Pauline Komnenich, PhD, RN, has received the 2008 Joyce Finch Faculty Achievement Award. Dr. Komnenich serves as Professor and Director of the Center for Evaluation and Educational Research for the ASU College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. She has been regarded by her students as an outstanding professor and mentor who has had a significant influence in shaping doctoral studies at ASU’s College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. Dr. Komnenich’s letter of nomination was submitted by the college’s doctoral students.
Dr. Joyce Finch served on the faculty of the ASU College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation from 1965 to 1994. In 1995, she established an endowment to reward a professor for outstanding service to the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation and created an award designed to generate public acknowledgement of high-quality instruction by full-time faculty members. A selection committee comprised of an honors student and student representatives from the Student Nurses Association and Graduate Nurses Organization select the award winner based on their nomination. Selection criteria include full-time faculty status, outstanding teaching skills and service, and/or accomplishments of the nominee within and outside the college. Students within the college may nominate a full-time professor for the award which is presented each year at Spring Convocation.
The nomination letter for Dr. Komnenich listed the profound impact and level of dedication she affords her students while upholding a positive and engaging learning environment rich with experience and nursing knowledge. As stated by her nominees, Dr. Komnenich is "highly deserving of such distinguished recognition… she is "a shining example of what is needed in higher education as well as "a friend, a colleague and a warm, caring person."
Colleen Keller, PhD, RN-C, FAHA received the Joyce Finch Faculty Achievement Award last year. Dr. Keller currently serves as Professor and Director of the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence and the Center for Healthy Outcomes in Aging for the ASU College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation.
