Maribeth Clifton, OTD, will be the recipient of the Emerging Educator Award at the Impact in Education Awards March 6. The award recognizes an emerging health science educator who demonstrates excellence, dedication and perseverance early in their career.
- Name: Maribeth Clifton, OTD
- Title: Assistant professor, division of occupational therapy education, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions.
- Joined UNMC: August 2022
- Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyoming
You are the recipient of the Emerging Educator Award. How has innovation played a part in your teaching career?
Innovation in my teaching career has meant creating learning experiences that are real, authentic and transformative. I have had the opportunity to work alongside colleagues and community partners to co-design community-engaged learning activities; for example, by inviting children and families from the local community to campus so learners can develop pediatric clinical skills in a supported, low-stakes environment. Across my teaching career, I have collaborated to design community-engaged activities, integrated emerging technologies such as AI and coordinated interprofessional learning experiences that help learners connect meaningfully with content, community and the profession. My innovation also is informed by my scholarship of teaching and learning, including the development of models and tools that deepen my understanding of learners’ experiences and needs. This scholarship continually shapes how I design courses, foster supportive learning environments and refine instructional strategies.
Describe your proudest moment as an educator.
My proudest moments as an educator come when I witness learners step confidently into professional roles. I have seen learners present mentored research at conferences, lead innovative capstone projects and later collaborate as professional colleagues. Receiving the inaugural UNMC Doctor of Occupational Therapy Class of 2025 Faculty and Staff Award was particularly meaningful because it reflected the trust and sense of belonging learners felt in my classroom. These moments affirm that the environments I strive to create truly support learners’ growth, identity formation and confidence.
What advice would you give other faculty members who want to have an impact in education?
My advice for faculty who want to have an impact is to begin with relationships. When learners feel they belong, they are more willing to take risks, engage deeply and grow. I also encourage embracing critical reflexivity, the ongoing practice of examining your own social position and how it shapes your perceptions and practices, both personally and as a tool to support learners in understanding their identities as developing professionals. Finally, and perhaps most instrumental in my early career, my advice is to seek mentorship and offer it generously; teaching is relational work, and we grow best when we work together.
Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?
My teaching philosophy centers on belonging, reflection and authentic engagement. I believe that teaching is an act of partnership that includes co-creating spaces where learners feel seen, valued and supported as they grow into reflective, compassionate professionals.