Professor Katherine Ferrell Earns 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award
Katherine Ferrell, Assistant Professor in Nursing, graduated from Kettering College in 2016 and returned over a year ago to teach at her alma mater. Her work and accomplishments were recently recognized as she earned the Distinguished Alumni Award at Kettering College’s Homecoming weekend.
She began working at a wound center after she graduated from Kettering College, quickly putting her hard-earned degree to use. She worked one-on-one with patients who had undergone an ostomy surgery, educating them about their life-altering surgery and ways to cope. Ferrell says it is there she realized her love of teaching.
These teaching moments are what helped her decide to return to school to obtain her master’s degree in nursing education. After her graduate work, she returned to Kettering College where she did clinical instructing, and after one semester, began adjunct teaching. Her work ethic and drive were immediately noticed, and she quickly progressed to full-time faculty.
Professor Ferrell admits transitioning from taking care of patients to taking care of students was an adjustment at first but notes how similar the experiences can be. Although she misses patient care and getting to know them and stay in touch with them through their journey, she says she has the same deep-rooted investment in her students as she once did in her patients. Whereas she once walked alongside patients on their journey, she now walks alongside students on their journey.
Faculty in the nursing division nominated Ferrell for the Distinguished Alumni Award for “reflecting outstanding leadership in her career and community…being actively engaged in divisional committees, volunteering to take on extra duties, and is being involved in revising our Systematic Plan of Evaluation to comply with new accreditation standards and streamlining the online pharmacology course.”
Dr. Paula Reams, Nursing Division Chair, presented the award to Professor Ferrell at a luncheon Homecoming weekend in the Anna May Cafe. Dr. Reams wholeheartedly agreed with the nomination, noting to the attendees how exceptionally eager Ferrell is to excel and take part in any opportunity to grow personally and professionally. She added that Professor Ferrell is currently attending Liberty University for her PhD in Nursing Education and will graduate in 2025, proving yet again her dedication to growth and education.
The nomination concluded by noting Professor Ferrell is a cheerful person who exemplifies Christian caring, and Kettering College is lucky to have her.
Congratulations, Professor Katherine Ferrell!
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