Recognize an excellent MCC instructor

Metropolitan Community College has opened nominations for the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence in Teaching Awards. NISOD awards showcase the talent and commitment of full-time, adjunct and concurrent enrollment instructors.

Nominations can be submitted at mccneb.edu/Academics/Academic-Affairs/Excellence-in-Teaching-Awards before Jan. 30.

“A nomination is a meaningful way to recognize the great work our instructors do for our students and MCC,” said Connie Galvin, Academic Affairs coordinator.

Nominees are evaluated on criteria that include professionalism, their ability to encourage learning and the relationships they build with colleagues and students.

At MCC, instructors help students broaden their horizons and feel supported every day — sparking change that lasts.

Former student Jean Kupa felt that impact firsthand. Years after taking an IT Workplace Skills class, Kupa felt compelled to email his former instructor, Mervin Vasser, director of Career Services, to thank him for a moment of encouragement that made a lasting difference.

At the time, Kupa had recently moved to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo and primarily spoke French. Kupa said he and Vasser had an impactful discussion when he had concerns about his accent.

“At the time, I struggled with confidence because of my accent, and I was unsure how my accent might be perceived professionally. [Vasser] encouraged me to view it not as a weakness, but as an advantage — a multilingual advantage. That brief conversation in the car left a lasting impression on me.”

After completing his associate in cybersecurity and preparing to transfer to the University of Nebraska Omaha, Kupa received a job opportunity with an international company based in New York.

“During the interview process, I was told that my bilingual background was one of the factors that helped my profile stand out,” Kupa said. “I immediately thought back to the advice [Brown] shared with me.”

Students and faculty who know an instructor making a meaningful impact are encouraged to submit a nomination for the Excellence in Teaching Award. Winners will be selected by a committee and honored locally at the Academic Affairs Awards Lunch on Tuesday, March 3. Honorees will also be invited to attend the Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration at the NISOD Annual Conference in Austin, Texas.