Melonie Welsh recognized with ITEACH Award

Melonie Welsh receives an ITEACH Award last month.

Melonie Welsh receives an ITEACH Award last month.

Melonie Welsh, director of community engagement at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, was recognized with an ITEACH Award last month.

Welsh received the Faculty Advisor Excellence in Engagement Award, which recognizes excellence in community engagement by UNMC faculty and provides exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or UNMC.

During the third annual ITEACH Awards, students, student organizations, staff and faculty members were recognized for their contributions to campus, student and community life at UNMC.

The awards were presented April 17 during an event in the Wigton Heritage Center.

“Our ITEACH ceremony is dedicated to rewarding those who selflessly give time to improve the lives of others within the UNMC and surrounding communities in addition to their formal academic work,” said Heidi Keeler, PhD, assistant vice chancellor of community engagement for UNMC.

To highlight the impact that leadership, engagement and community partnership have on the health and lives of others, Charity Evans, MD, chief of the division of acute care surgery, and Ashley Farrens, trauma program manager at Nebraska Medicine, shared their work with Dusk to Dawn and ENCOMPASS Omaha, hospital-based violence prevention programs launched in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

“We could not have a better example of dedicated service and action that highlights UNMC’s commitment to the greater community and our ITEACH values,” Dr. Keeler said to Dr. Evans and Farrens following their presentation.

Read about the full list of honorees.