DAISY and SUNFlower Awards

Lisa Kiser, DNP, CNM, WHNP

Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Kiser's warmth and genuine spirit manifest in every interaction she has with people. The type of work she dedicates herself to, helping the underprivileged and building international connections for the sake of promoting humanity and enhancing international health collaborations, is a sign of her noble heart. Dr. Kiser consistently demonstrates kindness and consideration to those she works with. As a student, I have had the privilege to meet, interact, and participate in healthcare initiatives she leads and I am continuously motivated to be a better person by her sheer joyful persona. I can genuinely say she fosters a safe environment for professional and personal development for her students. I am forever grateful for having the privilege to meet her, share some of my story, and having such tremendous support from her when I least expected it. During the toughest time in my life in my DNP program, she demonstrated a true interest in my success and wellbeing. She didn't hesitate to assist me and facilitate the resources I needed to make a tough decision. Words cannot express the extent of my gratitude for women and humans like her because by their pure existence they make others, like me, better people. Dr. Kiser has been pivotal in bringing tremendous positivity and hope throughout my DNP program experience. Thank you, Dr. Kiser!

"Dr. Kiser has been pivotal in bringing tremendous positivity and hope throughout my DNP program experience."

Sara Edmund, DNP, RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

Clinical Assistant Professor

Sara always puts in 100%! When the pandemic began Sara stepped up and was instrumental in leading the development of clinical simulation in the DNP Program. Sara was co-chair of the task force and spent countless hours working to create hundreds of hours of simulation. This work was a selfless act because it was not given faculty workload. As we all know workload is always a lot. To add this enormous task on top was an amazing sacrifice. Sara is such a pleasure to work with she is always kind and positive with faculty and students. Sara is such as asset to our team and we are very lucky to have her!

Dr. Sara Edmund is consistently professional encouraging and supportive in her work with our students and other members of the College community. As an integral part of the PMHNP faculty team, she is always willing to take on new challenges and help create innovative and effective learning experiences for our students. She works tirelessly to make sure the work gets done and demonstrates a high passion for continually improving the DNP program. In her clinical practice, she takes care of patients experiencing mental health crises; this work speaks to her ability to provide compassionate and competent high acuity psychiatric care and also makes her an excellent clinical course instructor. She is a wonderful role model for our students and junior faculty members. We are so lucky to have her!

Dr. Sara Edmund is an amazing educator nurse practitioner and colleague. She exudes compassion expertise and dedication in all aspects of her work. Sara approaches teaching opportunities with enthusiasm and flair whether she is developing course materials directly teaching students or mentoring other colleagues. Sara is an integral part of the PMHNP DNP team and has directly contributed to the success of hundreds of students.

"Sara approaches teaching opportunities with enthusiasm and flair whether she is developing course materials directly teaching students or mentoring other colleagues."

Megan Degrado, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Lecturer

Megan has a way of making all of her students feel welcome and calm. Nursing school can be very challenging and having a warm and kind mentor puts our minds at ease. She has great experience and knowledge to help further our journey to becoming a great nurse.

I have seen Professor Degrado show the utmost empathy and concern when dealing with delicate situations. She supported her student during a fragile and difficult time and facilitated that person in getting the help they desperately needed. Professor Degrado has a calming presence and I love her enthusiasm for education and passion for nursing. I admire all that she has accomplished at such a young age and look at her as a role model for how I hope to integrate myself into the nursing field. I get excited when I have the opportunity to work alongside her and look forward to the knowledge she has to share. She deserves to be recognized for the motivation and encouragement she brings to this program.

“I have seen Professor Degrado show the utmost empathy and concern when dealing with delicate situations. She supported her student during a fragile and difficult time and facilitated that person in getting the help they desperately needed.”

Mark Mathesen

Information Technology Support Analyst, Senior

From my vantage point, Mark always appears calm, pleasant, and willing to help.  With COVID wreaking havoc on donor and alumni events, Mark has gone above and beyond for both homecoming and virtual memorial service for Emeritus Dean Gladys Sorensen.  In both instances Mark had to give up weekend time and he did so gracefully and without complaint. Mark added value to the events with his ideas and initiative.  He even began to imagine how we can merge virtual and in-person homecoming events in the future, in meaningful ways.  I am truly grateful to Mark!

