Andrew Corley

Meet Andrew Corley, MSN/MPH, BSN, of Nu Beta at-Large Chapter who is a 2019-2020 Sigma research grant recipient. Andrew received grant funding for his study Examining the Relationship Between Parents' Endorsed Gender Norms and Their Early Adolescents' Psychosocial Health, Educational Engagement, and Nutrition in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Andrew, who joined Sigma during his master’s program said, “I was pleased to be recognized for my academic achievements and knew being a member would open up new opportunities for networking, funding, and professional advancement.”

Currently pursuing his PhD while practicing as a nurse in a cardiovascular surgical ICU, Andrew shared what he likes most about what he is doing today. “I'm fortunate to be satisfying numerous professional interests. As a student I get to think and learn about research methods and topics that I find interesting. As a bedside nurse I have the privilege of practicing the art and science of nursing, while working with an outstanding interdisciplinary group of health professionals. It's a really nice balance between theory and practice.”

While in the Peace Corps, 2008-2010, Andrew was stationed in Benin, West Africa. His time there sparked his interest in adolescent global heath. “Adolescence is such an important time in one's life, but because of the urgent need to focus on reducing the under-five mortality in many low-income countries, it has remained a somewhat neglected topic in global health circles up until only the last decade or so.”

Regarding his Sigma-funded study, Andrew further shared, “My interest in gender norms was kindled later when I came to better understand the powerful effect that inequitable gender norms exert on individuals' health and well-being. I hope that my research will contribute to our understanding of how inequitable gender norms affect the trajectory of adolescent health and development.” He expects this project to not only contribute to but provide important lessons that will be applied to future research.

The grant Andrew received was made possible by donors to the Sigma Foundation for Nursing. If you would like to help more Sigma nurses like Andrew, donate today.