerian male immigrant populations led her to several national podium
presentations; a research publication in the Association of Black Nursing Faculty (ABNF)
scholarly peer reviewed journal (winter 2012 edition), and several research excellence awards. She also has other nursing journal publications that include focus on the Male Nursing Students’ Experiences and Nurse Educators in the 21st century. As a Clinician, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Researcher, she has traveled widely in the USA and made several national presentations of her work. In March 2016, she was one of the few “Women in STEM and Allied Health” featured in celebration of Women History Month at the University of the District of Columbia.
Dr. S. O. Akpuaka holds active memberships in the National League of Nursing, UDC Faculty/National Education Association, and the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, to name
a few.

Dr. S. O. Akpuaka graduated with an Associate degree in Applied Science in Nursing from Cameron University Lawton, Oklahoma; Bachelor of Science in nursing from Bowie State
University, Maryland; Master of Science in Health Care Administration from University of Maryland University College (UMUC), Maryland; a Certificate in Nursing Education from
University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Baltimore; a Master of Science in Health
Services Leadership Management-Education focus from UMSON; a Doctor of Nursing Practice
from Carlow University Pittsburgh, PA and a Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner from
Coppin State University, Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. S.O. Akpuaka is blessed with five beautiful children: Jennifer (Pharmacist), Lloyd (Dentist),
Bryan (Osteopathic Medicine Student), Erica (Registered Nurse), and “Baby” Stella, a high school student. Dr. Akpuaka believes in lifelong learning. Her life mantra is to “do unto others as you want them to do unto you”