College of Nursing faculty member selected as 2026-2027 LevelUP Fellow
Posted on September 16, 2026
Christina Baughn, DNP, RN, CNE, assistant professor in Adult Health Nursing at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing, has been selected as a member of the 2026-2027 LevelUP Fellows cohort.
Baughn is one of 10 faculty and staff members from across the University chosen for the year-long program, which focuses on strengthening student learning, career readiness and preparation for what comes next.
The fellowship builds on work that is already central to Baughn’s teaching and scholarly interests. Her areas of expertise include clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, clinical education and healthcare technologies, while her research interests include generative artificial intelligence in nursing education, AI-supported care planning and the ethical use of emerging technologies in nursing practice.
“On behalf of the College of Nursing administration, we are so pleased that Dr. Baughn was selected as a 2026-2027 LevelUP Fellow,” said Heather Hall, dean of the College of Nursing. “Dr. Baughn has a wonderful opportunity to expand her experience in preparing USA nursing students for career-readiness competencies focused on their next steps after receiving the BSN degree.”
The LevelUP Fellows program is part of South Alabama’s LevelUP: Uniquely Prepared initiative. Fellows collaborate throughout the academic year on professional learning, resource development, assessment activities and projects designed to support student success.
Baughn also has a long connection to South. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from the University before completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Samford University.
Through the fellowship, Baughn will work alongside colleagues from across South Alabama on efforts aimed at strengthening the student experience and helping students prepare for the transition from nursing education into professional practice.
