Buckner has a lifelong commitment to higher education and nursing education. She has served for more than 50 years as a nurse educator with extensive professional leadership and scholarly work. She teaches nursing theory, leadership and evidence-based practice and research in both graduate and undergraduate programs. She developed nursing honors tracks at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of South Alabama and has consulted on the development of nursing honors programs at New York University and Texas Woman’s University. Her scholarly work focuses on interprofessional education, global leadership mentoring in nursing, applications of the Roy Adaptation Model and honors education. She is involved in her community as a member of Highlands United Methodist Church and chair of the Alabama Academy of Science’s Gorgas Scholarship Competition for high school seniors.

Degrees and Certifications

• PhD, nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• MSN, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• MS, physiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• BSN, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• AB, religion, Duke University

Awards and Honors

• Humanitarian and Outstanding Asthma Community Service Award (2020), Association of Asthma Educators (AAE)
• Inducted as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow, Nursing Academy, National Academies of Practice, 2019
• Faculty Excellence in Scholarship, College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, 2015
• Cindajo Overton Outstanding Nurse Educator Award, Alabama State Nurses Association, 2015
• NASN/ANF Scholar, National Association of School Nurses/American Nurses Foundation, 2010
• 60 Visionary Leaders, UAB School of Nursing Alumni Association
• Ellen Gregg Ingalls UAB National Alumni Society Award Lifetime Achievement in Teaching, 2005

Professional Service

• Secretary, Roy Adaptation Association (2019-present)
• Sigma, The Honor Society of Nursing, Gamma Eta Chapter, Zeta Gamma Chapter, Nu Chapter; Founding Coordinator, Global Leadership Mentoring Community (2014-present)
• Chair, Alabama Asthma Coalition (2014-present)
• President, District 3, Alabama State Nurses Association (2018-present)
• Chair, Alabama State Nurses Association Leadership Academy (2012-present)
• Member Sigma, The Honor Society of Nursing, Gamma Eta Chapter, Zeta Gamma Chapter, Nu Chapter

