Students who have taken classes from Mary Kutchin, MSN, RN, CNS, praise her strong communication skills, her leadership and her caring nature.
It was their recommendations that led to her being selected for a 2018 Outstanding Teacher Award.
Each year, Kent State honors three full-time, non-tenure track and part-time faculty members for being among the most dedicated and motivated professors at the university.
“I felt like it was such an honor to be acknowledged by this teaching award,” says Ms. Kutchin. “I know how busy students are, and I am overwhelmed that more than one student took the time to nominate me for this award.”
Students believe Ms. Kutchin is always there to help when they need her.
“Professor Kutchin is the type of leader that every university wants in their classrooms, the type of teacher every parent wishes their college student had, the nurse that patients want to advocate for them and the go-to person every student needs,” says Lindsey Lucas, ‘18 BSN graduate.
Students appreciate that Ms. Kutchin drives them while still maintaining fun and entertaining lessons in the classroom.
“She challenges her students to think like a nurse,” says Kaitlyn Parker, ‘18 BSN graduate. “If a student is struggling to come to the answer Mary wants, she is more than willing to help the student by guiding them through the thinking process.”
Ms. Kutchin has been a faculty member since 2012 and teaches a variety of courses in the College of Nursing. She is the Course Coordinator for Integration of Leadership and Management in Nursing and Pre-Licensure Testing Coordinator. She also teaches Nursing of the Critically Ill and International Health Care Policy: Nursing in Northern Ireland.
“Mary Kutchin is an outstanding faculty member and is a leader in preparing the next generation of nurses,” says College of Nursing Dean Barbara Broome, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. “The College of Nursing is proud to have Mary and her gift of knowledge that she freely shares in her daily encounters with others.”
To learn more about the nursing program at Kent State, visit www.kent.edu/nursing.
For more information about the Outstanding Teaching Award, visit www.kent.edu/utc/teaching-awards.
Photo: Ms. Kutchin (center) is joined by (from left) Mary Bacha, MSN, RN, Tracey Motter, DNP, RN, Dean Barbara Broome, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Melissa Dyer, MBA, RN, and Jeremy Jarzembak, MA, BSN, BS, RN.