There are moments in an academic career that transcend personal achievement and speak to the power of education and collaboration. Today, Professor Violeta Lopez, PhD, RN, FACN, experienced such a moment as the International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) in Sri Lanka officially announced her appointment as Adjunct Professor. The recognition, conferred during the 2025 IIHS Graduation Ceremony on 23 July 2025, celebrates Professor Lopez’s outstanding contributions to nursing, research, education, and global health leadership.
Professor Lopez joined the ceremony virtually to witness the announcement and deliver her remarks, weaving together reflections on her career and a heartfelt message to the graduating class of 2025. Her statement set the tone for a ceremony that honored not only student success but also the value of mentorship, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in health sciences education.
“It is a great honor for me today on this auspicious occasion—my conferral as Adjunct Professor and your graduation,” Professor Lopez said. She reflected on her decision to focus on adjunct roles after serving as a tenured full-time professor for 20 years: “Since 2019 I decided to be an adjunct professor at different universities where I think I can contribute my knowledge, special skills, research, and service.”
Her connection with IIHS runs deep. “When I came to IIHS as an Australian volunteer, I thought a lot about my experiences and why I want to be part of IIHS,” she shared. “Teaching and mentoring staff and students have been a dynamic encounter with people of diverse cultural backgrounds, experiences, career aspirations, and interests. Being an Adjunct Professor at IIHS means being part of a strong and dynamic community—an international institute that highly values interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships that support growth, challenge ideas, and foster innovations. What else can I aspire to be but part of the IIHS community?”
In addition to this new appointment, Professor Lopez holds adjunct professorships at Central Queensland University in Australia and Holy Angel University in the Philippines. She is also the current President of the Filipino Nursing Diaspora Network (FiND), a global organization uniting Filipino nurses worldwide to advance leadership, research, and advocacy in nursing. These roles underscore her deep commitment to developing nursing leadership and fostering international collaboration across borders.
The announcement of her appointment during a graduation ceremony created a powerful link between academic leadership and student achievement. Professor Lopez used her remarks to turn her focus to the graduates, congratulating them for their perseverance and sacrifices. “Your determination and drive led you to earn your degree at IIHS. It takes discipline and sacrifices with the support of many people around you—your friends, your family, favorite faculty, mentors, advisors, and classmates all playing a role in your success. So, do not forget to thank them,” she said.
She urged graduates to see this day not as an end, but as a beginning. “Today is the culmination of your time at IIHS, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your lives. You have come to a crossroad of reflections and anticipations of what lies ahead. You will become alumni of IIHS who span the world to work in many hospitals, leading industries, companies, and universities imaginable. Be out there seeking employment, whatever and wherever you want to, but continue to uphold excellence in whatever you do.”
Her call for lifelong learning resonated with the core values of IIHS. “You may also think that your graduation today is the end of your education, but it doesn’t stop here. I encourage you to seek lifelong learning. Never stop, as the world is becoming more complex and changing with increasing technology,” she said, ending with encouragement and pride.
The IIHS Academic Board’s unanimous decision to award Professor Lopez the title of Adjunct Professor underscores her reputation as a global nursing leader and advocate for interdisciplinary, innovative healthcare education. Her decades of service in academia, combined with her commitment to advancing nursing education and research, have influenced countless professionals around the world.
For the graduates, witnessing her appointment served as inspiration and affirmation that their chosen profession offers a path not only to personal fulfillment but also to leadership on a global stage. Professor Lopez’s remarks emphasized gratitude, excellence, and forward-thinking—values that align closely with IIHS’s mission to produce health professionals equipped for a rapidly changing world.
The partnership between Professor Lopez and IIHS symbolizes the growing importance of international collaboration in nursing and healthcare education. Her new role promises to strengthen educational and research opportunities, providing graduates and faculty with access to global perspectives and mentorship rooted in both experience and vision.
For IIHS, today’s ceremony was a celebration of achievement at every level—from individual graduates embarking on their careers to a distinguished academic leader joining their community. For Professor Lopez, it was both an honor and an affirmation of her lifelong dedication to education, mentorship, and service. As she stated, being part of IIHS is “being part of a strong and dynamic community” that values innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to health and human development.
The ceremony concluded on a high note, leaving graduates with both the pride of their accomplishments and the inspiration of Professor Lopez’s words. It was a day that underscored what is possible when passion for learning, commitment to service, and belief in global partnership come together—a fitting context for both a new academic honor and the launching of many professional journeys yet to unfold.