Publications

• Buckner, E. B., & Gibson-Young, L.M. (2026). Middle-range theory (MRT) of the adapting family for families of persons with asthma. Nursology Letter, 7. Publication of the Roy Academia Nursology Research Center, St. Mary's College, Fukuoka, Japan. https://www.ranrc.com/nursology-letter/
• Sumengen, A., Buckner, E., Keebler, K., Spells, C., Knox, R, Moore, C., Ashe, S. & Todd, E. (2026). Virtual asthma home environmental assessment: Development and validation of a training simulation. Journal of Asthma. 63 (5), 569–581. https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2025.2612531
• Rosser, E.A., Russell, K., Ng, Y.C., Lott, T.F., & Buckner, E. (2025) Sustaining success: The evolving impact of a Global Leadership Mentoring Programme, International Nursing Review, 72 (4) e70121., https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.70121
• Buckner, E.B., Thurston, L., Keith, A., Marshall, L., Johnson, K., Worthington, M., Pike, F., Diamond, J., Cameron, A., Jackson, A., Fletcher, A., Polcari, M. & Soong, W. (2024). Virtual Young Teen Asthma & Wellness Camp: An online, interprofessional curriculum for teens with asthma (curricular resource). Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice. 35, 100695ff. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2024.100695
• Rosser, E.A., Edwards, S., Kwan, R.Y.C., Ito, M., Potter, D.R., Hodges, K.T., & Buckner, E.B. (2023). The Global Leadership Mentoring Community: An evaluation of its impact on nursing leadership. International Nursing Review, 70 (3) 279-285. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12860
• Buckner, E.B., Wilson, J.E., & Slater, L. Z. (2022). Undergraduate research in nursing. In Mieg, H. A., Ambos, Brew, A., Galli, D., & Lehmann, J., eds., The Cambridge Handbook of Undergraduate Research, Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/the-cambridge-handbook-of-undergraduate-research/E1D32AAE44B8672063FF2B31CD08CF51 
• lk, D.S., Buckner, E.B., Chiatti, B.D., Farooq, S., Lai, C.K.Y., Lukkahatai, N., Ng, Y.C., Pollard, A., Russell, K., & Sailian, S.D. (2021). Capacity building in nurse educators in a Global Leadership Mentoring Community. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 18(1), published online, 20210030. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2021-0030.
• Rosser, E., Buckner, E., Avedissian, T., Cheung, D., Eviza, K., Hafsteinsdottir, T., … Waweru, S. (2020). The Global Leadership Mentoring Community: Building capacity across seven global regions. International Nursing Review, 67(4), 484–494.
• Guy, M., Buckner, E.B., Evans, H., Cook, S., & Cooley, Z. (2020). The honors thesis: A service abroad model. In Mulvaney, M.K, and Klein, K., Eds. Internationalizing Honors, NCHC Monograph Series. Lincoln, NE: National Collegiate Honors Council.
• Gibson-Young, L., Waldrop, J., Lindahl, B., & Buckner, E.B. (2020). School nurses perceptions on managing asthma in Alabama schools. Journal of School Nursing. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840520924455
• Cropp, C. D., Beall, J., Buckner, E.B., Wallis, F. & Barron, A. (2018). Interprofessional pharmacokinetics simulation: Pharmacy and nursing students’ perceptions. Pharmacy, 6(3), 70-85 (15 pp.). doi:10.3390/pharmacy6030070
• Spencer, S., Bianchi, A., & Buckner, E.B. (2018). Association development and professional transformation (ADAPT) model for nurse leaders. Journal of Nursing Management, 26,  (8), 1100-1107. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12642
• Buckner, E., Copeland, D., Miller, K., & Op't Holt, T. (2018) School-based Interprofessional Asthma Self -Management Education Program for Middle School Students: A Feasibility Trial. Submitted to Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research Education in Action, 12 (2), 9, 45-59.
• Hanna, D. R., & Buckner, E.B. (2018). Considering nursing theory certification. Aquichan, 18(2) 139-148. Doi: 10.5294/aqui.2018.18.2.2
• Grady, M., Younce, A., Farmer, J, Rudd, A., & Buckner, E.B. (2018). Enhancing communication with the Deaf through simulation. Nurse Educator, 43(3), 121-122. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000000442
• Ratcliffe, C.J., Cheshire, M., Buckner, E.B., Berry, S., Dawson, M., McDaniel, G.S., & Ladner, K.A. (2017) Building bridges: The journey of Alabama's Health Action Coalition. Nursing Education Perspectives, 38(5), 259-263. 
• Johnson, P., Gillman, A., Lintner, A., & Buckner, E. (2016). Nurse-driven CAUTI reduction process and protocol: Development through an academic-practice partnership. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 39 (4), 352-362.    
• Riley, B.H., Dearmon, V., Mestas, L., & Buckner, E.B. (2016). Frontline nurse engagement and empowerment: Characteristics and processes for building leadership capacity.  Nursing Administration Quarterly, 40 (4), 325-333.
• Buckner, E.B., Shores, M., Sloane, M., Dantzler, J., Shields C. D., Shader, K., & Newcomer, B. (2016). Honors and Non-Honors Student Engagement: A Model of Student, Curricular, and Institutional Characteristics. JNCHC: Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council, 17 (1), 191-217.  
• Buckner, B., & Buckner, E. (2015). Adaptation in Post-revolution Egypt: An Integrated Community-Based Application of the Roy Adaptation Model. Nursing Science Quarterly, 28 (4), 300-307. 
• Lim, F., Slater, L.Z., & Buckner, E.B. (2015). Honors program. In Smith, M. J., Carpenter, R., & Fitzpatrick, J. J. Encyclopedia of nursing education. New York: Springer Publishing (pp. 182-185).
• Dearmon, V. A., Riley, B. H., Mestas, L.G., & Buckner, E.B. (2015). Bridge to shared governance: Developing leadership of frontline nurses. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 39 (1), 69-77.  
• Buckner, E.B., Anderson, D.J., Garzon, N.A., Lai, C.K.Y., Hafsteinsdóttir, T.B., & Roshan, R.  (2014). Perspectives on Global Nursing Leadership: International Experiences from the Field. International Nursing Review, 61, 463-471.

