College of Nursing Faculty and Staff Honored at UA Visionary Leadership Awards Ceremony

April 13, 2018

Please join us in congratulating two members of the UA College of Nursing faculty and staff who were selected by the UA Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) as the recipients of 2018 Maria Teresa Velez Outstanding Mentor Awards.

The Outstanding Mentor Awards were renamed in 2017 in honor of Maria Teresa Velez, associate dean of the Graduate College, who died in 2016. She worked to extend access to higher education for students who historically have been underserved. The Outstanding Mentoring Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mentoring within the UA and are awarded to a faculty member, appointed professional staff member and classified staff member. The UA College of Nursing won in both faculty and appointed professional categories.

Judith S Gordon
Dr. Judith Gordon

Maria Teresa Velez Outstanding Mentor Award – Faculty

Dr. Judith Gordon, Professor of Nursing, is being recognized for her mentorship as a faculty member as well as her involvement in Women in Academic Medicine, a group that aims to bring inclusivity and equity to women faculty in academic medicine at the UA.

A year after joining the group in 2011, Gordon became a member of its steering committee; in 2014, she became chair of that committee. During her time as chair, Gordon coordinated events and led an effort to revise the group's mission statement to foster mentorship, networking, career development and institutional advancement for female faculty, according to Archita Desai, one of Gordon's nominators and interim director of the UA's Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute.

“I am truly honored to have been selected for this award,” says Dr. Gordon. “Maria Teresa Velez was an outstanding mentor and role model, and I aspire to follow the example she set. I am very grateful to the outstanding women faculty who nominated me for this award; it’s their recognition that means the most to me.”


“There are still students who are looking for that one person to believe in their ability to succeed." ~ Amanda Gluski


Amanda L Gluski
Amanda Gluski

Maria Teresa Velez Outstanding Mentor Award – Appointed Professional

Amanda Gluski, Director of Student Engagement, leads initiatives to support College of Nursing students as they apply, matriculate and advance through the program, according to Dr. Sheila Gephart, Associate Professor of Nursing and Gluski's nominator.

She's known for being very responsive and thorough, and pursuing issues on behalf of students until they're resolved. Gluski is also known for helping faculty follow best education practices. Her work along these lines, Gephart wrote, "promotes an atmosphere of high-quality mentoring across the College of Nursing. Amanda's passion for the University and our students draws them into the Wildcat spirit and makes them feel like they belong here," Gephart added.

“This award means that there is still work to do.,” says Amanda. “There are still students who are looking for that one person to believe in their ability to succeed – colleagues looking for validation or challenges to grow – faculty committed to providing an exceptional student experience – and precious few resources to accomplish these goals.  Receiving this award motivates me to redouble my own efforts to build the capacity for rewarding mentoring relationships in both the College of Nursing, and the University of Arizona communities.”

Some elements of this story were provided by University Communications.