Nursing tutor M’Kenzee Smith of Ottawa was recently selected to receive Illinois Valley Community College’s 2026 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award.
The Award recognizes a dedicated group of part-time instructors and counselors. Smith and the other nominees – Mary Greve, Brent Hanson, and Morgan Myre – were recognized April 16 at the annual employee recognition event.
“To be recognized is both humbling and rewarding. This award reflects the impact I hope to have on students and my goal of making learning relatable and realistic, so it has a lasting impact beyond the classroom,” Smith said.
Before she was a tutor, she was a clinical and lab instructor. She says tutoring allows for more flexibility and individualized support. “Students have different learning styles and not all content fits one approach.”
Even as she taught and tutored, Smith cared for patients every day in local healthcare. She is a hospice and palliative care nurse practitioner and holds a Master of Science in Nursing, an advanced practice certificate in palliative care, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). She is also certified as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and adult- gerontology acute care.
“Making the connection between theory and practice is important because students will someday be my colleagues,” Smith said. Her realism-infused instruction provides examples that are intended so students “can think through situations the way they will practice them, not just to answer a test question. Ultimately, I hope to help students become thoughtful, confident nurses prepared to care for patients, support families, and continue growing throughout their careers.”
Student Delaney Sheehan was grateful in her nomination. “This professor is the main reason I am passing my nursing courses. She is truly amazing and provides such a safe place for learning. She applies every lesson to the hospital setting and always reminds us how we can be safe and caring, more than just a nurse.”
Smith graduated from IVCC in 2012 and returned to teach in 2022. She and her husband, Collin, have two children, Kallum and Remy.
IVCC’s winner is submitted for the state Outstanding Part-time Faculty Award.
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