UNMC’s Jenna Hesse, EdD, assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing Northern Division, has been named the 2026 Nebraska Nurses Association’s Nurse of the Year.
Dr. Hesse received the award Oct. 1 at the annual NNA Awards Dinner, held at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney.
The award is a testament to Dr. Hesse’s “dedication, leadership, and contributions to nursing, which have made a meaningful difference,” said Megan Lowery, executive director of the NNA, when informing Dr. Hesse of the award.
“Receiving this recognition is incredibly meaningful, and I am proud to be advancing nursing education while living and working in rural Nebraska,” Dr. Hesse said.
“I am passionate about supporting nurses throughout their educational journey, from preparing students for clinical practice through innovative simulation to supporting nurses at the master’s and doctoral levels as they grow as leaders in our profession. At the same time, nursing is never something we do alone.”
Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, called Dr. Hesse an invaluable asset to the college.
“She led the pilot study exploring the use of immersive virtual reality as an innovative learning technique for our students,” Dr. Sharp-McHenry said. “Her dedication to student learning through simulation has opened doors to new and engaging approaches to education. Through her leadership, creativity, and commitment to innovation, Dr. Hesse continues to enhance learning opportunities and positively impact the educational experience of our students.”
Dr. Hesse said the greatest successes in nursing are shared successes and thanked the people and teams who contributed to her receiving this recognition.
“This motivates me to continue advancing nursing education, pursuing meaningful scholarship and innovation, and contributing to work that I believe can have a lasting impact on our profession and the communities we serve,” she said.