PhD student Merci Paulhill has been selected as a 2026 Graduate Archer Fellow, an honor that will place her in Washington, D.C., this summer to live, learn and lead alongside graduate students from across The University of Texas System.
“I feel very fortunate to represent The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and our Forty Acres in Washington, D.C., this summer,” Paulhill said. “I’m told it has been quite some time since a graduate nursing student has taken on the mantle of Graduate Archer Fellow, so it feels especially meaningful to help reestablish this tradition.”
The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program offers UT System graduate students a summer in Washington, D.C., combining academic credit, a hands-on internship, and a cohort-based experience that connects their expertise to policy and public service. For Paulhill, the opportunity represents a chance to elevate the nursing voice beyond traditional clinical settings.
“Nursing is a profession that has always carried a trusted voice, one that deserves to be heard not only at the bedside but also in leadership and policy,” she added. “This opportunity represents another step forward in bringing our voice to those spaces.”
Paulhill credits the UT Austin School of Nursing’s PhD program for preparing her for this next step.
“I am deeply grateful for the education and encouragement I have received through the PhD nursing program, which has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to communicate evidence-based information and make recommendations that strengthen systems while improving outcomes for populations,” she said.
During the fellowship, Paulhill will complete a full-time internship while engaging with policymakers and national leaders.
“What I’m most excited about is the hands-on internship, where I can apply my health care and nursing knowledge to initiatives that impact people at the national level,” she said. “It’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Paulhill earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UT Austin before transitioning directly into doctoral study. She said her undergraduate experience laid the foundation for her academic path.
“While much of my early career focused on applying evidence-based practices for the good of my patients, I reached a point where I realized I wanted to do more than follow the evidence—I wanted to help create it,” Paulhill said. “Pursuing a PhD felt like the natural next step to contribute meaningfully to the profession, and for me, there was no other place I wanted to do that work than the UT Austin School of Nursing.”
Paulhill is currently balancing her doctoral studies with clinical work at Ascension Seton, an experience she describes as both demanding and grounding.
“Being at the bedside keeps me grounded in the realities of patient care and allows me to see firsthand the challenges and opportunities nurses face every day,” she said. “These experiences directly inform my research by highlighting gaps in care and areas where evidence-based interventions or policy and procedural improvements can have the most meaningful impact.”
As a second-year PhD student, Paulhill’s research focuses on intervention adherence and adoption among adults living with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
“Despite effective treatments—including antifibrotic medications, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy—many patients struggle to follow prescribed care plans,” she said. “My research explores how these challenges are shaped not only by physical limitations but also by psychosocial, behavioral and systemic factors, revealing gaps in patient support that can worsen health outcomes and increase health care costs.”
Paulhill’s work is deeply personal and was inspired by a close family member’s experience with ILD, and it’s their journey that drives her to amplify the patient voice.
Looking ahead, Paulhill sees the Graduate Archer Fellowship as a critical step in bridging nursing science and policy.
“A lesson I often share when speaking with nursing students about policy, research and public health is that the language of nursing can differ significantly from the language of politics, business and economics,” she said. “To ensure that our recommendations reach those with the authority to act, nurses must learn how to bridge this language gap. Fortunately, my experience in this PhD program has shown me that developing into a competent nurse researcher and leader naturally requires engaging with these broader spheres of influence. In making decisions, policymakers weigh data, costs, precedent and the practical realities of implementing change, an approach that mirrors how researchers design studies.”
She credits mentorship at the School of Nursing as central to her growth, including faculty members Alexa Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, FAAN, James R. Dougherty Jr. Centennial Professor, and Ana Todd, PhD, RN, clinical associate professor.
“Their guidance, encouragement, and belief in my work have been instrumental in shaping my academic journey,” she said.
Ultimately, Paulhill hopes her work will leave a lasting impact on patients and the profession alike.
“I want my work to bridge the gap between evidence and practice,” she added, “ensuring that research not only generates knowledge but also drives meaningful improvements for patients, families and health care systems alike.”
As she prepares to take the nursing voice to the national stage, Paulhill reflects on the words engraved on the floor seal at the entrance of the School of Nursing: “Wherever duty leads.”
“To me, crossing it has always felt like making a promise,” she said. It’s a reminder that, in times of adversity, nurses step into spaces where our expertise, compassion and ingenuity are needed—even spaces where our voices haven’t traditionally been heard. Following our duty in these moments often means not just entering the room but creating a seat at the table.”