Nursing Professor Wins Provost's Distinguished Teaching Professor Award

Christine Colella, DNP, professor of clinical nursing and director of master’s specialties in the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing has won the Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. The award represents the highest level of recognition for achievements and contributions in university teaching and recognizes long-term commitment on the part of an individual to excellence in teaching at UC.

"Dr. Colella has been an early adopter of new technology and a pioneer in combining technology and instruction design best practices with nursing education,” wrote Greer Glazer, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing in her letter nominating Colella for the award. "She truly exemplifies outstanding nurse practitioner education and serves as a role model to students and nursing faculty.”

Colella has taught at the College of Nursing for more than 20 years. During that time, she received several research or program grants, published several peer-reviewed articles and delivered many local, regional, national and international presentations. She is at the forefront of the implementation of technology in the classroom, developing creative teaching strategies using iPad mobile applications, Adobe Connect/WebX sessions and synchronous and asynchronous delivery formats to motivate learners and meet the needs of both on-campus and distance learning students. 

"I have been very lucky to be able to combine two things I love, teaching students and caring for patients,” says Colella. "Seeing the students learn and grow and then graduate and give back to their communities as nurse practitioners is so inspiring. I want to thank Dean Glazer, my colleagues and the students at the College of Nursing who have taught me so much and have inspired me even more.”

This is the latest in a series of awards for Colella, who also won the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Innovation and Excellence in Teaching Award for 2015 as well as a UC College of Nursing 125th Anniversary Legacy Award. In 2011, Colella received the Dean’s Research Award, in 2004 she received the Nurse Educator Award from Mount St. Joseph University and in 2008 was inducted into the Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning at UC. 

Colella will be presented with this award at the faculty awards ceremony this April.