Presentations

• Symposium 2025 Global Leadership Mentoring Community (GLMC): Symposium: Global Leadership Mentoring Community (GLMC) Representing Sigma - Bringing the Regions Together. Sigma, 48th Biennial Convention 2025, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Podium Presentations
• Gibson-Young, L., & Buckner, E. (2025). From Home to Health: CHWs as Environmental Health Advocates in Asthma Control. Association of Asthma Educators Annual Conference. Emerging Breakthroughs in Asthma Education: Shaping the Future. Kansas City, MO, July 23,24,25 2025. [poster presentation].
• Gibson-Young, L., Diamond, J. & Buckner, E.B. (March, 2024). Interprofessional Coalition Addressing Health Equity and Policy in Asthma Care. National Academies of Practice, Annual Meeting & Forum, Jacksonville, FL, March 14-16, 2024.
• Buckner, E.B. (September, 2023). Expanding Access and Increasing Health Equity Through the Virtual Young Teen Asthma & Wellness Camp (VYTAWC) in Rural and Underserved Communities in Alabama. Community Voices and Cross-Sector Collaboration to Advance Health Equity, Panel: Moving Health Equity from Conceptualization to Innovation to Implementation Through Novel Approaches. 2023 Health Equity Summit, Atlanta, GA, September 13, 2023.
• Buckner, E.B., Jackson, A.J., Gibson-Young, L., & Diamond, J.C. (2023). Virtual Young Teen Asthma & Wellness Camp: Creating a School-based Interprofessional Team Collaboration Rural Underserved Counties. National Academies of Practice (NAP) 2023 Forum, March 31, 2023. Washington, D.C.
• Buckner E., Johnson, K. Marshall, L., Thurston, L., Worthington, M., Cameron, A., Pike, F., Keith, L., Diamond, J., Polcari, M., & Soong, W. (2021). Virtual Young Teen Asthma & Wellness Camp: Interprofessional Self-Management Education Online. National Academies of Practice (NAP) 2021 Forum (Virtual), March 18-20, 2021
• Buckner, E.B., Beall, J. Cropp, C., Barron, A., Wallis, F. & Wilson, A. (2019). Expansion of pharmacokinetics simulation with standardized patients: Building IPEC communication competencies for person-centered quality healthcare. National Academies of Practice 2019 Forum, March 7-9, 2019, Washington, DC.
• Wilson, J.E, Slater, L. & Buckner, E.B. (2018). Creating a sustainable nursing and/or health sciences honors program: What, why and how. Presented to the 53rd Annual Conference of the National Collegiate Honors Council, November 7-10, 2017, Boston, MA.
• Gibson, L., & Buckner, E.B. (2018). Alabama Asthma Coalition (AAC): Connect, collaborate, and catalyze through statewide partnerships. STTI Region 8 Conference. Nursing Excellence: Connect, Collaborate, Catalyze. Mobile, AL, September 27-29, 2018.
• Buckner, E.B., & Gurley, L. (2018).  Connect to collaborate: Describing IPEC competencies before and after interprofessional education experiences. STTI Region 8 Conference. Nursing Excellence: Connect, Collaborate, Catalyze. Mobile, AL, September 27-29, 2018.
• Riley, B., Buckner, E., Carr, K. & Rhodes, K. (2018). Team-based learning (TBL) to Connect, Collaborate, and Catalyze learning across the curriculum. STTI Region 8 Conference. Nursing Excellence: Connect, Collaborate, Catalyze. Mobile, AL, September 27-29, 2018.
• Buckner, E.B. & Butt, C. (2018). Adapting for and through Service: Our Heritage and Hope. Workshop presented to Home Heritage: Roy Adaptation Model Spirituality & Service, Roy Adaptation Association Conference, June 8, 2018, Los Angeles, CA.
• Buckner, E.B. & Lai, C. (2017). Symposium: Global Leadership Mentoring Community: Online STTI Community of Interest for Mentoring Emerging Global Nurse Leaders. Sigma Theta Tau International’s 44th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. October 28-November 1, 2017
• Buckner, E. & Mola, A. (2017). Vulnerable populations. Workshop presentation to Globalization: Moving Forward Together. 2017 Workshops and conference of the Roy Adaptation Association. June 16, 2017, Boston, MA.
• Buckner, E., Optholt, T., Miller, K., & Copeland, D. (2016). Feasibility of a School-based Interprofessional Asthma Self-Management Program for Middle School Students: Application of Middle Range Theory of Adapting to Chronic Illness.  Roy Adaptation Association Conference, June 10-11, 2016, Boston, MA. (Lizzie Whetsell Award Podium Paper)
• Buckner, E. B. & Lai, C. (2015). Introducing a Global Leadership Mentoring STTI Online Community. Podium presentation to the 43nd Biennial Convention Sigma Theta Tau International, Las Vegas, NE, 7 November - 11 November 2015.
• Buckner, E., Newcomer, B., Sloane, M., Spencer, T., & Wenning, A. (2015). Developing in Honors (DIH):  Articulation of Department/School-Based Honors and University-Wide Honors.  50th Annual Conference of the National Collegiate Honors Council, November 11-14, 2015, Chicago, IL
• Dearmon, V., Buckner, E. B., & Mestas, L. (2015). Academic Practice Partnerships: Linking the Best of Both Worlds. In AACN-AONE Academic-Practice Partnership Webinar, presented on March 5, 2015, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington, DC.

Research

• Interprofessional Education Self-assessment of IPEC Competencies
• Interprofessional School-based Asthma Self-Management Education for Young Teens
• Honors Education in Nursing
• Roy Adaptation Model as Middle Range Theory and Research for Persons Adapting to Chronic Illness
• Frontline Engagement of Nurses through Shared Governance