Nancy Krusen, PhD, will be the recipient of the Visionary Leadership in Education Award at the Impact in Education Awards March 6. The award honors an individual who has skillfully established or led an educational initiative at UNMC or on a national scale.
- Name: Nancy Krusen, PhD
- Title: Professor of occupational therapy, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions.
- Joined UNMC: 2019
Describe your proudest moment as an educator.
A few years ago, a woman stopped me at a national conference while I was walking the concourse. She said, “I was in your Intro to OT course about 30 years ago. I remember the exact moment during your class when I decided to become an occupational therapist. You talked about making a difference by being present for the person who was right in front of you.” Educators plant seeds for trees in the shade of which we may never sit.
What advice would you give other faculty members who want to make an impact on health sciences and professions education?
Be transparent and available. Embrace mistakes — yours and theirs — as opportunities to grow. Model and mentor broad scholarship with a network of knowledge users. Have some projects completed, some active and some proposed for the future. Scholarly projects can impact individuals, groups, populations and systems in unforeseen ways.
Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?
My two favorite quotations come from an academic mentor, Janette Schkade. Schkade empowered individuals to adapt to meet life challenges. With a solemn gaze, she asked, “What is the question?” When enlightenment dawned over weeks or months or years, the gaze became a gleam with simple praise, “So proud. So proud.” Assimilating new information can be disruptive. Allow time and space for cognitive dissonance to resolve and integrate. Allow time for growth.