Before her arrival to WMed, Nancy Bjorklund, EdD, MPA, amassed more than 15 years of experience as a proven educator and leader.
Now, Dr. Bjorklund is the newest director of the medical school’s Office of Continuing Education. The role, she said, is one that will allow her to put to use her expertise in leading articulated institutional commitments such as accreditation and internationalization.
“I thrive in settings where I can define strategic guidelines and successfully lead teams toward achieving institutional goals,” Dr. Bjorklund said.
In addition to her new duties at WMed, Dr. Bjorklund is an instructor in the Global and International Studies Program at Western Michigan University where she leads an annual innovative study abroad program. She also teaches in the Master of Public Administration Program at WMU.
Dr. Bjorklund came to Michigan with her family in 2017 when her husband, Dr. Paulo Zagalo-Melo, accepted the position of Associate Provost for Global Education at WMU. Prior to that, she served as the Program Integration Manager for the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education at the University of Montana, overseeing the administration of multiple college accreditations.
In 2014, she became the University of Montana’s Associate Director of Comprehensive Internationalization, co-leading a strategic campus-wide initiative aimed at strengthening an articulated institutional commitment towards internationalization, including curriculum, faculty policies, and student programs.
Dr. Bjorklund began her new role at WMed on October 28.
“At WMed, I want to deepen the culture of innovation and excellence through continuing education to ensure our stakeholders continue to value it as a key resource for career and institutional advancement,” Dr. Bjorklund said. “I will strive to ensure that the Office of Continuing Education is an integral part of the organization and continues to be a strategic partner, engaging the medical community in the identification of future priorities and plans to achieve them.”
Dr. Bjorklund received her EdD in Global Education in 2018 from the University of Southern California. She received her MPA in 2014 from the University of Montana and her bachelor’s degree in International Studies in 1996 from Hamline University. She has been active in a number of professional associations, including serving for two years as the State of Montana Chair for the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network, demonstrating leadership in and a commitment to the advancement of women in higher education.
An innovative scholar in her field, Dr. Bjorklund has presented and published on measuring and assessing higher education internationalization. She also boasts significant budgeting experience having previously served as the Director of Budget, Finance, and Personnel for the Global Engagement Office at the University of Montana.