Mia Jackson receives Excellence in Teaching Award
OMAHA, Neb. – As a child, Mia Jackson lived in the make-believe worlds of schools and hospitals, pretending to be the characters that worked and visited there.
Her childhood fascination transformed into a career teaching the next generation of skilled and compassionate nurses at College of Saint Mary (CSM).
Jackson, an assistant professor of nursing, received the Catherine McAuley Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest teaching award given to a faculty member at CSM each year.
“I am incredibly honored to have received the Catherine McAuley Excellence in Teaching Award. I was truly surprised to be nominated, and even more so when I learned I had received the award, knowing how prestigious it is,” Jackson said.
Faculty are nominated by their peers who then submit extensive materials as evidence of their exceptional teaching. The Faculty Development Committee considers the nominees and selects the award recipient.
A CSM Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Nebraska Methodist College Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Education graduate, Jackson is a labor and delivery nurse and high-risk obstetrics nurse at Nebraska Methodist Health System.
Since joining the CSM faculty in 2022, she has redesigned multiple foundational courses, creating a more engaged, active approach to learning. Her innovative use of pre-class preparation assignments allows students to experience deeper learning. Jackson’s hands-on, scenario-based learning stations bring clinical practice into the classroom, giving students the opportunity to review patient charts and practice skills using real equipment.
“Teaching the next generation of nursing students and being part of their journey brings me so much joy. I put my heart into giving my students the best foundation I can, and it means so much to know that others recognize that effort. I am deeply thankful to be honored in this way, and it is something I will always remember,” she said.
Her doctoral scholarly project on self-care is now integrated into the foundational nursing curriculum, helping students prioritize wellness and build resilience early on.
“What truly sets Dr. Jackson apart is her ability to combine rigor with compassion,” said Kimberly Allen, vice president of academic and student affairs. “Her teaching evaluations are consistently positive, with students describing her as approachable, supportive and deeply invested in their growth.”
Jackson also mentors adjunct faculty, engages in student recruitment and serves as chair of the nursing program’s Outcomes Committee.
She has been honored for her work as a nurse with the Methodist Women’s Hospital Clinical Nurse Excellence Award, the Nebraska Nurses Association Positive Image of Nursing Award and the Methodist Health System Meaning of Care Award.