Maribeth Slebodnik

Associate Librarian and Senior Lecturer

Maribeth Slebodnik is the consummate librarian. Maribeth enthusiastically makes herself available to students and faculty. She has been instrumental in moving our students toward using reference managing software. She has taught all of us about what certain databases offer and which ones may be more appropriate for our topics of interest. In addition to working with individual students, Maribeth co-developed and co-teaches courses. In these courses, doctoral students learn how to write systematic reviews. Maribeth is a fantastic team member, easy to work with and so professional. Through her laudable individualized support for students in these courses, PhD students will have a resulting publication that they may not have had otherwise.  Maribeth is a true gem of a person and an amazing asset to the CON.

Sharon Hom, PhD, MS, RN

Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Sharon Hom is a favorite amongst students and is one of my favorite co-workers as well. Her intelligence, bright disposition, and compassion have inspired me to do better in my own work on more than one occasion. Often Dr. Hom will meet with individual students outside of class time to discuss strategies useful to succeed in her course and work with the students to develop a plan for success. Dr. Hom utilizes the college resources to create an inclusive learning environment that promotes a sense of community and belonging for all. Faculty like Dr. Hom who see the best in our students and work to optimize our students' potential have a tremendous inter-generational impact. Students and colleagues fortunate to learn from Dr. Hom's example of compassion will undoubtedly go forth to contribute goodness and fulfill the purpose of nursing.

"Dr. Hom's intelligence, bright disposition, and compassion have inspired me to do better in my own work on more than one occasion."

Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

Albert Einstein said: "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." This quote is very nursing, and it speaks to how learning goes beyond a simple accumulation of facts. Our teaching should incorporate joy, creativity, and knowledge. Dr. Rainbow does just that. She is curious and teaches our students how to be curious. She is compassionate and teaches our students to be compassionate. When another faculty member recently retired, she took on several students. Dr. Rainbow expressed a deep desire to allow the students to continue their progression and growth. It wasn't out of obligation but out of a deep sense of joy that she took them on.

"Dr. Rainbow is compassionate and teaches our students to be compassionate."

Gloanna J Peek, PhD, RN, CPNP

Clinical Associate Professor 

Dr. Peek has many roles at the University of Arizona College of Nursing: PNP specialty coordinator, course chair, ASD program coordinator, mentor, friend, researcher, DNP – CISC chair...to name just a few. Dr. Peek has a beautiful smile and a kind heart. She will volunteer to help out whenever needed whether it is DNP committee who needs a chair or extra member, a faculty member who needs help during a family emergency, or a staff member who just needs someone to listen to them. Her mentoring does not end when the student graduates, she will continue to keep in touch with students after graduation. Her giving nature continues outside of the College of Nursing, she is active with her church, mentoring young girls in foster care, and volunteering her medical services at an orphanage in Mexico. Overall, Dr. Peek is a kind, caring, loving educator. She is someone who truly advocates for her faculty and students.

“Dr. Peek's mentoring does not end when the student graduates, she will continue to keep in touch with students after graduation.”

Cheryl L Lacasse, PhD, RN, AOCNS

Clinical Professor

I have witnessed Cheri's commitment to our students' success and welfare. This commitment ranges from her leadership as Director of the RN-MSN program; her role in our Arizona Nursing Inclusive Excellent (ANIE) Program, and her tremendous efforts in coordinating this year's CCNE accreditation materials and visits. In all of these roles, Cheri has demonstrated an amazingly balanced blend of advocacy, leadership, organizational skill, insight, compassion, and intelligence. In every interaction Cheri and I have had, my respect for and trust in Cheri has been further strengthened because of her fair treatment of everyone present, which further encourages community and collaboration. These qualities are particularly necessary during acutely challenging times such as those we've experienced in 2020 with COVID-19 fallout; multiple accreditation processes; and the new growth toward equity, diversity, and inclusion that the College is undergoing.

“Cheri has demonstrated an amazingly balanced blend of advocacy, leadership, organizational skill, insight, compassion, and intelligence.